How To Derust an Engine Block At Home with Elana Scherr and Tom

Electrolysis for the win! It’s science! Tom makes some electricity soup to take a rusty 440 engine block back to buildable. It sounds so dangerous and exciting, but don’t worry, it’s totally boring and safe...unless you blow the roof off your garage. Note: don’t do this indoors and don’t use stainless steel as your sacrificial anode. Also look, we did edits...sort of. Special guest star: Lamborghini Bob. And of course, appearances by Bill, Stan, and Jerry.
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[@JeepnJeff]

I think you hit the perfect Venn diagram of science, car and doggo ratio.

[@tocsa120ls]

My piston is rusted solid. "Ok so you get a 60 gallon tub, some lime and an oldschool battery charger they used to torture Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon with..."

[@oldfatandtired6406]

Danny Glover tortured me worse than the batter charger

[@jsolo7576]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@regal105]

Lining the entire inside of the tub with steel mesh works good

[@rawcado]

That's a LOT easier than derusting engine blocks when you're at Disneyland or at the grocery store, I'm gonna start doing it at home from now on. 😐

[@AMERICANLEGENDModelBuilder]

I've done this steel wheels as well, it takes off the really tough factory wheel paint from the 70s.

[@johnalarcon6375]

We did my friend Randy's 350 4 bolt main block that he thought was too far gone with rust until I showed him what 4 days in the derusto tank did using this process, he was amazed, what you need to do if the block is going to sit a while after using this procedure is you have to completely oil down the block inside and out with WD40 then when you're ready to rebuild it have it hot tanked to remove the WD 40 oil, this process is truly amazing!

[@flathead59]

I'm glad I found you guys , your very helpful and informative , big fan of what y'all do

[@Challengeher]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@SatansChoice]

I use a cheap little inverter type Arc welder with my set-up , i run up to 50 amp but 30-40 seems to be a good set it and forget it setting, voltage at that low setting is around 15v-16v I suspend the castings and have rebar grating on the bottom and scrap plate on the sides all welded together. Electrolysis only does paint removal if rust is underneath, the process heats the water so i have a lid to trap the heat, warm water seems to work better.

[@anthonyangotti5484]

That's a nice looking 1969 Dodge polara you got there, I hope that 440 is going to go into that car when you're done.

[@dirtlump]

That's really COOL Tom ! I had heard of electrolysis or whatever it's called ? as a method the clean Blocks but never seen it done until now.... and now I gotta try it just for shits & giggles. Too bad we don't live closer because I gotta full Machine Shop here on my Acreage, Oldschool Sunnen CK10/CH100, Van Norman 777S4, 85B Blockmaster, Rod Shop, SuperFlow SF750, BridgePort 3VM w/Sunnen VGS20 Seat Tooling, Digital Balancing, etc., etc. I would have squared up your 440 Block Decks & rough Bored it just for fun..... but methinks that hole that had the stuck Piston might require a larger overbore to remove the rust pitting ? or a sleeve maybe ? Anyways.... LOVE your Video's Tom, especially the 440 Mopar stuff ! the BB Mopars were my favorite.

[@Rattlerjake1]

If you scrape the crud off of the sacrificial metal every few hours you will get stronger current flow and faster rust removal. Also, it's easier to move the sacrificial metal than to turn the engine around.

[@cousinit5387]

Thumbs up only because you made me laugh 7 days a week. Even when I didt want to laugh. He was funny as hell man. Try to be sirius just won't happen. Reminds me of old neighbor of mine. He was mr. Positive.

[@markjones7741]

Great video, funny and entertaining. Fun watching the dogs wrestle in the background as well. 👍👍

[@jamesherald5050]

I’ve used a turkey fryer and a old 55 gallon drum an used zap degreaser and water. An turned on the heat let it go for a few hours. It did good getting the grease off

[@paulmartin8212]

Thanks for the chemistry lesson. Hope you guys have good neighbors cause I know you're in California! Lol

[@rong4189]

Great video! Thanks!

[@xozindustries7451]

The more sheet metal you use the faster it works, I put the metal all around the outside of the tub, just don't let it touch the block, or use it inside

[@KILTONYLASH-ch4zu]

Thanks for the knowledge

[@trevor9972]

love this

[@tonymontana897]

You should've degreased the block before submerging it into the tank. You'll get a better result much quicker.

[@chalkster4723]

Very interesting video. Thanks

[@RexCars1]

Love It.. Very Edjamacational...

[@Dreadz530]

The process works by basically attaching the rust to the current so if you were to place the anode on both sides instead of doubling up on one side you would be completing the circuit on both sides for shits and giggles I'd just put one on each side of the tub so there were 4 equal parts for current to flow. Even if for some reason splitting it were to cause the block to clean evenly vs one side and it took longer it would essentially be the same time as having to clean one half then rotating it like he said. It's one of those you can do it once and take 3 hours or you can do first half in 90 min and then other half in another 90 min

[@shtfvan8084]

Makes you wonder, if it takes 48+ constant hours, would it be easier to just pay the shop to do it, Instead of running up your electricity bill, and all the cleanup with the tank and stuff after..?

[@BryanBB440]

That block is pristine! in comparison to mine ;)

[@SSGTA440]

For heads....I simply first solvent clean them, then warm them up REAL good with a torch, and spray on CLR bathroom tub and tile cleaner, just saturate them twice, spray them good.......wait to cool, then hose them off.....completely clean!!

[@amf4591]

Awesome!!! So what is a best material for electrodes? I`am about to do the same with my CUCV 6.2 J code block.

[@C-64]

We have that exact same charger, had it for 20 years..

[@maddog3080]

If you move your extra anode plates to the other side of the block you don't have to turn the block around to do the other side

[@maddog3080]

SCIENCE, BITCHES!!!

[@DanTheManIOM]

Back in Black is how I remember it....and I knock off the scale from the anode (red) for better reaction

[@grahamblyth1490]

Have this running on some suspension parts from my VW Rabbit pickup. My dachshunds definitely weren't as helpful

[@opportunest313]

Out of all of the videos I’ve watched about this subject not one said u can blow yourself up with the gas produced so thank u very much because I was gonna do this in a in closed area🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@SatansChoice]

additionally you can't have stainless steel in there as that makes , i think cyanide ?

[@sgarn1]

Curious how the block came out from the machine shop? My GTX engine block currently looks like the way your block started at the beginning of this video.

[@hillbillybeerdranker6678]

Thanks for the video. Cood a guy make a square metal box to surround the engine on all four sides really close? Wood it pull the rust out of it faster and also get into the nooks and crannies?

[@SatansChoice]

Yes but the box being an cathode means it will be getting chewed on by the process so depending on thickness how long it will last.

[@patrickbooth2329]

some of the pitting in the cylinders look pretty deep 90 over or more

[@mattsondergeld5576]

So satisfying if you've ever had a stuck piston. Do you think putting sacrificial metal in all four corners would be helpful?

[@Challengeher]

Yes, more metal around the object seems to be best. Thanks for watching! T

[@slowg8701]

Thats a nice polara

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Looks like you are getting this block ready for a rebuild...

[@jeffjanmusic]

what if you use a steel barrel and put wood blocks in to insulate it from bottom?

[@SatansChoice]

it would work but barrel will rot out

[@Jimmy-Legs]

What did you do with the liquid when you were done.

[@CCROSS5882]

if you reverse the polarity, you can clean your electrodes throw in a sacrificial Block LOL

[@user-gf7tf7nn5h]

Супер!👍

[@krypttoenight9971]

Hello I like this container your using rather than a 55gl drum, where could someone purchase a tote this size? Thanks

[@Challengeher]

This is an older Chrysler crate engine shipping container from the early 2000's. Not sure if you can find one now though. - T

[@bigghoss762]

So obviously the doggos are critical for this to work but I missed the part where Tom explains what they do. Also, does the breed matter or can I use any doggos?

[@Challengeher]

Any doggos will work! They provide critical moral support.

[@johnterpack3940]

Muriatic acid is much simpler and quicker. It's too weak to eat solid metal, but it devours rust. Only costs a few bucks for a gallon. Just make sure you wash the parts with baking soda afterwards to neutralize the acid.

[@SatansChoice]

Ive used it , the risk factor is to high imo .

[@philliphall5198]

Cool I have same battery charger

[@Wonka-Roks-Tuxson]

Where can I find one?

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Looks like this block was sitting idle for quite a period of time... The first antique tractor my Dad has was stuck when he first bought it... He just used a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil and it did the trick!!... " His Pistons were a pissin"... 😆!

[@Challengeher]

Tractors are so forgiving.

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

True... Only 4 cylinders to deal with rather than 8... Usually not ran as hard or fast either...

[@double_o_dan]

so if you used a metal screen or concrete mesh stuff wouldnt the electricity be applied all the way around the block then?

[@Challengeher]

Large surface area seems to be the most effective. Flat sheet metal works the best although we generally use whatever scrap we have on hand as as long and as it's steel the process works good.

[@summertimehighyt273]

Is there a way to determine if the engine is too far gone? My jacket is REALLY rusty but its flaky so seems to be surface, not quite sure...

[@Challengeher]

It's probably okay. You'll need to remove the rust for best cooling performance either by chemical dipping or the electrolysis process. - T

[@johnnyreb86]

I have a block with 6 of the 8 pistons rusted stuck pretty bad so I can’t get the crankshaft out, is the electrolysis safe for the crank?

[@Challengeher]

I don't think I would put an assembled engine through this process so I can't guess at what the results might be. It can be tough to disassemble rusted engines but you may be able to just cut the rods off the crank and just buy new rods. I would cut the rods in the beam area away from the crank journal. Hope this helps. T

[@SatansChoice]

Should be fine , probably do a number on the bearings tho.

[@joedirt2862]

I had a nice old Sears battery charger stolen while In use.

[@walkingthruyourdata-6019]

What setting? 3Amp, 40 amp? does it matter? larger tank more amps? Super washing soda seems to be the most used item. what about Borax? we use borax to soften the wash water in the laundry. vinegar?

[@Challengeher]

My guess is the more amps the faster the action but it's probably harder on the battery charger. You can see the action taking place after the current is applied and it definitely is more apparent with greater amperage. Sodium carbonate is the active ingredient and it's commonly found in washing soda or water softening products. Borax is not sodium carbonate so it may not have the desired water solubility for best results. If you find a name brand water softener you can probably Google the ingredients (or chemical makeup) to verify the presence of sodium carbonate. Hope this helps. T

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

And the broken piston is now freed!!

[@dougfields8972]

what are you doing with the leftover water solution

[@Challengeher]

Mainly rusty water. A lot of iron oxides (rust) gets removed so its basically harmless but you don;t want it on a concrete driveway (unless you like rusty concrete driveways!)

[@wearyourjeans]

Hi hello , I really want to try this is there a way to contact you guys directly

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Knowing you im guessing this is a Mopar Block... What displacement is this if you don't mind me asking?

[@Challengeher]

You know us! Chrysler 440 - E

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

I figured a Big Block Mopar for The Mopar Whisperer 😆!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

This one for your Challenger, Polara or Dodge Drag Transporter?

[@Challengeher]

@@RoadRunnergarage8570 For a friend's car!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

😎

[@mathieubeauchamp2674]

I tought that electrolisis process runs on AC instead of DC...well i was wrong 😅 ...

[@mathieubeauchamp2674]

How much power you put in ? ... 10, 20, 40amp ? ... for 36hours ? ... lol .. thats a hard task on a charger ... i guess that bigger needs more current

[@Challengeher]

40 amps day and night for 4 days. The battery charger is from the 1980's, made in the USA and its been doing this for 30 years! I'm not sure if it need this much amperage but it sure gets it done. T

[@mathieubeauchamp2674]

Aoutch...thats quite big of a run for my Schumacher pos...it is a manual one but very light overall...ive notice u got a Solar one and I know there good....ill find my way with something.... by the way thanks for the response I appreciate ... stay safe guys ... Mathieu DownTown Montreal PQ

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

But it looks like Marvel Mystery Oil alone won't do the trick here.. I see a broken piston... OUCH!

[@jaredanthony8070]

How much do you guys charge per block/heads 😂😂

[@ViewThis.]

Hmmm. Actually that is a good question. How much "Charge" should the battery charger be set too?

[@creating8713]

You need more amps for engine block

[@jsolo7576]

What's needed to make more amps?

[@SatansChoice]

@@jsolo7576 an arc welder

[@davidcanady7935]

Unless you’ve degreased the engine block before the process begins, I would not dump that water in my garden or grass.

[@666kty3]

No substitute for a hot tank. You are not equipped to clean a block like a good machine shop can. You are just wasting time. You cant afford to have crap in the engine. Not a speck. Get it tanked. Some things...you just do. Hot tank...machine shop taking a look...checking bores..main alignment etc.

[@markward6076]

Apple cider vinegar works better.