by ron bennett » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:15 am
Buffing compound and a wheel will give you a bright shine like the late Fox engines, but if you are restoring a cast engine case and need a clean, even matte finish, the Pepsodent technique is the best bet.
The safest and most efficient way to clean baked on castor stains is in a yard-sale-purchased crock pot and anti-freeze. But the MOST IMPORTANT thing is that you use real ethyl glycol (old style, "unsafe") anti-freeze WITHOUT any special additives. Usually, this is going to be the really cheap stuff at your auto parts store, but you do have to read the label to be sure. Don't leave your engine overnight and be careful with cases that have high magnesium content, like Super Tigre cases - they mag will blacken and cannot be removed. Really baked on castor like around the head and on mufflers, will take a few cycles in the cork-pot. Remember to cover the pot when not in use so cats/dogs/other dritter can't get to it.
Most chemical cleaners (CRC break cleaner, Berryman's carb cleaner, etc.) will remove the castor build-up, but are toxic ot a lesser or greater extent AND they will strip off paint (how to ruin a K&B Greenhead real fast) and disolve or soften any rubber (O-rings for example) and most plastics.
Ron Bennett