Cylinder Head Stripping Suggestions

[srsupertrap]

What's the best method to safely remove all the paint completly from this project head pictured below. Interested in the cost of each, advantages & disadvantages. Here are some options, curious about others too

1) Cold tank
2) Hot Tank
3) Transmission Dip Tank
4) Media Blast
5) Sand Blast

[sharpy]

got my whole engine acid dipped when i rebuilt it long long time ago. Best thing ever. low price and very friendly. Whole motor came out spottless and about 2 tiny areas where not done. gave them some wd40 to spray the valve seats while it sat waiting to be picked up
In australia so u wont be using them. But thats my advice. Probally ask vintage folks for best place

[Nessism]

Bead blasting works well but the media gets into everything so you really should seal up all the various openings first, including the stud holes and intake/exhaust ports. In particular you need to be aware of the oil feed ports and clean them out if any grit gets inside. Suzuki pressed in plugs after gun drilling the ports, so they are a pain to clean (but still possible).

[srsupertrap]

Anyone have experience with the other options

1) Cold tank
2) Hot Tank
3) Transmission Dip Tank

[chuck hahn]

Be sure to use glass beads only on aluminum..walnut shells and such will gouge and pit the aluminum. Glass beads will leave a smooth satin finish to the parts. When i bead blasted my engines i went and bought corks to fit into the exhaust ports in the head and i put corks into the carb intake boots and tightened the clamps around the corks. That waybn you can bead blast everything and not get beads in the engines.

[srsupertrap]

I dropped off my GS1100G head at A&P Cylinder Heads in Arvada, CO. and the owner has a heated tank with a solution which is safe for aluminum heads. He dipped the head in the hot tank overnight a couple of times and then glass beaded the head to remove all the black paint. He did the valve cover as well but that paint didn't budge so he had to remove all the paint with the bead blaster. Here are the pics.

I will be painting the head once the valve & port work is complete and I am inclined to paint it stock GS silver, Can anyone chime in with paint recommendations which match the stock GS silver? Ed pretty sure you know

[posplayr]

Be sure to use glass beads only on aluminum..walnut shells and such will gouge and pit the aluminum. Glass beads will leave a smooth satin finish to the parts. When i bead blasted my engines i went and bought corks to fit into the exhaust ports in the head and i put corks into the carb intake boots and tightened the clamps around the corks. That waybn you can bead blast everything and not get beads in the engines.

Wallnut shell do not gouge aluminum

Head turned out very nice by the way

[Nessism]

Hi Steve,

I used VHT Aluminum color engine paint on both my 1000S's. Used Por-15 Engine Enamel on the first S but had to redo it after it started to turn brown. The VHT is not the most chemically resistant though but I don't know of anything better other than maybe Gunkote which I have no experience with. At any rate, you will need to figure out a way to clean out the blasting grit from inside the oil galley runs. Suzuki plugged the oil galleys on the side of the engine so they are difficult to clean out. I forced a bunch of simple green in the galley and then flushed with tons of water. Would have loved to run a bottle brush down the galley but short of drilling out the plugs, which could be done, there is no access.

What are you planning to do about dressing up the valve seats? Simple lap job? If you feel adventurous I have a set of Neeway cutters that can dress up the seats nice and pretty. Let me know if you want to discuss borrowing them.

[sharpy]

VHT universal aluminun is what i painted mine with.Truck washed the head, DONT touch the surface and warm head and paint can in the sun then paint away. Use a rag dipped in petrol to clean paint away from where it was oversprayed and place in a oven for 60mins set on 120f. Hard as nails if done right. Never painted my tappet cover and never has been redone and i cant tell the differance,

[Nessism]

Sharpy and I disagree on the color match between the OE paint and VHT; I think VHT is duller gray and the OE paint more bright and silver. It does get harder with baking so that much is good although I also find VHT will turn soft with chemicals so if you spill gas on the engine, clean it up as fast as you can.

[srsupertrap]

Hi Steve,

I used VHT Aluminum color engine paint on both my 1000S's. Used Por-15 Engine Enamel on the first S but had to redo it after it started to turn brown. The VHT is not the most chemically resistant though but I don't know of anything better other than maybe Gunkote which I have no experience with.

VHT universal aluminun is what i painted mine with.Truck washed the head, DONT touch the surface and warm head and paint can in the sun then paint away. Use a rag dipped in petrol to clean paint away from where it was oversprayed and place in a oven for 60mins set on 120f. Hard as nails if done right. Never painted my tappet cover and never has been redone and i cant tell the differance,

Ed & Sharpy,
Can you guys check were you using the same VHT paint because I like what see from Sharpy's photo. I agree Ed the OEM paint is pretty bright & very silver. Check out the VHT links below. I am wondering what VHT SP# you guys were using?

http://www.jegs.com/i/VHT/322/SP127/10002/-1 Universal Aluminum

http://www.jegs.com/i/VHT/322/SP995/10002/-1 Nu-cast Aluminum

[Nessism]

I used the Universal Aluminum. My guess is Nu-cast will be duller.

[srsupertrap]

Contacted VHT concerning which color is a brighter silver and here is their response . . .

Hi Steve,

Thank you for visiting the VHT website. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us.

There's not going to be what I would call a signification difference between the two, but if you want the brighter color I would recommend the SP-995 (Nu-Cast Aluminum).

Thank you again for your inquiry. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Sincerely,
Eric
VHT Product Support

[Tom R]

I painted my Honda cb750 engine with VHT years ago. I'll +1 on gasoline softening it.

[Graham]

I was going to try paint stripper on mine.