<VV> Rusty Valve Springs

[Tony Underwood]

At 02:47 hours 05/13/2005, N. Joseph Potts wrote:
>Yes, I know - throw them away and replace with new. I've done that in the
>past, just feel like seeing if these can be rehabbed (they're fine except
>for rust on the springs and dampers). I have pulled the dampers and the
>dampers are pretty easy to scrub (pretty) clean. But the springs - well,
>anyone who has tried to scrub ALL the rust off a spring knows what I'm up
>against. The head, obviously, has been out of service for a good while,
>without benefit of rocker cover.
>       I COULD sandblast these springs, and I think that'd work well, but is
>muriatic acid an option here? Say, just a two-minute-or-less dip - nothing
>that would eat or soak into the metal very much.
>      Reports of experience from recycling-minded mechanics would be very
>welcome, especially ON LIST.



The rust will pit the spring surface, and the spring is likely to break 
sooner or later.    You would have to rid the surface of all pitting and 
then maybe heat treat the spring to rid it of hydrogen brittling that the 
rust would likely inflict on it.   The HCL dip would likely do the same 
thing, or at least not rid the spring of the brittling from the rust 
pitting.   Maybe "sanding" the springs thoroughly with a mule skinner...?

Or, checking around for a deal on springs.   They're generic "era" GM 
items, likely to be available pretty cheap.


tony..