I tore down my 327 yesterday in order to get screw in studs and guideplates put on my heads. the motor was built professonally, has about 15 miles on it, and it sat in the car a while. once i took the heads off i noticed that all the valves were completely covered in carbon and so were most of the pistons. ive never hooked up a timing light to the motor and its "ballpark". i know the carb is probably rich but what could be the problem besides timing and running rich?

one final question: how can i remove this carbon buildup?

I found a razor blade (depending on thickness of buildup) and carb cleaner did the best. Wet a rag and wipe down. I tried laquer thinner, ATF, etc but had best results with the carb cleaner. I had significant oil buildup from bad seals.

I found a razor blade (depending on thickness of buildup) and carb cleaner did the best. Wet a rag and wipe down. I tried laquer thinner, ATF, etc but had best results with the carb cleaner. I had significant oil buildup from bad seals.

cool ill try that on the pistons. also, is there anything i can do when the engine is buttoned up like add GM top engine cleaner or something like that?

cool ill try that on the pistons. also, is there anything i can do when the engine is buttoned up like add GM top engine cleaner or something like that?

Seafoam. It will smoke like crazy!!

I think it is the same as the GM product you mentioned.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/

I would say that 15 miles on a new motor that you have been trying to break in easy, is not enuff miles to really burn everything. If after a good 100 mile drive you still have this stuff, something is either too rich or oil is getting by rings or guides and seals.

what do you consider a "lot" of carbon?
every gasoline powered internal combustion engine produces pure carbon as a byproduct of combustion, and every combustion chamber and piston gets coated with a little bit of the stuff.
if you look at the pattern on the piston top, you can tell you efficient your combustion chamber is. when i put the thinner head gaskets in the vortec headed 355 in my Nova, i could actually see how the air/fuel mixture swirled towards the exhaust valves. i thought that was kinda cool, since i've only ever seen the effects of crappy older heads that coated everything evenly,