Cleaning intake and camshafts

sbarne3 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:33 pm **Posts:** 82

I bought a used intake (Chrysler calls it a valve cover?) and camshafts off eBay and they are extremely dirty. Can someone recommend a method for safely cleaning them?
I'm particularly concerned about the camshafts since I'm guessing that I don't want to use anything abrasive on them, right?

Sorry for the newb question and thanks in advance

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jul 27, 2017 8:54 pm

Disassemble and take to a machine shop or radiator shop that can do this for you for a nominal charge. Ultrasonic bath cleaning will leave them clean as new. You will need new cam seals and end plugs. Perhaps the shop can disassemble them for you as well.

sbarne3 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:33 pm **Posts:** 82

Thanks... That's good advice. I know a few odds and ends about cars (things I picked up from my dad), but I'm definitely still a newb.
I'm probably in over my head with this project, but I'm having fun [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]
The Jeep I bought had a blown head gasket. The previous owner hired someone to fix it, but the guy ended up getting arrested before he could finish and there also ended up being a few parts missing. I'm trying to see if I can put it all back together

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GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jul 27, 2017 10:06 pm

If you've got questions, send them, with pictures if possible, and we'll do our best to help.

Unfortunately the image library has taken a huge hit thanks to Photobucket, but it's slowly coming back as images are moved to other sites and re-linked.

sbarne3 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:33 pm **Posts:** 82

Thanks so much.

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thermorex · **Posted:** Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:08 am

I cleaned mine with gasoline and a bottle brush. Looked almost like new when cleaned.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Jul 28, 2017 11:25 pm

I pressure washed mine. Just don't leave water on the metal cams for a long time. Rinse with acetone or other lightweight solvent after to help remove water.

sbarne3 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:33 pm **Posts:** 82

GordnadoCRD wrote:

Disassemble and take to a machine shop or radiator shop that can do this for you for a nominal charge. Ultrasonic bath cleaning will leave them clean as new. You will need new cam seals and end plugs. Perhaps the shop can disassemble them for you as well.

Any tips for getting the end plugs off? I have the threaded kind and tried using a 2 ft breaker bar, but they wouldn't budge.

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:45 pm

I have no experience with the threaded kind. Both of mine are the press in kind.

I hope this isn't the case, but I suppose it's possible they could have been installed with a threadlocker that requires heat to release.

Have you taken it to the machine shop yet?

Using This Type will often break threaded stuff loose with less damage than with air or battery type drivers. If you couple that with a set of these it should work.

And Yes, I realize they're not snap-on, but unless you make your living with them, it's hard to justify the price of snap-on if something of lesser quality will work for the half dozen times you're likely to need it.

sbarne3 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:33 pm **Posts:** 82

I shop at harbor freight all the time... For the very reasons you stated... Unfortunately their hex sets only went up to 19mm and the plug is a 22mm. Northern tool had a set of regular sockets not impact that went up to 22mm and that's what I bought. I think if I can find a better way to hold it still then maybe I can get it loose with the breaker bar

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Cleaning intake and camshafts

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