Ok...I DREAD bringing this up, but I have another project...a 1970 Plymouth Satellite, PLEASE DONT BAN ME!!!!! *Awaits crushing finger from above*

Ok...so its a budget build with a 383. I got the block all cleaned up and machined and then it got stuck in the garage. Well, the block was not awarded as prominent of a place as the new badass Olds 455...and the monsoon season in Tucson struck and its got some light surface rust on the deck and in the bores... Can I clean this up myself and how? Or should I take it back to a shop and let them redo the work...and take more of my money. Thoughts? Please don't hate me, my Olds is my first love...the Plymouth is just a cheap mistress haha.

 

A little surface rust can usually be wiped off the bores with some oil and a rag. You can use a hone if its beyond that. The outside of the block, a wire brush, and steel wool.

BTW I like old Mopars too!

 

What ^^^ he said! You can buy a metal conditioner that's designed exactly for the problem you described. Lots of times I'd drop by the body shop area where I used to work. Metal that had been left for a week had a light coating of surface rust. The stuff they used back then to take it off was made by 3M - Metal Conditioner. You wipe in on and it also leaves a bit of a barrier to further rust. Then wipe down the cylinders and machined heads with oil to keep it away. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on redoing the machining unless you really let it go and you have more than just light surface rust.

 

Think a Scotchbrite pad would be the answer or stick with something soft?

 

Scotch bright would probably work.

 

X2. Scotchbrite pads for the surfaces & a light honing for the cylinders.

 

Hey don't put down the plymouth..it was my sons' 1st car. When he picked another car 5 years later I took it...great speed and fun to work on...good luck with it.

 

Ok...I have another confession...I am a car hoarder...I also have a 70 Challenger in line to build after the Olds...hahaha

 

Mopars are great. I'm a Plymouth guy in another life, and a car-hoarder too. It might not be a bad idea to coat parts like this in oil and put them in a bag. The storage spot would have to be pretty bad and the bag pretty crappy to have a problem. Good luck getting it cleaned up. Post some pics of the Satellite and the Challenger in the lounge.