ok, i had my block machined,bored and new cam bearings installed. i placed the block in a lil storage room here at my work with a tarp wrapped on it. well went out there yesterday and it seems that one of the guys that works here took the tarp. so my question is, can you spray down the block to help get all the dust of/out of it with water and not hurt the cam bearings? or can i use brake kleen? don't really wanna pay the machine shop to dip it again.. i have a few days for it to dry before i start assembling it. any info would be greatly appreciated. thanks
mike

 

Here's a bump for ya. Sounds like a dilemma that could use a good solid answer.

 

I wouldn't use water.... the machined surfaces will rust almost immediately. You might want to check to make sure the surfaces aren't already showing signs of rust from the humidity.

 

You can wash an engine with dish washing liquid and warm water. Blast it dry with air, and liberally coat it with WD-40 as soon as you are done with it. If you want to use brake kleen you can, it will take less time than washing by hand and give you the same results. But you will have to use WD-40 again because the brake Kleen will strip all the oils off the block and other surfaces.
NOTE: When assembling the block clean the mating surfaces with brake kleen just prior to assembly. Most of the gaskets on your engine will require a "clean and dry" surface.

 

you can use brake clean it shouldent hurt the surfaces, i would wait till your about to put it together and then clean it and you can use some wd40 or id rather use oil on all the surfaces with a rag before assembely

 

alright thanks for the reply guys.. yeah i had sprayed it down with wd-40 in the first place, and friday i wiped it clean and sprayed it down again..so it looks alright..shouldn't have a problem. thanks
mike

 

I prefer oil to WD40, seems to do better at preventing rust when a block is stored.

Rich

 

i have the same question. i just took off my heads and about to yank the cam. should i leave the cam in until im ready to put the new one in? and also, since i already pulled the heads, should i rub everything down with wd40or oil (including the bores) so rust wont form? i probably wont have anything put back together for about a month or 2. and before assembly, what should i clean the surfaces with to get the wd40 or oil off?

 

Yes to everything, but as Rich said use oil. I use straight 30wt. smear it all over the machined surfaces including the clylinders. you can use brake clean or carb clean (spray on a shop rag) to take it off when the time comes.
whenever i did this i also checked under the hood about once a week to ensure the surfaces were still coated.
if the car is outside then make sure to put a large trashbag across the engine. make it tight so water won't pool in the oil valley. don't trust the seal on the cowl to work if it rains or snows.

 

just put engine oil over the block surfaces and put saran wrap over it.
one more question, i have a little bit of pitting/rust around the water jackets, what would you all recommend to take it off? i was thinking pb blaster?

 

WD40 evaporates too quickly... I stuff oil soaked rags into any machined areas.

As for cleaning machined parts... I use Varsol all the time. Or if its just loose dirt I used compressed air.