A while back a mate gave me a rusty 1/2" lobe camshaft , so i set about making up a container to fit the camshaft in to soak in vinegar , i had it in the bath for about 5-6 weeks , pulled it out yesterday and here's the results .

It came out as black as , gave it a wash in water then washed it down with petrol and then dried it and gave it a good hit with a wire brush .

It has some marks on it from the rust which i couldn't see beforehand ,the cam had been sitting on a shelf for years and only the topside had rust on it , i forgot to take a before pic .

Nice, I need to put something in my block water galleries to get rid of the rust, thinking molasses maybe

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1972 Mk3 Mini 1000, 1150cc supercharged.
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95872

Molasses works well but takes about 3 weeks or more. Mix ratio 1:3 molasses: water..
Won't work over oil or grease so degrease and water flush first if dirty inside.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I have already had my block in a mollasses bath for about 4-6 weeks , came out great , made it out of one of those kiddy wizbins , here's the link to the thread,

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=91319&hilit=mollasses+bath

awesome. I have the engine still in the car though with the radiator out and head off.

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1972 Mk3 Mini 1000, 1150cc supercharged.
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95872

Most people put the block in a molasses bath.
I have done a couple of blocks by bolting a head on and standing block on end with the water pump hole at top. Then I filled water jacket with molasses mix.
You could do the same, but in the car, fill it through the thermostat hole. Be aware that molasses eats alloy, so an alloy water pump will be cactus afterwards.
Obviously you need to block the pump's hose connection.
Flush well with water afterwards, water pump removed, remove the rear block drain plug then also.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Just wondering if fish oil could be used.

Fish oil won't remove rust. The idea of using molasses or vinegar is to remove it so that it cannot circulate to the radiator and block the cores.
Also thick rust in the water jacket reduces heat transfer.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Supposed to be a rust preventative but the smell can be overpowering

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"Show me the Mini!"

I've got 3 x 202 heads in the mollasses bath at the moment ,been there for prob 2 months , i'll pull em out in the next week or so and chuck up some pics .

I did this head a few years ago, only left it in the vinegar for a couple of days though!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

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Amazing how it shows up the metal damage after it's been in the bath , whereas you couldn't see it when it was rusty .

Dad and I restored a stage coach about 10yrs ago, we used molasses to clean up original metal work. Rusty plain looking steps went in and intricate detailed blacksmithing patterns came out!

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

Citric acid works great too but be careful leave it to long or too strong a brew It goes black
Ive done Autocheep degreaser White vinegar Citric acid .Keep an eye on things .Hot water increases the whole thing.They can all go black .Citric was very good.
I now have a small soda blaster and a shipment of 25 kilos if the feds dont grab us lol.Will be handy for lots of things and mates.
Im talking carbys but not a block best dipped before machining

Brilliant!

(now for some decking oil... )

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"Show me the Mini!"