cleaning cases/ barrels

[coater87]

 Guys,
 
 This summer looks like the official start of the restoration.

 What do you guys use to really clean up the cases and whatnot? Way back we used nothing but petrol, then after words hot water and dish soap with a scrub brush.

 I hope things have improved, because then never really got the grease out of the castings, just seemed to smear it to a lighter color.

[Briz]

Any good degreaser is the first step. Then (for alloy parts) use alloy-wheel cleaner, which is basically phosphoric acid. This'll get corrosion off and get the metal clean. Wash off with boiling water.
Iron barrels need shotblasting. Nothing else really works, and you need someone who'll do a thorough job. Many times they wont really get the crap out from between the fins. Obviously, protect machined surfaces.

[WozzA]

I had my cases bead blasted & they came up well.. 
Iron head & barrels were first degreased,
then steam cleaned & scrubbed with a solution of caustic soda & steamed cleaned again.
Sprayed with ceramic heatproof paint, & cured in a oven...  ( or BBQ  )

I've seen alloy heads & cases HYDROBLASTED by Greg from  http://www.woodyshydroblast.com/p/about-us.html which have a almost polished finish if you like that look.

[Greybeard]

For my cast iron bits I left them in a bath of caustic soda to degrease them for about a month while I got on with other work then while they were still in the CS I connected them up to my battery charger which removed rust. Followed off with semi-gloss heatproof engine paint.

The ally bits I cleaned with a stiff brush and petrol and then used a brass brush on my bench grinder to remove ally oxide. I used course and fine polishing brushes on my bench grinder for the polished surfaces. I was surprised how well the bits cleaned up. I didn't want a chrome like finish; just an 'as new' look.

[Greybeard]

I've seen alloy heads & cases HYDROBLASTED by Greg from  http://www.woodyshydroblast.com/p/about-us.html which have a almost polished finish if you like that look.

Blimey; if I send my head to be Hydroblasted will it come back with three inlet ports!?

[WozzA]

Blimey; if I send my head to be Hydroblasted will it come back with three inlet ports!?

Hell yeah....      Look on the bright side...  just think how well it would breath after that mod..