Quicky! how do i know if my head has been skimmed/worked on? also what do i paint the block/head with?
Turbo Mini Forums

how is the best way to de-carbonise & clean my cylinder head & valves?

how do i know if my head has been skimmed/worked on?

also what do i paint the block/head with? i'm after a good paint that'll last well & not flake, what were the motors painted with at the factory? it seems tough i.e. 1275 red & 998 yellow in that matt/satin finish

cheers

Edited by clubminiflip on 19th Aug, 2006.

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

I usually get an electric drill and a small rotary wire brush.

Get the valves out and then carefully go over the chambers and ports with the wirebrush.

Spin the valves in an electric drill and use emery cloth to clean them up.

Use a scraper on the flat faces.

You can tell if it has been ported because the surfaces of the chamber and ports will be ground rather than cast.

I think the best way to tell if the head has been skimmed is to measure the thickness. The original thickness should be around 2.75 inches or 69.85mm.

Edited by Paul S on 18th Aug, 2006.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

apparently Mr Muscle oven cleaner is the best!!

I have anew favourite(wipes the floor with Mr Muscle), go to halfords and look for swarfega degreaser, in a 5 litre plastic can. i sprayed some neat on a cylinder head and carboned valves, left it overnight and the carbon wiped away with a cloth! very impressed :)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Oven cleaner and a still nylon bristled brush!

thats superb guys, i attacked a head i've bought this afternoon/eve following your advice, its a 12g295 for my 998 turbo project engine, a quick rundown below:

1. engine degreaser on the head, softened the carbon deposits really well

2. mr muscle oven cleaner left for 30 mins

3. a rotory wire brush on a drill

4. all carbon/grease/dirt/paint is gone with hardly any effort at all, & took no more than 5mins with the rotory wire brush in the drill for the complete head & combustion chambers (i'll post pics)

5. i think the combination of the three products was the key!
i took all traces of paint of the head too!

but have to buy a new valve spring commpressor, mine went bang!!! :o( so have'nt checked the valves guides & seats yet!

what should i paint the head with when i've had it checked and any machining carried out?
i need something heavy duty as its going to be a daily driver but want the engine to look tidy 98% off the time, cheers guys

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

Have the valves bead blasted and seats recut once you're at it. Cheap hp.

heres my results of the 295 head cleaning process, it has double valve springs, a type of r clip above the collets, and do the valve seats look normal to you guys or are they inserts, i was'nt sure due not seeing a 295 head before, any advice on where to go with this head, i.e what checks to do, relevant mods as its going to be used on my 998 turbo 'i hope' cheers guys

Edited by clubminiflip on 19th Aug, 2006.

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

Need exhaust valve out to tell properly. But it doesn't look to be unleaded IMO.

Looks pretty standard to me too.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

excellent to hear that on 1st impressions to you guys all seems standard & hopefully it is a head that has'nt been messed with, i'm miffed about my valve spring commpressor breaking tho! :o(
always get probs in the middle of a job to hold you back arrrrrrrrrh!!! should be able to pick one up at MITP i should think!

if all tuns out standard & untouched is there any "turbo specific" mods i should do, any work that needs doing i plan to take it to morespeed,

what paint should i use for the head & block? hammerite? proper engine enamel? i'd preferably like to paint them the standard A+ matt finish yellow but really dont know what to use? :os cheers again guys

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

Your meant to knock the valves(I use the hole end of a socket extension bar over the top,with a small bit of wood under the valve)
This loosens the collets--------Then you put the valve spring compressor on

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!