I am getting ready to clean all of my engine components, I know someone who is going to let me use his steam cleaner. My question is, do you guys think I should pull all the valves out to clean the heads, or will it be ok to steam clean & blow out with air??

PS how about the pistons, remove the rings or not??

TIA

I would dissasemble the heads and have them checked for crack by a machine shop. Then you should take the rings off the pistons and throw them away. I wouldn't use a steam cleaner to clean the parts because of the chance of flash rusting. If you can, put them in a parts cleaner vat or buy some carb. or brake cleaner.

Thanx for the info, I will stay away from the steam. The reason that I am tearing down is due to a flat lobe on a new cam shaft, the rings only have two hrs. on them. Do you still think they have to be trashed??

If the bores look Ok then the rings are fine, your oil pump should be disassembled and inspected at the least. Clean, clean, clean. Good luck to ya with the next cam.