hey i am removing the heads from my 95 z28 and a good bit of sludge/trash has accumulated near the lifters because theyve been exposed. i went to pull the lifters last night and i was afraid some stuff is going to get down there. some already might have got down the pushrod passages. the cam is coming out anyways, what can i do to a) get rid of the crap still sitting up top and b) make sure to get out anything that might have gotten down in the block?

 

Use a shop vac to get as much of it as you can. Then use clean rags to try and wipe out the rest.

 

what about the stuff that could have got down by the camshaft?

 

There's not much you can do about it now. Changing the oil a couple of times in the first few hundred miles should help some.

 

What you can do at this point is some damage control. Change your oil, and filter. Even the smallest particles can get into the crankshaft bearings, and cause problems.

 

If its any consolation to ya just know that any debris that fall into the lifter valley or down into the engine from there are actually in the crankcase. From there it must make it past the oil pump pick up screen and then is sent to the filter before it ever makes it to any bearings. If you think there is alot that "fell in", before you pull the lifters, you could get you a few quarts cheap oil and pour it all over the lifter valley and leave the drain plug out of the oil pan while you do this. That way any loose debris that "fell in" would most likely be carried out by the oil as it drained. Definitely change your oil and filter a coulple of times within a few hundred miles.

 

That's what I did. Look at this pic. This is just from running 5 qts from the vallley down to the pan. My valley was really clean also. I have used mobil 1 since new too. I was surprised.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...92754818ibRSSX

The oil looks like its got 3k on it. WOW!


Jeff D.

 

Good job PoorMan!

 

could i do that with the lifters out also? or do they have to be in? if they have to be in ill prob hit it with a shop vac then go over it with a rag w/ all the lifters back in then pour a crapload of oil all over it like yall suggested. thats wild how much stuff it picked up!

 

I had the lifters out because I wanted to wash the cam bearings really well. The theory; chugging of the oil goin straight into the lifter bores to help wash any crap they may be on the bearing. At least that's my weird way of thinking.

Jeff D.