Before I reassemble the engine ...
 

I am rebuilding a 1972 2.4 MFI engine. I have it torn down and have parts ordered from Pelican to complete the rebuild.

As I am removing the parts, I am wondering how to clean them and prepare them before the rebuild starts. Should I plan on painting the parts? I am planning making the car a weekend driver, not a show car (although an occassional show is not out of the question).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean and prepare the following list of parts:
1. Cylinders
2. Case
3. Fan
4. Distributor base

This project has been a long time coming. Now that the engine is out and torn down, I am getting excited to get this car on the road after many years in storage.

I would appreciate any input that anyone can provide.
Thanks.

Lots of threads on cleaning stuff so search away on the details!

they can summed up, for the most part, as follows:

CASE:
By hand with chemicals or
Soda blasted or
Ceramic tumbling or
all the above

Cylinders:
Scotch pad insides (maybe)
depending on which expert says what you may grape hone or not
Chemicals or soda blast outside

Fan:
bead blast (but you will need to take care of the center as it will rust after that)

Dist. Base:
Bead blast

Everyone has their chemical of choice... mine are scent free mineral spirits and 90% isopropal alcohol in a spray bottle (buy it at wall mart for $1/bottle). MEK on the really bad stuff, but be warned that is some nasty nasty chems.

-Michael

Hey Michael,
Thanks for the information. I have done some digging in the forums here to find some great information. Unfortunately, as I dug deeper and found what COULD be done, I noticed that I will have to dig deeper in my funds also.

There is one additional part that I could not find advice on:
Exhaust and heater boxes.

I would like to find some ideas on how to prepare these parts before reassembly. Any ideas?

Thanks
Donald

I am not a fan of painting anything Porsche did not paint. Once the grease and grime is removed, what's wrong with what is left? The engine won't run better. Having said that, I did like the fact that i could soda blast (you can do this in your driveway if you have an air compressor and don't mind a white powder mess) the otherwise impossible to remove crud from a transmission case, with all those fins. Doesn't take long for much of it to come back, though.

You have the good exhaust system. I bet the exhaust parts, where exposed, have a nice rust patina. Going to be tough (or expensive, probably both) to do much useful with that, and I think whatever you do within reason is not apt to increase their life span. You could try a rust neutralizer and some high temperature paint. I've not had much luck with that stuff, but maybe others have.

A high temperature paint might do some good with the heater boxes. They don't get as hot as the exhaust piping. I never could stop the rust on one of mine, though.

Walt

Hey Walt
Thanks for the input. You raise a good point: Why paint something Porsche did not paint?
I will have to investigate the soda blast process. I have the compressor and the space outside to do the work.

I am still considering what to do to the heater boxes. I will have to look around to see what others have done.

Thanks
Don

The air blasting gun I have is very inexpensive. I sucked the baking soda straight from the bags of it I bought at Costco. This has to be the safest blasting one can do, as I could direct it at my fingers without damage to skin.