Cam housing cleaning..bore and TDC?

924Sman · 09-03-2007, 05:30 AM

What have you used to clean the cam housing? Agents? Any concern for the internal parts using a solvent to remove old oil etc?

Also how did you clean the cylinder bores exposed for grit that falls in when removing the head/cam? I do not want to leave a grain of grit in the bore obviously but curious to know how you cleaned the bore. Vacuum?

Just to see if I am ok are #1 and #4 pistons at TDC and 2/3 are at BDC when timing is correct(visually)? I ask to clear the notion I blew a bottom rod casing and have a piston immobile.

Tia!
Dal

solardave · 09-03-2007, 09:03 AM

One of my favorite cleaning agents is WD40. Works great as a degreaser. Spray it on and work it in with a brush and wipe it off with paper towel.

Dave

zedsn · 09-03-2007, 02:09 PM

I have used a shop vac before but have reduced the onening down to a small piece of pipe to get some suction into the top piston ring area.

Icey1174 · 09-11-2007, 08:12 PM

I used WD-40 when I did my cam housing gasket too. I also use WD-40 a lot for cleaning things like that.

fast924S · fast924S's Garage

I ususally just use good brake clean and a tooth brush, or use a little compressed air or vaccum.

I doe believe that when at tdc, piston 1 and 4 should be at top while 2 and 3 are down

Icey1174 · 09-12-2007, 01:27 PM

I personally wouldn't use brake cleaner in an area that requires lubercation. I understand that you would not spray it into the engine, but I always feel weird using something that is made to break down oil in an area that must be well oiled. That's just me though. I'm sure many people have done this with no ill effects. I just like to keep oil with oil and non0oil with non-oil.

onZedge · 09-12-2007, 01:44 PM

Brake parts cleaner is an excellent degreaser and evaporates faster than your typical 9x4 annual upgrades budget. Just look for the words "leaves no residue" on the label. They make non-chlorinated versions as well.

#391 · 09-12-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 924Sman

What have you used to clean the cam housing? Agents? Any concern for the internal parts using a solvent to remove old oil etc?

Also how did you clean the cylinder bores exposed for grit that falls in when removing the head/cam? I do not want to leave a grain of grit in the bore obviously but curious to know how you cleaned the bore. Vacuum?

Just to see if I am ok are #1 and #4 pistons at TDC and 2/3 are at BDC when timing is correct(visually)? I ask to clear the notion I blew a bottom rod casing and have a piston immobile.

Tia!
Dal

I used a shop vac to clean out the oil galleys, cylinders, and the oil from around the head studs. I put a short length of 3/4" clear tubing in the end and duct taped it together...worked great for getting into the small areas.

Then cover the cylinders with shop towels.

I also used WD40 to clean the mating surfaces on the block.

And finally, if your engine is the same as mine in this respect, when at TDC 1 & 4 are up.

Icey1174 · 09-12-2007, 02:32 PM

I also bought a nylon wheel with fingers on it to clean the old gasket off the mating surfaces. It got the entie head and housing very clean with minimal effort. The pic above looks good, but that wheel got the entire mating surface perfectly clean and shiny. I wiped the surfaces off with a shop towel. I wanted them as clan and dry as possible. So far so good. 8K+ miles and no leaks or problems.

924Sman · 09-12-2007, 03:28 PM

Thanks guys!!

Turns out I need a new housing anyway.errrrr

Dal

onZedge · 09-12-2007, 04:30 PM

[QUOTE=Icey1174;3475710]I also bought a nylon wheel with fingers on it... /QUOTE]

Got a picture of that contraption?

Icey1174 · 09-12-2007, 04:56 PM

Nope, sorry. I got it from an auto parts store. I think it was Car Quest out here in NY. This was the first time I ever did anything thing like this, let alone on a Porsche. They guys at the store sold me a yellow one and a green one. They told me that a lot of the mechanics were using them now in place of a scraper to get the old gasket material off the mating surfaces. These do not scratch. It is more a disc than a wheel. It's about 2" in diameter. If I recall correctly the yellow one was a little softer than the green one. They had the screw on type nipple on the back of them. All my tools are at work. I just chucked it to a cordless drill. It worked very well. Sorry I don't have any more info for you. The mating surfaces were completly clean and looked brand new.