Just got my heads back from the machine shop. Was going to start in this weekend on reassembly. What is the best method these days of cleaning the carbon off the tops of the pistons?
wire wheel?
carb cleaner?

I do have a air compresser, so blowing the crap out of the cylinders shouldn't be a problem, except I'm wondering how to make sure I don't get any small particles on top of the top ring area?

THANKS,
Craig

 

IMO, tape off the ring lands and LIGHTLY file down any edges (except the sides/of the top) and bead blast the pistons. This has a side benefit besides cleaning the piston, it will help in the spark knock dept.
...let the flaming begin

 

i use a wire brush on a bench grinder

 

Laquer thinner or acetone with wire brush.

 

My error, I thought the engine was apart and you were using the old pistons with new rings. In your case, where the bottom end is still together, I would NOT bead blast them, you would never get the medium out of the cylinders.

 

This suggestion won't help you now but in the future when you get ready to tear a motor down, run about a quart of water slowly through the carb while the engine is still running. Then drain the oil and proceed with your engine pull and tear down. Your combustion chambers and piston tops will be clean...steam clean.

 

spray some brake cleaner on the tops of the pistons & let it sit for a few minutes & blow it out, then spray them again & let it sit over night & blowing it off works good for me.

 

I have had good luck with wd-40. Spray them down well and let em soak for 12 hrs or more. The carbon wipes right off.

 

brake parts cleaner and a green scratch pad do the trick every time

 

Thanks for all the answers everybody!

I'm sure that between all the suggestions, I'll "GIT-R-DONE"

Just sprayed them with wd-40, gonna go out in a couple hours and spray them. My wife is going to the grocery store in a while so we'll get some scratchies--already got some brake cleaner.

EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD SAFE NEW YEAR--AND THANKS AGAIN!!!


Craig

 

Put em in a parts cleaner with diesel, scrub em a bit.
then run on the wire wheel of a bench grinder..

youll be done in 20 minutes.

 

Diesel fuel and a pressure washer (ie. a visit to the car wash)

 

I'm assuming if the pistons are still in the block, and the block is still in the car? Run each piston to TDC, get after it with a brass wire cup brush...do it dry...no solvents, this way you can shop vac anything out easily, or blow it out with your compressor. If you use solvents as described above, then the wettish deposits will stick in places you're trying to avoid.

 

Got it!

GIT-R'DONE!

THANKS AGAIN!