Frank,

After you get the case completely de-greased, have it blasted with baking
soda crystals.  Arm & Hammer make crystals that can be used wet or dry and
are non destructive.  The beauty of them is that you can flush all of the
media away with water.  It gives you a very nice bright surface.

Walt Spak
Pittsburgh PA
b20swalt@city-net.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Condelli" <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 6:43 AM
Subject: Engine Case Cleaning

> What's the trick to getting the engine case  sparkling clean when
rebuilding
> ?  I have looked into this locally and have  been told by two engine
> rebuilding machine shops that the chemical dunk tanks  they normally use
are not good
> for aluminium.  The chemicals they use will  turn the aluminium to mush
they
> say.  They also say there is no  aternative other than pressure washing or
> perhaps oven baking.  I have  tried various engine shampoos and pressure
washing
> but the corrosion from oil  and salt deposits on the cases remain.  I
think
> there must be a chemical  alternative.  Anyone with suggestions please ?
> Cheers,
>
> Frank  Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
> '87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
> Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
> (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  &
_CCVWC_
> (http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
> _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _Frank Condelli &  Associates_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> or  http://frankcondelli.com