How to remove rust from engine?

B

bikemaniac

Senior Member
Hi,

I bought myself a used non Model A engine which has both some rust, grease and old paint in various places. The engine is in full working order.

I would like to clean the outer parts of the engine, without taking the engine apart with the final aim of painting the engine. Thus I need I complete rustfree and clean surface.

Initially I was thinking of covering up all the holes with plugs and caps and sandblast the engine - but somehow many people advice against that option.

What is the best way for removing rust from an assembled engine?

Lucas
 
The first engine I painted was the 235 that came in my 1955 Chevy. I wire brushed it and probably rinsed it with a parts cleaning brush and gas. I painted it white, and the paint stayed nice for the 3 years I had it before installing a 265. I don't think you will have to worry about the whole surface looking like a new casting. Rust can hold paint as long as it isn't deep flaking rust.
 
Once all the grease is off, wire brush(by hand and by drill) all loose rust, then phos pho the bare/rusted areas, wait 24hrs, and paint.
 
X 2 on the Simple Green and wire brush.

I just de-greased the '29 I am working on, and used a product called Super Clean, from O'reilly's...comes in a purple 1 gal container....don't know if you have O'Reilly's where you are or not.....I sprayed it liberally on the engine, and the grease just started melting off in layers. It took all afternoon to get through all the layers, but every soaking yielded more and more engine block with 1 less layer of grease...
 
Once the grease & grime is cleaned off, could this "maybe" be a candidate for the MOLASSES TREATMENT???---Or Vinegar???
Bill W.
 
I would add my voice to those against sandblasting the engine in-situ. I have done some open-room sandblasting on a Model A frame and other structural parts (actually used glass beads and aluminium oxide), and the sand went to infinity and beyond. I spent a week pulling bland media just out of my hair, and three months cleaning it out of the room. In principle, yes, if you mask off every hole and so-on then indeed everything would be fine, but between the radiator, steering column, carburettor, distributor... I just don't see how it could be done without covering those things in Play Doh. I'd go with wire brush. Good luck!
 
Drive Shaft Dave said:
Dont let a sandblaster anywhere near any engine.
Click to expand...
Dave,
If anyone ever lived in West Texas, they'd appreciate your comment. In a sandstorm, sand gets EVERYWHERE! In your SHEETS, on you TABLE, in the cupboards, in the oven & even in your EARS! Every couple of years, you have to scoop the sand out of your ATTIC, even. It'll even remove the shine from your cars' trim:eek:
Bill W.
 
40 Deluxe said:
In other words, make liberal use of that old-time freebie: Elbow Grease!
Click to expand...

20806389574_321e610fae.jpg
 
Yo, ManiacBiker, good morning,
Once that Dude's clean, be real picky about masking & covering stuff with cheep plastic. Even a ROOKIE, like me, can do a PROFESSIONAL looking job, with a lot of care. We'll be waiting, with baited breath, for multiple PICS!
Bill W.
 
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