Soda blasting engine block

[rolesyboy]

I gather soda blasting is a safe way of cleaning my dilapidated looking 1275 S engine block. Before I commit to this does anybody disagree. The internals are actually excellent but time has made the block external faces look pretty shabby. I don't want to damage any internals and I understand that the soda will simoply wash away where sand/bead might hang around afterwards. Cheers. Mark

[Dean]

You could Have it acid dipped or use nitromors

[rolesyboy]

Thanks. Already used these methods in the past but really interested to hear if soda blasting is a good means of cleaning the block. Paint doesn't always come off with an acid dip and nitromors is a pain in the ass. Prefer to hand it over to soda blaster man provided it won't cause me headaches. Cheers. Mark

[InimiaD]

I had my block "chemically" cleaned.
At least, i know that every last piece of sludge and crap has been washed out of every orifice and oilway.
I imagine that you are referring to cleaning the outside of the block. If so, masking off the vulnerable areas where you don't want the soda to "contaminate" would be a good precaution.

[66S]

I've seen a block that was soda blasted and it came up really nicely. It cleaned out well too but all the plugs were removed prior to starting.

Al

[rolesyboy]

Thanks Al. Any dangers associated with buggering up the block in any way? Cheers. Mark

[Spider]

When dis-assembled, there should be no issues with soda blasting the block. I have my gearbox cases done this way. Just be sure that who ever does it, does so DRY. Some of the Soda Blaster people wet down the soda a little to reduce the inevitable snow storm that come with it. A big no no. Once done, wash the block down in the normal way with a light degreaser (diesel fuel or kero is good) and scrub internally, especially all the oil and water ways to be sure of getting it all out. It could prove to be a lot of work (ie a bugger) to get out of the crank case area as often the casting here is a lot courser and sharper.

Soda will ONLY remove paint and grease / oil. It won't touch any rust or machined surfaces, although it may appear to dull the machined surfaces, it won't have, it's only that they have a fine layer of soda on them. It won't bugger the block, as long as it's done DRY.

You will usually get better results from a cold tank in Acid followed by a Hot Tank in Caustic. Just my 2 bob on that.

[66S]

Thanks Al. Any dangers associated with buggering up the block in any way? Cheers. Mark

The block I saw done was done wet and I saw it when it was brought to me for pressure cleaning. There was no problem cleaning the soda from it but as mentioned, it didn't remove much rust or tought stuff. Soda is very gentle, perhaps too gentle.

In my opinion, better results could be achieved in an acid bath. If it wasn't going to cost much, it could be soda blasted to finish it but that then is three processes (acid, soda and pressure cleaning) and probably getting expensive.

Al

[Benny]

My machine shop chemically cleans, then shot peens the blocks before machining, and then does a final wash. They feel this is the only way to properly de-scale the water jackets, and knock loose any casting sand that may still be coming out of the inside of the block.

The blocks look new after this treatment.

[Spider]

The block I saw done was done wet

I actually mentioned this to our Soda Blaster Man and while he is in the business of Soda Blasting (obviously) he really felt that doing a block was a real waste of time and on the wet vs dry, he ran away laughing at the idea of doing it wet.

[rolesyboy]

Cheers. I can't find anybody who does anything more than hot wash the block. Anybody in the Essex area do chemical cleaning or acid dips any more?

[251 ENG]

I wouldn,t recommend acid dipping a block if you are NOT going to rebore it after .

[rolesyboy]

Thanks 251. Every day is a school day. Already been bored and honed so thankful for your advice. Man its complicated this Mini building game

[251 ENG]

If the bores are fresh , I would clean the outside faces with a wire brush in a drill ( slow and dirty ) , then have it dipped in something that is not as aggressive , we have some stuff that is water based and is very good when it is new but soon goes off after it,s had 2 or 3 blocks in it . It comes from Safety Clean and is quite expensive.

You need to remove the core plugs and ALL the oil gallery plugs to wash it out after .

You could get the outside of the block bead blasted as long as you are 101% sure you can get all the blast media out after .

Cleaning shitty A series blocks is the bain of my life

Much prefer just to send them to SPL