I cleaned my valves, before and after pics!

cleex024 · 02-08-2012, 02:14 AM

oh yeah and i had a question about you recycling the walnut shells...you mean you just throw them away right?

Pilo704 · 02-08-2012, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleex024

oh yeah and i had a question about you recycling the walnut shells...you mean you just throw them away right?

He means recycling as in re-use instead of new from the box media, I don't see any problems with this as long as its ran through a screen first. Wouldn't want to run that gunk back through the sand blasting rig. I tried something similar to no avail, I think I over complicated it but your set up inspiredio me to try again! Nice job!

seetully · 02-08-2012, 06:04 AM

Awesome man, they look so clean now haha

Eracer76 · 02-08-2012, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amclint

+1 for improvising, I'm still not sure I want to do the clean-up myself but I like the budget sand blasting solution more than the soaking and scrubbing with car cleaner on and off for 8hrs.

Thanks! Yeah I liked the idea of using the walnut blasting better too. I didnt like the idea of using the messy cleaning solutions and scrubbing by hand with brushes... because not only is it messier, but I searched for those gun cleaning brush kits and they cost just as much as the sand blaster I bought! And then I know for sure that I would have needed at least 6-10 cans of cleaner at $3 each and that was about the cost of the 25 LBS of walnut shells, not to mention all the paper towels I would have went through doing the solution method.

And best of all, the sand blaster is re-usable over and over again, and by recycling the walnut shells after screening it and then dumping it back in the box, I only wasted about 1/8 of the box!

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleex024

oh yeah and i had a question about you recycling the walnut shells...you mean you just throw them away right?

So, Pilo704 was correct, I recycled them as in I re-used them after running it through a screen first (aka my pasta strainer) lol

Zasquatch · 02-08-2012, 07:44 AM

nice work man, thanks for the write up. I saw that blaster on harbor freight awhile ago and was really curious if it would get the job done. ill be doing this in the spring! +1 on seeing your cover plate.

amclint · 02-08-2012, 08:04 AM

+1 on the cover plate, although I understand the overall concept a picture of the setup will help if I decide to buy a blaster. Just curious, what else would you use a blaster like that for, besides auto-restoration type work?

Alpina_B3_Lux · 02-08-2012, 08:19 AM

Really interesting, thanks for this info. If I were manually gifted I would certainly consider doing this myself.

Alpina_B3_Lux

ar design II · 02-08-2012, 09:47 AM

Niceeeee.... those were dirty. Great job!

Zasquatch · 02-08-2012, 09:49 AM

what did you use to wipe everything done with afterwards?

nafoo · 02-08-2012, 09:58 AM

Eracer76, you are the man.

+1 on pics of the cover plate. That will complete the DIY for most of us here

JamesM3M5 · 02-08-2012, 10:16 AM

If you don't feel like making your own adapter, BMW part number 81 29 2 208 037 is the N54 vacuum/blaster attachment, about $50. Has a port to stick your blaster wand into it and a stepped-down vacuum hose outlet.

Bavarian13 · 02-08-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

If you don't feel like making your own adapter, BMW part number 81 29 2 208 037 is the N54 vacuum/blaster attachment, about $50. Has a port to stick your blaster wand into it and a stepped-down vacuum hose outlet.

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up

cleex024 · 02-08-2012, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

If you don't feel like making your own adapter, BMW part number 81 29 2 208 037 is the N54 vacuum/blaster attachment, about $50. Has a port to stick your blaster wand into it and a stepped-down vacuum hose outlet.

wonder what that adapter looks like...went to tischer and looked up that part number and found the part but no picture.

also msrp is like 45 dollars and their online price shows 55 dollars lol...both prices are right there on their site.

Lchau1987 · 02-08-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nafoo

Eracer76, you are the man.

+1 on pics of the cover plate. That will complete the DIY for most of us here

+11111 planning to do this in the upcoming week when it stops raining.

Transport3r · 02-08-2012, 12:55 PM

Very nice! how did you move each piston to top dead center?

JamesM3M5 · 02-08-2012, 01:24 PM

Socket and ratchet on the crankshaft is all you need. You don't have to have it at TDC exactly, just anywhere the intake valves are closed tight. Pulling the plugs makes it easier to turn the engine over, but is not required.

Joshboody · 02-08-2012, 01:37 PM

I got lucky and was able to do 5cyls before rotating the crank bolt for the last one.

Just a 22mm if i remember right and with plugs out very easy to turn.

Supra98 · 02-08-2012, 01:37 PM

Really nice job! Need to clean my valves as well.

JamesM3M5 · 02-08-2012, 01:59 PM

Here's the BMW adapter:

Thumperx · 02-08-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesM3M5

If you don't feel like making your own adapter, BMW part number 81 29 2 208 037 is the N54 vacuum/blaster attachment, about $50. Has a port to stick your blaster wand into it and a stepped-down vacuum hose outlet.

Very cool bit of info! thanks. Looks like I'm making a order call.

Zasquatch · 02-08-2012, 02:59 PM

So how would that adapter work with the mentioned blaster from harbor freight? Is that tiny hole big enough to fit the nozzle through?

JamesM3M5 · 02-08-2012, 03:01 PM

You may need to use a 8-10" long wand attachment on the end of the gun. It would help with getting the blast media on the parts way down in the head. It's about 10mm ID hole.

The BMW tool has long wands to get way down into the Mini and N54 heads.

02-08-2012, 02:14 AM	#23
cleex024 Lieutenant Colonel 119 Rep 1,529 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Woodbridge iTrader: (2)	oh yeah and i had a question about you recycling the walnut shells...you mean you just throw them away right? __________________ Space Gray l 6MT l OSG LSD w/ VAC Race Diff Cover l Cobb e30 l Morr vs8.2 l UUC SSK w/ DSSR l VSRF Catless Dps l RPI Intercooler l CDV Removed l HID AE 8000k l ETS Catback l AST 5200 w/ Vorshlag Camber Plates l ER Dual Oil Coolers l Rear Camber and Toe Arms l K&N Drop In l Solid Tranny/Diff/Subframe Bushings l Bridgestone RE-11
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02-08-2012, 06:04 AM	#25
seetully Captain 59 Rep 767 Posts Drives: '13 E92 ///M3 ZCP Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: BG-KY / NSH-TN iTrader: (17)	Awesome man, they look so clean now haha
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02-08-2012, 07:44 AM	#27
Zasquatch Captain 38 Rep 708 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (15) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	nice work man, thanks for the write up. I saw that blaster on harbor freight awhile ago and was really curious if it would get the job done. ill be doing this in the spring! +1 on seeing your cover plate.
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02-08-2012, 08:04 AM	#28
amclint boom 12 Rep 598 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Varies iTrader: (6)	+1 on the cover plate, although I understand the overall concept a picture of the setup will help if I decide to buy a blaster. Just curious, what else would you use a blaster like that for, besides auto-restoration type work?
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02-08-2012, 08:19 AM	#29
Alpina_B3_Lux Colonel 295 Rep 2,563 Posts Drives: Audi R8 LMX, BMW M550i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335i [8.90]	Really interesting, thanks for this info. If I were manually gifted I would certainly consider doing this myself. Alpina_B3_Lux __________________ Audi R8 LMX, BMW M550i xDrive (G30 LCI); gone: Alpina B3 3,3 (E46), BMW 335i, Audi R8 V10 manual, Audi R8 V10, BMW M235i, BMW 550i F10
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02-08-2012, 09:47 AM	#30
ar design II Captain 55 Rep 773 Posts Drives: which one? Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (1)	Niceeeee.... those were dirty. Great job!
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02-08-2012, 09:49 AM	#31
Zasquatch Captain 38 Rep 708 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (15) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	what did you use to wipe everything done with afterwards?
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02-08-2012, 09:58 AM	#32
nafoo Major 51 Rep 1,145 Posts Drives: Boosted Bimmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (15)	Eracer76, you are the man. +1 on pics of the cover plate. That will complete the DIY for most of us here
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02-08-2012, 10:16 AM	#33
JamesM3M5 Some dude 94 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	If you don't feel like making your own adapter, BMW part number 81 29 2 208 037 is the N54 vacuum/blaster attachment, about $50. Has a port to stick your blaster wand into it and a stepped-down vacuum hose outlet. __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
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02-08-2012, 12:55 PM	#37
Transport3r Major 89 Rep 1,262 Posts Drives: 2011 N55 E90 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (4)	Very nice! how did you move each piston to top dead center? __________________ Josh-
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02-08-2012, 01:24 PM	#38
JamesM3M5 Some dude 94 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Socket and ratchet on the crankshaft is all you need. You don't have to have it at TDC exactly, just anywhere the intake valves are closed tight. Pulling the plugs makes it easier to turn the engine over, but is not required. __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-08-2012, 01:37 PM	#39
Joshboody Lieutenant Colonel 75 Rep 1,708 Posts Drives: pickemuptruck Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (7)	I got lucky and was able to do 5cyls before rotating the crank bolt for the last one. Just a 22mm if i remember right and with plugs out very easy to turn.
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02-08-2012, 01:37 PM	#40
Supra98 Private First Class 1 Rep 141 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1)	Really nice job! Need to clean my valves as well.
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02-08-2012, 01:59 PM	#41
JamesM3M5 Some dude 94 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	Here's the BMW adapter: Attached Images __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
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02-08-2012, 02:59 PM	#43
Zasquatch Captain 38 Rep 708 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (15) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	So how would that adapter work with the mentioned blaster from harbor freight? Is that tiny hole big enough to fit the nozzle through?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-08-2012, 03:01 PM	#44
JamesM3M5 Some dude 94 Rep 1,780 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	You may need to use a 8-10" long wand attachment on the end of the gun. It would help with getting the blast media on the parts way down in the head. It's about 10mm ID hole. The BMW tool has long wands to get way down into the Mini and N54 heads. __________________ RRT E92 335i/6MT with stuff and things
	Appreciate 0 Quote