New(to me) heads, clean them or no?

[hockeybawler]

So I just bought some used heads and they are pretty dirty on the inside, what is the best way to clean them? Or should I not clean them and just put them in the car as they are? I don't think that is the right idea so that is why I am coming to you guys for some advice! Thanks for the help in advance

 

[REDCRAPGP]

Local machine shop just uses brake parts cleaner when he cleans the heads or blocks.

 

[SleeperGS]

I would hone

 

[SleeperGS]

there is also a solution for them to be dipped in if done properly.

 

[MoarkatsINmuhtrailer]

I put my heads in my parts washer. I use a mix of kerosene and diesel. 3-4 gallons of each

 

[hockeybawler]

Hmm I think I am just going to hose them down with brake cleaner, should be the easiest thing for me to do

 

[REDCRAPGP]

and cheapest

 

[GTPpower]

I would take them to a machine shop and have them hot tanked.

 

[PartsLady]

Did mine with some brake cleaner and a scrub brush the sanded and painted the outsides with high temp paint

 

[matt5112]

I used super clean then went to town with the eastwood porting kit.

But hot tank and a pressure test would be ideal.

 

[dbextreme]

Call a local machine shop and see how much they charge to recondition them. Would be worth it, plus you'd have a perfectly smooth mating surface for gaskets. These heads have been on another car which was heated, cooled, heated, cooled, ect... Even though they are not aluminum, I'd still have them checked.

 

[Seachicken]

if your not taking them apart becarefull how you clean them, if you get too much water/solvents in the guides you could sieze the valve a few minutes after fire up

if your not going to spend much money on the heads, i would take them apart, clean with porting bits/cartridge rolls (die grinder), take your valves to a shop and have them grind them (cheap) then take them home and lap them in yourself, assemble with gear oil (140w) if you have it lying around

or just bolt them bitc*es on