The Machine Shop getting the engine to the Blue 330GT is getting close to finishing up so the engine can go back together. I needed to address some of the engine parts before all the parts converge. This engine showed signs of some dirty oil inside the engine for extended periods of time due to the staining found on many of the internal surfaces.

I needed to remove the oil pump, inspect it for wear, and clean up all the gunk and old residue.

The oil pan was no better, showing years of old oil sitting inside the pan.

I took all the internal piece off the aluminum parts like the windage pan and oil pump so I could send the pan and timing chest out for cleaning.

The process I’m going to use is called “Vapor Blasting” and it’s a technique that combines media blasting and power washing using the combination of water and an abrasive media during cleaning. Dry blasting is often too abrasive and can take too much of the base material away if the operator is not careful, and power washing with water and detergent is often not strong enough to remove embedded dirt and oils. Vapor blasting seems to combine the advantages of both methods and leaves a very nice surface finish on Aluminum. The process happens in a waterproof blast cabinet that recirculates a slurry of abrasives and fluid that is blasted at the parts at high velocity. The professional cabinets can cost thousands of dollars, and I’ve seen some home made cabinets that people have made for hundreds of dollars, but I have not been able to justify the expense and the shop space to make a vapor blasting cabinet of my own, but definitely see the benefit of sending the parts out to someone who can provide this service.

Pieces like this oil pan should come back with a uniform finish with all the dirt and grime removed, but unlike media blasting where the surface has a dull “open grain” look to the aluminum, vapor blasted aluminum tends to look smoother, almost like it was “shot peened.” I’ll show you the results when I get this part back!