Before I reassemble the engine ...

[donald]

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.

[euro911sc]

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

[donald]

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

[Walt Fricke]

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

[donald]

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

[Walt Fricke]

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.