Cleaning the block for paint and reassembly
I started the dirty job of cleaning the block. I stripped paint from the passenger side with a roloc scuff pad and 3 inch sanding disc.
I cleaned it with brake clean and sprayed it down with the phosphoric acid etch I have been using. Then cleaned it again with brake clean and a rag to stop the acid.
Id like to remove more paint near the spark plug holes, but it should be ok as long as it is clean and not flaky.
I also started cleaning the upper intake. I removed the tape and shoved pieces of rag into the holes so I have more access.
Thanks to an episode of engine power where they cleaned a super dirty ford 390 fe from a dump truck, I learned a trick, to use a shopvac and those tiny wire brushes at the same time and it wasn't as difficult or messy or harsh to the lungs as the wet chemical method.
A brass bristle hand brush did all this. While not perfect, it is hidden below the upper intake. I really want to clean the injector ports because they have crud in them. I will use q-tips, a touch of grease and then acetone. The grease catches the particles on the first few passes and traps them to the q-tip and then the acetone dissolves the grease and gunk and lets it soak into the q-tip.



