Whats the best way to clean up old engines?

Galactica, I'm picturing that your garage is wall-boarded. Shame though you can't run the wiring in the walls without making a royal mess. Suggestion: If codes allow, see if you can't install a junction box near the main Breaker panel and run the wire from the main to the Junction box. Then run some conduit outside the wall to the compressor. That may solve your 220v feed problem. But since I don't know what obstacles are along your walls but maybe this will give an idea or two. The 220v, 60 gal. stand-up compressor will only take up about 2 1/2 square feet of floor space and stand approx. 6 ft tall.

Below is a pic of the engine I'm getting ready to soda-blast. The bike is literally a wreck, but the engine runs and that is what counts in this project. I'll post s follow up pic when I'm finished blasting it.

I use a product called "Mr. Buffer". Not sold in CA, but I can order it on-line (mrbuffer.com).
Put some on a rag and rub. The rag turns black, and then buff it off.

I just did a frame swap on my 650 and used the soda for aluminum sand for the steel and polished the cases...... I have a small compressor and I would polish parts while the compressor was pumping up. Back and forth back and forth By the time I was done the motor was blasted and the covers were polished. Both methods suck but that is how I kept myself from getting bored

Bag of soda



My soda guns



My sandblaster without a cabinet(30 bucks)



My polishing stuff



Before



After

Now Thats Dedication! Sharp looking engine. How long did it take to do it?

What started as a frame swap to take care of title issues turned in to a full blown cleaning. The donor bike was a complete running bike so I did not need parts. Took about two weeks at the pace I went to get it on the road and running. First was the frame to be blasted then painted. While I was doing this I was cleaning and polishing the wheels and such so I had a clean rolling chassis. Once the frame was ready I started cleaning the motor and polishing the covers at the same time. That took about two days of long hours. Polishing and blasting are both boring and tedious so I really hated that part but well worth the effort when done.


I used this to pass the boredom





Fork legs before and after, the one on the right has serious road rash but I polished it anyway

OMR will be so proud and from what i've seen lately so wont roy. by the way nice job.