I've taken off the head to replace the hgasket. I'm wondering how would I go about cleaning it. would a machine shop be able to do it or would I have to do myself?

Also, how much does it cost to check the flatness of the head?

check for flatness? uhh. dunno.. not a whole lot... i work for a cal lab.. so i had them check mine last time, but its not expensive. milling a head is cheap too if it needs a little taken off, about $25 bucks usually..

you can get all that done at the machine shop for not too much.

Or if you want to check flatness a feeler gauge and a straight edge with the technique described in a chiltons or factory service manual (a lot of machine shops do it like that anyways). As for cleaning, Oil eater from costco works like a charm ( thank Jamesman and Thedawg for that tip),.

I would be really carefull with anything cleaning wise, aluminum is really soft.

you could use carb cleaner im sure...or hot tank it if you had somehthing big enough to fit the entire head in. hot tanking is how they clean alot of the crap out of blocks

You can't hot tank an aluminum head. The chemicals will eat the aluminum.

You can go to Costco and buy about 5 gallons of "Oileater" and a big plastic bin. Dilute the Oileater 1 : 3 parts water and drop your BARE head in.

It will corrode the aluminum after as little as 10 minutes, just keep taking it out of the bath, checking it, rinsing it down with a power sprayer or wooden/plastic bristle brush, and dropping it back in. Should take no more than an hour.

This is a 1990 head that was absolutely covered in black crud...(the valves were installed after the head was clean and dried)-

Originally posted by thedawg
Should take no more than an hour. This is a 1990 head that was absolutely covered in black crud

Damn.

What you can also do is buy that degreaser "FOAM" from pep boys or autozone or wherever. Spray it in there let it foam up. Wait just like the instruction tells you then hose it down. That is the most simpliest way. Done!

yep i agree with degreaser...formula 88 does wonders plus also use high pressure water. my head came out just like that dudes above. i wasted almost a whole gallon on that head.

Aluminum Heads get boiled in a solution that is safe for the head. Thats how I had mine done.

Terry

96 Eagle talon ESI
Greddy header - Greddy exhaust

97 Eclipse
Star Stage II - Boost/oil/EGT gauges - 3" custom DP/Apexi N1 3" exhaust - SFMU/return line - Apexi SAFC - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - ceramic intake - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: HKS EVC IV, 450 Turbo injectors, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

I use good 'ol gasoline.