Blast cleaning iron heads?

[BadAC]

Guys, i seem to remember many many years ago getting essex v6 heads blasted.

So Q is any reason sbc iron heads cant be blasted.

Ive been offered a pair of the turbo heads think casting is 292. They need a clean up.

Gary

[mygasser]

i'd be worried about any remaining media getting into the oil system.
neil.

[4_stroke]

Grit blasting removes metal. Can damage valve guides etc.. soda blasting does not.

[rem]

I'd go for vapour blasting - the fluid usually has a rust inhibitor to prevent or at least minimise flash rusting afterwards. You just have to thoroughly clean out all the ports and especially the valve guides to remove all trace of the media.

[BadAC]

So after a few phone calls and a bit of YouTube, It seems that blasting is ok, spoke to a pro engine builder who does on a regular basis, and my local blasters who do a lot of heads.

General gist is this, Plug the valve guides top and bottom with Playdoh/rubber grommets, wrap the valve guides on the top of the head in tape, lengths of rubber hose over rocker studs, fit some old exhaust/inlet bolts into threads, plug spark plug holes with tight wads of cloth. When blasted in fine media either soda, brass, walnut shell, vapour etc etc etc spray in WD40 or duck oil. When get them home wash out all water ways with hot soapy water and pressure, blast every where else with air paraffin gun.

Sounds simple don't it, going to test it with a sacrificial head blasting only £15-20 for test head.

Here's hoping it works.

Thanks guys for input.

G

[BadAC]

Well heads went to blasters on monday, back yesterday. Now got a coat or 2 of black satin high temp on them and hi temp laquer on the surface where the go, got that idea from chevy head book, evidently helps the oil flow off better. Any way a couple of before and after pics below. Now to decide if i want to use them.

20250217_110544.jpg20250214_145533.jpg20250217_110605.jpg20250221_150851.jpg20250221_172358.jpg

[Acker]

Lovely job


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[mygasser]

you won't be upset with the performance gary, even with those heads. that's what ashley's 350 had in his zephyr ('77 smog motor) but like yours we fitted a cam kit, 4 barrel and headers. i know from experience stock type cast pistons don't like repeated 6000rpm+ or they break the rings so bear that in mind. you'll need an uprated ignition setup to get more than the 5500 a stock hei will allow but 6-7000 is easy enough with just a better module in the dizzy, lol.
neil.

[Brizey]

The flathead guys have been painting the blocks internal surfaces with `Rustoleum` paint or similar for decades, this includes the crank/cam area and lifter valley (the flathead equivalent to the rocker/valve guide area of an OHV head).
This not only helps oil return but effectively seals in any foreign matter (grit, dirt, dust etc) that may have been missed when cleaning, and which could come loose later on during running!...