What should I bead blast?

[jmark06]

There is a bead blaster where I am working this summer, and I am wondering what all I should blast while my engine is dissasembled. I don't know what can be damaged and what can handle it. The block and head are already cleaned, but can I do the pistons, manifolds, or anything else?

[preith]

Around here a bead blaster is understood as a glass media blaster. It works very well on any aluminum parts but not as good on steel or cast iron. Aluminum oxide works best for that. I do entire cylinder heads with glass media, but that's with everything removed including the cam towers.

 

I say as a general rule of thumb avoid any machined surfaces unless you had already planned on machining them again. A couple layers of duct tape over any areas you don't want affected works well.

[TheNeedForZ]

Stress bearing parts usually get shot-peened (block, connecting rods), but isn't necessary.

 

Piston you should leave as is. Like preith said, precision surfaces should not be media blasted.

 

You can do the manifold if the media works well.