cleaning carbon??

[Overcamber]

whats the best thing to use to clean the carbon out of the domes in my head? there isnt that much but brakeclean is barely touching it and i dont have access to a bead blaster. jst wanted to clean it up before bolting it onto my new 95 Big bore..thanks 

[Jeffd]

try filling with marvel mystrey oil and leaving overnight.  Maybe some ovencleaner.

[Ancient]

Oddly enough, plain water will soften up carbon really well.

However, I wouldn't be afraid of a fine wire wheel or a scotchbrite pad and water used carefully.

[brunothedog]

GM Top Engine Cleaner,
I've also heard that spraying water into a warm running engine cleans the carbon

[Admiral Akbar]

Just knock the loose stuff off and scrap the stuff off the squish.. No need to remove all of it.. Carbon acts as thermal barrier just like those trick coatings.. 

Max

[phatbob]

try soaking in acetone

[Harleyrider09]

Be careful of oven cleaner as it turns aluminum dark if it gets where you can see it.
I told a freind to try it and I heard all about that one!   

[scoopfraser]

I recently cleaned up my heads and used Easy-off oven cleaner with good success.  Be aware of Harleyrider09's advice and use a small paint brush to apply the stuff.  Don't let it dry on your parts...I let the parts soak for half an hour and then rinsed them with warm water.  It took a few rounds but was fairly painless.  A small brass wire wheel on a dremel works well for the more stubborn deposits.

[Overcamber]

thanks guys  I'll give a few of those ideas a try 

[rbabos]

Be careful of oven cleaner as it turns aluminum dark if it gets where you can see it.
I told a freind to try it and I heard all about that one!

You beat me to it. I've used oven cleaner to eat aluminum particals out of lead bearings before. Poof, they are gone. Don't think pistons like it much.
Ron

[rbabos]

whats the best thing to use to clean the carbon out of the domes in my head? there isnt that much but brakeclean is barely touching it and i dont have access to a bead blaster. jst wanted to clean it up before bolting it onto my new 95 Big bore..thanks 

I take it by the post the engine is apart. Soapy water and let it sit for a while should unstick it good enough to rub off with minimal effort. If the engine is running water misting has worked best for me.
Ron

[heapster]

  I thought the heads were powdercoated, no?

[rideonfasterlouder]

Never tried it but I wonder if Sea Foam would work?  Couldnt hurt if you have some to give it a try.

[tmwmoose]

aircraft brand paint remover

[Ridetard]

Just knock the loose stuff off and scrap the stuff off the squish.. No need to remove all of it.. Carbon acts as thermal barrier just like those trick coatings.. 

Max

Prevents aeration also.