In the process of rebuilding the top end of a 350, new heads, intake, cam. Question is, what should i do to the bottom end in terms of cleaning it up? Alot of carbon build up on it. Also, i need to clean the surfaces of the block for the new gaskets. What is the best way to accomplish this, i do not want to take the bottom end apart, because i dont want to put any more money into the bottom end. ie. bearings, rings, all that good stuff. Thanks Josh

I figured that I'd jump in here and at least bump you up to the top of the page.

Is the engine in or out of the car? If it's on a stand, flip it almost upside down when you start scraping gaskets, that way most of the junk will fall on the floor and not in the engine.

If it is still in the car, stuff rags in the cylinders, and cover the lifter valley. If your using a Scotch Brite pad on a drill or die grinder, be sure not to snag the rag or stuff will go everywhere. You won't catch every thing, so have a little shop vac on hand to suck out any degris. Be creative with whatever it takes so that you can reduce the tube down to fit in various tight spots. When you have worked you way down to straw size (good to get little crap between cyl and piston), keep it as short as possible to limit plug problems.

I had a room mate who was totally anal, he would take a piece of card board or poster board and cut tight fitting circles for every cyl. Each had a string stuck through the middle. I presume tied to something behind a big washer. I don't remember how effective it was, just telling him his engine was on the rag. I have used poster board in the lifter valley with the heads still on to scrape intake gaskets though.

Just block off as much as possible and be sure to vacuum out EVERYTHING! You can blow it out with air, but it's gonna have to go somewhere.

The engine is out of the car. Good idea to turn it upside down. Is there any specific cleaning agents that i should use? or just scrape clean without anything. There is some cabon build up on the pistons...any way to clean them up a bit..or just let it be? thanks again.