Block prep thread

[PSM_Kid]

Yea I stopped suggesting the cookie wheel I realized some people arent able to do it correctly so Im not going to try to convert...

as to my method I use.... I cannot say, it depends....

LOL I was the first to disagree with you on the cookie method in that thread (post#6). No hard feelings tho man, we all got our own methods. That thread went south fast and I never kept up with it to the end. To the guy in there who told me he keeps all of his old head gaskets, you still aren't doing enough stud jobs, get a hold of something son. I promise you aren't doin work.

 

[YoungMT Hick]

This is what mines looked like after i got done. Razor blade, flat scraper, 600 grit and 1500 grit still had some pitting but hope thats ok. This was the biggest PITA of the whole build. **** block prep.


p.s. FYI if you turn the block over you can clean the other pistons. found that out when turning it over for the valve train

 

[Mdub707]

Yeah, I'm not worried about cleaning the tops of the pistons off, since they'll look just like that after about the first hour of running it.

How did you sand it Kenny? With a block of some sort I hope, not just by hand...?

My headgaskets have been off the truck enough that I doubt the ones on there are "stuck" to the block very much.

 

[YoungMT Hick]

How did you sand it Kenny? With a block of some sort I hope, not just by hand...?

Mike grab some 1500 and 600 grit paper and tell me if you think your going to remove metal with that. No i didnt use a block or a straight edge. I just used it with water and my fingers for hours. It blows

 

[Mdub707]

Mike grab some 1500 and 600 grit paper and tell me if you think your going to remove metal with that. No i didnt use a block or a straight edge. I just used it with water and my fingers for hours. It blows

I wouldn't do it without some sort of flat edge/guide myself. Sand paper WILL remove metal, doesn't matter how fine it is.

 

[YoungMT Hick]

Ya i know well lets hope everything works out.

 

[DEEZUZ]

I didnt like the block method simply because it was hard to angle the block and find something to hold it at the right angle. I used all sorts of vise grips and just never felt safe. I practiced it on a junk block and it didnt look that great when I was done with it

 

[wetnsloppy4x]

I actually posted in this thread way back when... seems like no one ever agreed on a method! I think I'm just going to call Doug up.

Now that you mention it.....:doh:

Did you get a chance to call Doug yet?

I didnt like the block method simply because it was hard to angle the block and find something to hold it at the right angle. I used all sorts of vise grips and just never felt safe. I practiced it on a junk block and it didnt look that great when I was done with it

I guess I need to go back and watch that vid of the block method. I thought he was just running it over on the big flat side.:shrug:

 

[Mdub707]

I didnt like the block method simply because it was hard to angle the block and find something to hold it at the right angle. I used all sorts of vise grips and just never felt safe. I practiced it on a junk block and it didnt look that great when I was done with it

I don't quite follow that... angle the block? I'm thinking a long flat block, something like 2"x2"x6" wrapped in sand paper, lay the paper/block flat on the engine block and go to town. Why would you need vice grips? Maybe I'm just not picturing your method right...

Now that you mention it.....:doh:

Did you get a chance to call Doug yet?

I did not, hasn't really been a priority just yet, still getting parts together. Just scouring ebay and the forums trying to get deals on everything so I can save some $$$. This is really bad timing.

I guess I need to go back and watch that vid of the block method. I thought he was just running it over on the big flat side.:shrug:

 

[DEEZUZ]

oi vey.....

just get the block prep compound and brass scrappers... this is not that hard..... IF you cant spare an hour per side, you shouldnt be doing this job at all

 

[Mdub707]

I can spare all the time I want to get the job done right, the problem seems to lie in finding the "right way" to do this... I haven't heard the same answer said twice on any of the forums, everyone seems to have their own method and madness to it. You are one of the ONLY people who has recommended getting the prep compound to me. I'm just trying to take all the information given and come up with a good solution based on what I know. This probably isn't hard for someone who has done this 1000 times and has access to all of the right tools/equipment and bottomless pockets. I'm doing this on a borrowed lift in someone elses garage, I want to do it right and do it once, just trying to do some research before diving in. Block prep is the ONE AND ONLY area I have not got a straight answer on. Your description of the block method and why it didn't work, just doesn't make sense to me. I'm not saying you're right or wrong, I just didn't follow what you were saying. It sounds like wetnsloppy4x didn't follow either.

Thanks for your help.

 

[DEEZUZ]

find me the link to the guy doing the block method, video

 

[Mdub707]

find me the link to the guy doing the block method, video

It's in the PSN link on page 2 of this thread.

http://powerstrokenation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95759&highlight=block+prep&page=4

Page 4 in there the vid is embedded.

 

[DEEZUZ]

ok I remember now... I hated having stop at certain points to re adjust, than try to re angle and think back to how much pressure I just used. Plus, having done several passes, there was still gasket material on the block surface. Plus theres always a chance to slip off or press down at the wrong angle and nick a cylinder....

 

[Mdub707]

Ok great, thanks for the clarification! Appreciate it.

 

[Mdub707]

Use ford metal surface prep part number ZC -A-31. Than brass scrappers. The surface prep stuff will get everywhere so use q tips to get it out of cooling tallies.

I couldn't find it on Tousley because it was the wrong P/N!

For future reference, the surface prep P/N is ZC-31-A.

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[DEEZUZ]

I keep about 35 Ford part numbers in my head at once. Alliant numbers too. Sorry about that, its been about 4 months since I've used it

 

[Mdub707]

No worries man, just wanted to get the correct one in here for future readers! Appreciate the help.

BTW, that was a pretty close guess for not using it for that long! More than I would have remembered.

I did go ahead and order some of it though when I placed my *hopefully* last order from Ford for this project. Just need to swing by local dealer and get some Mercon LV, some brake cleaner, some oven cleaner, some rags, beer, pizza... good to go.

 

[Mdub707]

I finally talked to Doug about block prepping without removing the block from the engine bay.

He said just use a honing block. Just get one long enough to keep it flat...

 

[hawgdoctor]

Or go to your local kitchen shop, and ask them about some scrap granite pieces. Same principal, and a hell of alot cheaper.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk