Grit blasting the head

[morrigan]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/26953388744851.jpg


Having no equipment for doing this myself, I have to take the head, barrels and a few other bits to someone for blasting.
My mechanic mate has said he'll service the head when it's done, but wants me to leave the valves in.
So, any recommendations for a place in Sydney's west to take these bits, and also how to mask the head beforehand?

[wackyrider]

you don't want to grit blast the head. Maybe glass beads???

[chopaweeza]

I gotten heads done at the place near Penrith Wreckers(which escapes me for the moment) . They did a great job and I was very happy with the result. If you want to leave the valves in place get them Vapour Blasted . That is basically steam cleaned . I've gotten engine cases & barrels done that way before(place on Kurrajong Rd , Mt Druitt from memory)and they came up better than new without any impacting you get from glass or grit blasting.

[morrigan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was speaking to a friend who knows about these things, and he recommended cold dipping, but said it's expensive. So, I'm weighing up the options, and figured I'd ask the mechanic what he would recommend. Cold dipping, says he, coz I'm not worried about paint. He couldn't suggest anyone in particular, just said to ring an enigine recon place.
Now, I live near Silverwater. Industrial area, right? Only one recon place in the joint - A diesel engine reconditioner. So, I ring up with fingers crossed. Yep, they'll do it. Head, barrels and cover for $30. Bargain. So I put it all in a box and drop over there. No worries. Have a chat to the guys... "hang on, how big's your tank?"
"Huge"
"reckon you could do the frame for me?"
"No worries. $20"
Now I don't have to find an abrasive blaster for that. Cheering!

[pappas]

Some contact details please.....I work at homebush so could come in handy!!

[Jockney Rebel]

http://www.asbsupplies.com/try this lot heard good things ...

[morrigan]

quote:Originally posted by Jockney Rebel

http://www.asbsupplies.com/try this lot heard good things ...


That link didn't work. Try http://www.asbsupplies.com

[morrigan]

Pappas, you have mail

[moog]

what ever you do DON'T grit/sand blast 'em, bead or vapour is the only way.
Years ago my mate had his CBX 1000 (6) done, and even tho it was washed thouroughly after, once he'd warmed the engine up it was fucked, all the grit embedded into the ally, sweated out, and ruined every bearing, i shit myself cos my Z1000 was being done as well, so i used 6 gallons of oil flushing it, luckily i got away with it, my advise is flush it a few times just to be safe...

[morrigan]

I'll be flushing it anyway... the amount of crap that fell away when I took the barrels off alarmed me!

[Benz]

I had a gsx1100's head sandblasted, and cleaned. Cost about 40.00 bux from memory. The sandblasters told me it was good to go on as is, but I was smart enough to check closely, and there was sand grit embedded in every little orifice, oil gallery etc. After MUCH cleaning and blasting with compressed air, multiple kero baths, it was safe to install. I was lucky not to destroy the whole engine.
The lesson is NEVER sand blast ANY engine internals

[Hillsy]

BEAD blasting as opposed to SAND blasting is the way to go. And THOROUGHLY cleaning the parts afterwards is (naturally) a must.

I worked in a shop where we blasted heads all the time - it's only when they aren't cleaned properly afterwards that you run into problems.

And if you are going to get your heads blasted, removing EVERYTHING is a must (valves, seals, the lot).

[sharky]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/149545519105901.jpg

These guys were at the StoryBridge show....They had a Cocacola can that they had 'blasted' all of the red paint off....yet you could still read the writing on it...like a black/white image of a coke tin.

[morrigan]

It's all become moot now anyway... I'm having it all cold dipped, including the frame. Pick it up Monday.