Hello all!

I am doing a little bit of engine parts clean up..... and quite simply, I am totally sick of using the wire wheel in my drill. It just doesnt work too well. I have only done the clutch cover at the moment... and its a pretty crappy effort too. The wire wheel just doent get into the corners all too well.

I am just wondering what the preferred method is when it comes to stripping all the crap off bits like the clutch cover, flywheel surround, gearbox casing and the block.

A high pressure hose wouldnt really do it.... but paint stripper?? Is this safe??

Or what else can I do to get these back to bare metal????

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

If you want to get real picky and get right into the tight corners get a Dremil or one of the cheap $20 look a likes from Bunnings. - good on carbies and the like.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I'd try paint stripper, leave it in the sun for an hour, then hit it with a high pressure hose.

Sand blaster.

I bead blasted all my aluminium- clutch cover, flywheel housing, and then painted them with VHT Engine Enamel - "Universal Aluminium". Came up a treat. All other items and accesories got the kero-water-air treatment, bead blsted and painted accordingly. (all brackets, breaters, etc. were done with the VHT cast iron finish, the block was painted gloss black, and all aluminium is now the right silver. The bumpy finish of the raw casting on the block hides any stubborn paint that was left behind, but good paint is 99% preperation for the rest of the ancillaries. (the aluminium shows it up really bad)

You may just have to scrape the first chunky bits off the block, but that stipply finish hides most of it.

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

Ah... cool cool cool.....


Stuwey... who's bead blaster did you use?? I was gonna ask ya on Saturday but you left there in a bit of a hurry

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

I sand blasted the alloy stuff and used paint stripper and a wire brush on the cast iron.

A bit messy I have to say

It depends. If you are rebuilding the motor send the block to an engine reconditioner and he will put it in the cleaning tank and there will be no paint on it when you get it back. The other simple way if you have not got a bead blaster is make up a bath of caustic soda (draino) and leave the parts in this. Cheaper than paint stripper and you can make the stuff as you need it. We use it to clean mufflers on karts and it takes all the paint off them and all the oil and grease. Use all relevant safety equipment to protecxt eyes etc.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

If you use caustic, I'd keep it away from the cam bearings, or alloy parts...

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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.

Any bath will stuff the cam bearings. You can use it on alloy with care. Paint stripper would be worse. With caustic you can dilute to suit, try it on a bit of alloy that is not seen. If all else fails buy a bead blaster.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

Take a look at these pics to see what you can do with soda blasting....

http://community.webshots.com/photo/100563359/105661338nGQzWl

Just click on the next button to see the rest.

My grandpa has one- Its big enough to put an entire motorcycle frame into.

The fine glass beads give a really good finish, but the raw alloy stains really easy with grease and oil. Go the silver paint afterwards.

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

Oh BABY! My Weber is so gonna get some of that. My one at the moment looks all stained and brown and unflattering. Any idea how much it costs to get done?

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Jonathan
http://photobucket.com/albums/y64/FatMaserati/

You couldn't ask for better results than that.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.

Very tidy indeed...have to give that a go when the time comes

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[Maverick] 1971 Mini K