The best way I found to clean a case was to use a series of brass brushes on my drill to get all the big stuff off. Then I used el cheapo oven cleaner and let it sit for a good while. Rinsed with water and then dried the case in the sunlight.

Well the case I had torn down to rebuild was worse off than I had hoped for. I took off half a day from work and made the long journey to KAR to buy all the bearings. The guy behind the counter (I think his name was Andy) said that the case would really need to be align bored and the thrust cut and that would take a day to do. Unfortunately, the case has had two helia-coils installed and still retains 10mm head studs. So tack on another approx. $10 per case saver. So to get the case machined and get all new bearings, I am looking at $300+ on a case that has already been align bored to 0.020. Now the crank looked to have been already cut down once already, but Andy said that it should work if cleaned up with some emory cloth. Keeping in mind that this long block didn't cost me anything to acquire, what would the great minds of the DLK, suggest; go ahead and spend the money on this case, or prepare to spend more money and start fresh?

Ok... so after reasoning it out with Cousin It, I have decided to take the case back down to KAR and have the bore aligned and the thrust cut performed.

Thanks

I'd go for a fresh case. For the extra money its a cheap piece of mind.

Yeah, if it's going to be $300 and you are going to end up with a case that has two align bores on it I would spring for the new one...

Chris can correct me if I'm wrong but the 300.00 included machine work all the bearings and case savers at 10.00 each which I dont see why he needs them for a stock 1600 (I havent priced case savers but that seems high to me) So we figured save the new case for the big motor.

James is correct. After talking it over with James and Ryan, my total investment will be about $400 for a running, rebuilt 1600. Not bad of a price, I don't think and it always can be a back up motor for me or a fellow DLK'er, down the road.

Looks like I need a back up car, could you build one of those instead?

What are you talking about?!

I AM building your back up car, that's why mine hasn't gotten very far!

You have to pay to play, thats why yours hasnt gotten very far!

IF you are building my car then you need to hurry up, the classic is about four months away.