cleaning up the slant six head

barbee6043 said
just wondering: soak is purple cleaner, dawn solution, etc, spray down with $2 can of engine degressor, and $1.50 at the car wash????
i make bits and spurs and have used 50% soluton of muratic acid, works well to clean the heavy metal, but i left a buckle made of 1/8 in mild steel a little too long! became 1/16 in thick! LOL perhaps a difference how the acid works on mild vs "hard" cold rolled like bits and spurs are and then again how it works on cast iron. the vinegar: i have no experience with it except for making home made salsa!!! LOL
another notion: soak in gas (not diesel) for cleaner. maybe someone on here is a chemist with vinegar background! really, i'm always interested in finding cheaper better way to clean nasty parts!!!
if some off us guys didn't joke around a little we might get "soft"!

If you do a little searching on-line you will see quite a bit of info about going the Muratic way and the consensus seems to be that it leaves a residue behind that cannot easily ( or at all ) be neutralized.

Not sure what your thoughts are going on the gas versus diesel, I have soaked my parts in diesal ( thats what I use in my parts washer ) and I love the stuff.

Let it sit for a few days and the crap just seems to fall off whereas gasoline although quicker will evaporate in the blink of an eye.

I pulled my intake out tonight and very little to no traces of rust, clean black metal at this point, I rinsed with a high pressure hose and it went straight into my parts washer. I have read to neutralize with baking soda.

I guess I need to consider that and will possibly do so over the weekend.