Has anybody ever thought about sand blasting a sitting engine?

[super-bee_ski]

Hello fellow "Forum" members,
I recently purchased a 1977 AMC 258 "in-line" 6 cylinder.
It's a spare for the 1977 Gremlin X.

I bought it, sprayed it down and Hi-pressure washed it.
2 days later, it rained.
Yup, So Cal, Mojave desert! (Never rains)
Now it is rusty.

QUESTION:
1. If I pull off carb, distributor and other items and fill the holes with a rag, tape off the holes with duct tape, spark plugs left in place.
CAN I SAND BLAST THE ENGINE?
2. Will it damage anything?
I'd be essentially blasting the block, oil pan, valve cover, intake/exhaust manifold and water pump

 

[Budnicks]

I'd probably media blast or maybe soda blast {got to get all the soda off thou, some paints don't act well around soda} before I got "sand" anywhere near a assembled engine, no matter how well it was taped off/protected... That's just me thou, it might be just fine...

 

[Coyoteduster]

No! :eusa_doh:

 

[Rocketman]

Never done it to a car, but it gets done on tractors all the time. Every tractor I restored was degreased (oven cleaner), washed, and blasted if needed while on the tractor including this one:

 

[Richard Cranium]

Is that some sort of road grader?


In regards to sanblasting the engine; it's only a 6 banger for a Gremlin, go for it! ink banana:

 

[tallhair]

I'd be extra cautious with sealing off all openings .. if it's out how about a more conservative approach like wire brushing, cleaning again, and then paint it

 

[sleepar]

I would rub it out with scotch brite and some laquor thinner then prime and paint a day or two of spot rust is nothing to worry about

 

[Rocketman]

Is that some sort of road grader?


In regards to sanblasting the engine; it's only a 6 banger for a Gremlin, go for it! ink banana:

No, it is a Harris Powerhorse 1953 model. It was made in Stockton, CA and to my knowledge only 250 of these were made at that location. They sold 250 to Iran but because non union labor was used the dock workers would not load them and they sat on the docks while the company went belly up. It had a 6 cylinder Chrysler flat head in it and those tires are the same size as on a Farmall A, yet it would out pull JD 830's which out weighed it by several thousand pounds of course it was 4 wheel drive and had a planetary steering box like a dozer.

Below is a link for the Nebraska test in 1952, notice the wider tires in the picture.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1597&context=tractormuseumlit

These tractors were later versions of this set up intended to replace the horse for the carriages:

 

[MarPar]

I dunno, Mark. even if you seal the sh*t out of it, sand always gets EVERYWHERE!!!

like Sleepar said rub it out giggle with wire and/or scotch brite.

 

[WP29440SE]

I suppose you could , I personally would never do it.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Yup,
A questionable practice....
If I do "blast", I will use "plastic-beads" as suggested by Budnicks....
Seal off every opening, concentrate primarily on the BLOCK.

I'm trying the wire brush technique first,
As "Mar" says, the sand media gets everywhere!
PICs to follow.
Thanks to all for your input...

RC;
Sell that Charger (not the Hemi) and get an old tractor!
Admit it! You have a secret fondness for that stuff!
(We all do)

 

[sleepar]

I've pulled motorcycles apart and found sand in the head bolts.... how it got past the gaskets ???? But it gets in there hit it with some rust cap Eastwood primer you cant have more than very light rust... just looks terrible... give it a bath in Apple cider vinegar then brake cleaner.... it's not like the rust is slakeing off in sheets
If you have to blast it use co2 .... o grit or steel wool anything but abrasives

 

[daredevil]

What about spraying it with osphos

 

[ws27]

I've done it a to a few 440 HP engines with great results. If you want the details, PM me, I'd be happy to talk with you.

 

[ga66mopar]

I had a friend sand-blast a crate 360 and it worked at real well. He was a building a 34 plymouth hot rod and painted the engine the same color of the car. Since the engine could be seen from both sides it was real important for the paint to stick. He just sealed it up real well. Five years later the engine still looks great.

 

[hemihotrodca]

Use crushed walnut shells. if any do get inside they don't damage anything. they come in 50lbs bags

 

[HT413]

How about brushing on some evaporust? Rust will be gone in a couple of minutes, then just rinse, blow dry with a compressor and paint it.

 

[daredevil]

http://www.ospho.com/

 

[super-bee_ski]

I've done it a to a few 440 HP engines with great results. If you want the details, PM me, I'd be happy to talk with you.

I'm researching that approach.
I'm NOT going to sand blast it, wire brush and osphos

- - - Updated - - -

How about brushing on some evaporust? Rust will be gone in a couple of minutes, then just rinse, blow dry with a compressor and paint it.

Looking into that too!
This week it will be done

 

[super-bee_ski]

How about brushing on some evaporust? Rust will be gone in a couple of minutes, then just rinse, blow dry with a compressor and paint it.

Gee,
I wonder if it will work on "Section 8"
LOL