Advice needed on cleaning a motor

[dkooi]

I just bought an unfired ZZ4 that has been sitting in a shop for about 7 years. The intake, water pump and distributor have been off it for just as long. The guy said it sat with a cover on it, however upon further inspection I don't think that's the case. There seems to be quite a bit of metal shavings inside the lifter valley and I would assume also a little down the ports of the heads. The motor was stored near a brake/metal lathe in the back room of his shop, and that's where the shavings came from. How would you guys take care of this problem? Idealy I would like to not go into complete dissassembly of an almost ready to fire motor. Thanks for you input.

[Elephanthead]

Well a shop vac and compressed air are probably an option. I would guess the key is not pushing or blowing them further into the engine. I would probably turn it upside down on the engine stand and try to shop vac everything I could. I would then try to blow out the rest with compressed air.

[prostreetC-10]

Then you have a big decision to make. If a guy took that kind of care once it was together....what corners did he cut when it was assembled????

If you don't have time to take it apart the first time.....you will have time to take it apart when it fails. If it has cam break in lube or did, metal shavings can stick to that in areas you can't see. You are nuts if you don't pull that motor apart!!!!! I know it sucks to think about it but you are majorly rolling the dice. All assembly lube (bearings and what not) is thick and sticky over time. think about this.....whoever put the pistons in really coated the cylinder walls. Now you have a valve that was resting on the top of the lifter and all that fine "whatever" shavings has worked it's way into the ports and into the cylinders. You have to pull it apart!!!! A shop vac and air is not going to find all the places that stuff is hiding!!!!

[bac1755]

I would pull it apart and check everything why take the chance on "an almost ready to fire motor"?

You have any pics of the motor? so we can see what your working with?

[KEL]

a gasket set is a lot less expensive than machine work, and
thats probably what you will be looking at if you fire it up.

[tranz am]

Tear it apart! the chance that chunks of metal are in the ports or cylinders is good, and that can cause big problems.
Also if he told you it had been covered and it wasnt you have another problem to deal with.
I would question his honesty.

[dkooi]

Here are a couple pics

[turp mcspray]

Man, for the price of a gasket set I would open it up to clean it and check everything. I think it would be cheap insurance. While you're there slide in a hot cam!

[BP68]

I agree with pulling it apar to check everything. Pulling the heads and pan won't take long at all. Make sure the head bolts are reusable and go back together with correct torque specs. Also, as mentioned, perfect time for a Hot Cam install.

[redbaron69]

gaskets are cheap now and a whole lot less agrovation doing this before installation. the hot cam is a great idea while your there. but if you choose to clean it try a magnet to get some of the chips. best of luck to you

[truckdude239]

tear it a part and clean it why waste money. if u fire it and tere are metal shavings int eh cyliders you will trash that motor in about 30 seconds. then your out with machince cost to fix the cyliders and new pistions over a 40 dollor set of gaskets

[dwcsr]

You should take it all the way down.

[dkooi]

Well, you guys make some good points. I guess a gasket set is some cheap insurance. My questions now is, how could I find out if the head bolts are reusable?

[bac1755]

Even tho its never been fired I wouldn't reuse them. Bolts stretch a lil when you torque them.

[Skirkpat]

Tear it down now, or tear it down later, you have the choice, but you are going to tear it down. Any engine that sat that long is going to have isues anyway, condensation (then rust) on the cylinder sleaves, debris in oil galleries ( a new engine has no tolerance for any contamination) , if the valves were adjusted to run, you may need to get new springs, or lifters? Alot of problems can arise from sittting around idle.