I picked up a sohc head and it's black like tar inside but there's no sludge on any of the parts and under the valve cover it's spotless so I don't think thats original cover for it. Anyways how can I clean the head without having to disassemble it and hot tanking it? Would just Seafoam work when I get the engine together and running or is there something else? Maybe just spray it down with brake or carb cleaner? Can I hot tank it completely assembled or not? Sorry I just never had anything hot tanked before so I don't know what is all involved with it and what has to be done to the parts before hand.

 

take apart the head, everything except the valve assembly and clean it with wd40 or carbcleaner wtv.

makes it nice and shiny

 

A toothbrush is a useful commodity.

 

dip the whole head in a 5 gallon bucket of moneral spirits.
let it soak for 2 days. it'll look like new, i did this to my turbo before the install.

 

whats moneral spirits
if it contains water some parts may get rusty

 

IT would only get rusty if you left some water on the parts with out wiping them down. If they are submerged it shouldnt matter. Just make sure that you wipe them down completely. A couple days shouldnt hurt anything.

 

paint thinner, mineral spirits, or dip it in a 5 gallon bucket of diesel fuel.

 

First shot is kinda fuzzy but you can see that the rockers are pretty black and nasty.

 

hot-tanking is only about $30. and while ur at it, have the shop mill the head about .005", it will insure a good seal.

when you buy used...... "Caveat Emptor" (buyer beware)

just my $ .02
mike

 

The head only ran me 75 shipped so I wasn't losing out on much and since it's a y5 head it should have that many miles on it cause who keeps these in their cars anyways? :P