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Why are these engines such grease balls?

Russell

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I've been scrubbing mine for almost two days now, and it still looks like I haven't done a thing to it...

The valley between the heads is the worst!
 
Leading cause is probably improperly maintained CDR systems leading to excess crankcase pressure. Also, I think that because they are kind of a tight fit, no one want to tear into them to fix leaks when they start.

-Martin
 
Soot is another factor.

That enviro-friendly Oil Eater (OilEater?) worked fairly well on mine. Gunk Engine Cleaner, the Gel Formula, works very well when you let it soak for the recommended time.
 
Well, two worn out steel brushes, and 5 cans of brake cleaner later, I have one half of the intake manifold mounting surface / valley is cleaned down to the paint. I have the other half probably 1/2 cleaned up as well, but I am out of brake cleaner and wire brushes, lol

And yes, I pressure washed the snot out of this thing before I took the manifold etc off, and I thought I cleaned it up pretty good too!

Oh well, the outside of the block / heads are not nearly as greasy, shouldn't take me much longer to have this thing ready to be painted :) I already have the intake manifold / pressure pot lid all cleaned up, along with all of the aluminum parts less the turbo's compressor housing. I'll be taking all of it in to get it bead blasted to bring out that new aluminum look then either paint it with something that looks like clean aluminum, or find some sort of a high temp clearcoat to keep it from corroding...

I did make some good progress today as far as buying parts go, got my girdle kit, timing chain kit, and all my gaskets. Once it is cleaned up, it'll be a matter of buying and installing a 99 water crossover with the dual thermostat stuff and the 99 high flow water pump, along with a new harmonic balancer. I have the rest of the parts here and ready to go...

I'm hoping to have the engine together and ready to go into my truck by the end of March, and have the NV4500 bolted up and ready to go shortly afterwards. My goal is to have the truck running and driving by June so I can get my new tires on, tie up any loose ends, and hit the road for the last week in June when we have our first camping trip :D

Lookin' forward to driving the thing after a good 4 years!
 
I guess some 6.2's and 6.5's are bad...and others not so much. The 6.2 in my jimmy was pretty clean when I got it, and hadn't ever been cleaned. It only got a bit gross after the rear main had been leaking for several months.

The 6.2 in my '83 pick-up is dry and reasonably clean...at least in the lifter valley. When I did head gaskets the only part even a little greasy was behind the water pump. I'm guessing oil spillage and CDR for that bit of mess though.

A buddy's '94 pick-up with 6.5 is in my carport right now for some work. That engine is also pretty clean.

I'd also guess bad CDR on yours if your lifter valley is that bad.

Rene
 
I would have recommended taking it to a shop with a caustic hot tank......and call it good. FOr the few bucks it would have cost you, you spent in brakeclean already I'm sure. or is it not a bare block or something?
 
Its a shortblock, no oil pan / timing cover, but it does have the heads and rotating assembly installed.
 
With heads on i think it would be classified as a longblock. Have you thought about spray-on oven cleaner? I use it when i do complete rebuilds and it works great on blocks and heads alone. I would not try it with any aluminum though, not sure how it reacts.
 
I just realized i have been to ardrossan a few times in the last couple months. Bought a trailer and a winch from there awhile back.
 
I'm here most of the time :)

Finally made some major progress on the block today. After days of scrubbing, it finally just ran outta grease and cleaned right up. I've got the valley / intake face of the heads painted, and I've started painting the front of the engine as well.

I'll be putting my timing kit in today yet, installing the timing cover and if time allows, I'll continue scrubbing my accessories. The light is definitely visible at the end of the tunnel!
 
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