[babyface]

Have my heads apart on a '89 Cadillac. Valves are coated with a hard crud. Have some really strong solvent (Gunk carb & parts cleaner in a gallon can) but it doesn't do anything for the crud. Managed to scrape it off with a small knife, but I got maybe four valves done in 2 hours (only 12 more to go...!)

Anything that will take this stuff off besides a hot tank? On the exhaust valves, its mostly carbon, and it'll soften a bit in the solvent. The intake valves have a beige coating that's almost like a ceramic.

[4 Jaw Chuck]

Wire brush mounted on your bench grinder works wonders.

[babyface]

I thought of that, but was worried it would be too easy to hit the lip by mistake. I don't need to get them reground, just lightly lapped. Maybe I can at least use it to get most of the gunk off, then manually hit the edge close to the lip.

[johnsongrass1]

Even a wire brush on an eleectric drill will work. Mount the valve in a bench vise using wood to protcect the valve from the jaws of the vise and you should be done in a few min.

[Hellzapoppin]

Try putting each valve in your electric drill, switch on and use fine emery paper. Its easier if you have a pillar drill but if not get the wife to hold the drill and you use the paper.

[johnsongrass1]

don't worry about he lip. The valve is much stronger than the wire wheel. When you re-lap the marks will be gone from the margin and head.

[babyface]

Wow. Thanks guys for all the info.

I guess I was being overly cautious. Your tips will make it go a lot faster.

[4 Jaw Chuck]

Wear a mask when your doing it, there are some nasty deposits on there.

[babyface]

Good point. Nothing that could be deposited on a valve could be described as "healthy".

[MI2600]

I've seen wheels made out of something like scotchbrite advertised...maybe in Eastwood...that you can mount on your bench grinder for that purpose. You might find something similar in the local hardware.