Ok i am rebuild in a 350 for my winter truck. Its all stock, i am just putting new bearings and rings in it. The question that i have is that the pistons have alot of carbon build up and i am wondering the best way to take it off. Also Can i just use engine degreaser to clean the block, lifter valley, ect. And then put some oil back on it after cleaning it. I don't really wanna have to take it to an engine shop and have it boiled. Let me know if you guys have any pointers.
Thanks Brad

 

Easy off oven cleaner works very well with carbon on pistons and so forth..Just keep it away from the cam bearings.Engine degreaser works well for the block but be sure to get an engine cleaning brush kit.. Pull all the gallery plugs from the oil passagess..

Id at least clean it up and have the bores checked at a machine shop..Or if it didnt smoke then i wouldnt even pull the pistons out..Just a new oil pump crank and rod bearings,frsh timing chain,cam if its not a roller,valve springs, and definatly get the heads rebuilt or if money allows for the intake id just buy some vortecs because they are cheap...

 

Anyone else care to chime in?

 

I have a friend that takes junk yard 455's apart and puts em back together, run's 10's with em. On stock cast 8 to 1 pistons no less.
Pull it apart and clean it real well. Hot water soap and long thin brushes for the oil passages will do. Scrub and then scrub some more. Hot water and soap. You can clean the pistons, and other parts in a parts cleaner with mineral spirits in it. Use carb cleaner on the piston tops if you can't get the carbon off. You can take a ball hone on a drill to the cylinders if you want to rough them up for the new rings. Plastiguage your new bearings, file fit your new rings. Check all clearances twice. Make sure you soak pistons, lifters in oil before assly. Use assly lube. Easy on the silicone. Torque to specs. I know it sounds crazy but he's had good luck so far.
It can be done if you are careful. This is the cheap way out for sure!

Good Luck
Guido

P.S. FYI, I sent my block to a machine shop for all my work.