Tony R

I am going to get ready to send my block into the machine shop and was wondering what you all recomend soaking pistons and such in to clean all the carbon and crud off. I dont know if I will reuse them or not. It is going to depend on the condition of the block and if I can just have it honed and line bored. It is already bored over with after market flat top pistons.
I have my rear end at the blasters and when I removed the rear axles to remove the brake housing I noticed that the axles are covered in a thick sludge. When I get the axle back I will be rebuilding it with fresh bearings and seals so I will need to clean up the inside.

6marc5

I don't know if this is the proper way of doing it,but whenI want something clean that is built up with crud I blast it w/ brake cleaner. I don't know if it will work on carbon or not.

Tony R

Yeah I use carb cleaner alot too. I just dont want to wast a case of cleaner if I can just soak it in a gallon of something better that wont require alot of scrubbing. As for the rear end I would like to fill it up with something and let it soak for a few days.

6marc5

Maybe the machine shop will have aparts cleaner tub? That will work for your pistons,but that rear end sure won't fit That's a tough one. Maybe a mop handle anda chemical cleaner soaked rag? Either way,good luck with it.

TexasAxMan

Get some "Chem-Dip", I think that's what it's called. Comes in a 1 gallon paint-type can with a basket to put parts in to soak. Usually it's used to soak carb bodies and related parts (at least that's what I use it for), but it would do 1 piston at a time easily. Just soak for 15 min to an hour.

HTH.