Blasting heads

[3XBrownCutty]

I just picked up a set of #4 heads for my 350, and was wondering how I could clean all the rust and gunk off of them.

If I were to bead-blast them, would I just have to take everything off them (valves, rockers and springs)? Can i blast the valves safely and still be able to use them? Can I blast into the water ports and still be able to get all the media out?

The plan is to get a aluminum intake also, and put the heads and the intake on next winter or something. Are there any cheaper roller rockers out there for oldsmobiles? just thinking as long as I'm doing these heads... lol. Just throwing ideas out there :lol:

 

[454muscle]

Why don't you get them professionally done at a machine shop? They have to be checked for minor cracks too. They will also need resurfacing before getting put back on. The other thing is when you do have them cleaned up you can have the shop also port and polish them at the same time. I'm just saying, because you said next winter -- so I'd say work a few extra shifts lol and save the money to get them done right.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Most machine shops will have a machine that will blast the heads fairly easily. I know my machinist has a steel shot blast machine that tumbles the heads as it blasts them. They come out looking brand new.
I'm on pretty good terms with my machinist so he doesn't charge me a whole lot for the service but I still wouldn't think it would be more than $50 to have them cleaned.

And yes, you'll want to remove the valves, springs, etc. before doing this.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Good point. I'll should just give them a call and see how much it would be to hot tank them, plus the resurfacing.

I really don't want to dump that much money into them though. My plan was to do as much as possible myself, and obviously leave the resurfacing or decking to them. I doubt i will get a port and polish, but I'll keep them as stock as possible.

I think if I blast them myself and just shoot air through all the passages, I'll be fine. somebody correct me if I'm wrong :lol:

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Keep in mind too, those heads are from a 330, which had a different bank angle than your 350, you may have to enlarge your pushrod holes so you don't wipe out your pushrods (in case you weren't aware).

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Yeah, I heard about that, but have not had a definite answer from someone with firsthand experience.