Cosmoline?

A few years back, I had purchased an original 1969 Dauntless V6 225 crate engine which was all wrapped up and coated with a greasy substance. I was wondering if that coating was called cosmoline or something else. What's the best way to remove that stuff? Being that it sat for so long a lot of it is hard. The guy I purchased the motor from told me he bought an extra engine from the factory when he purchased his Jeep brand new and it sat in his garage. Any ideas would be a great help.

 

The old way was to use kerosene , worked ok but you needed to scrub it. Try mineral spirits . Should work better. Just let it soak then wash it off with warm water and dry. Not sure how you are going soak a block but would like to know.

 

NOS Engine? You lucky SOB.. lol.. That's very cool.. Anyway, I am assuming it's fully assembled? If that's the case, any solvent/oil would do, I personally like "kroil" but it's sort of hard to get without going through an industrial supply. Kersosene or diesel would probably do well and prevent flash rust as using mineral spirits would allow.

 

Sounds good, guys! Thanks for the reply. @Jeepenstein - yeah, NOS, fully assembled. When I got it I felt like I had the Holy Grail.

 

We need to see some pics!

 

If it is true cosmoline like the military used to use, let me give you a little warning. After setting so long packed in cosmoline you could have some problems with anything rubber or plastic. Way back in the late 50's my dad and a friend got a surplus jeep from the depo down in Salt City. (yes believe it or not, there was a time when the surplus jeep in a box was true, but sense then, there scams) Anyhow it came crated up in a box with the tires gone and one big block of cosmoline. All of the metal parts were in great shape, but anything rubber was destroyed, fan belts, O-rings, hoses, etc. Sorry I can't remember how they cleaned it up, but just remember how disappointed they were when they found the damage the cosmoline had done to anything rubber. I am presuming it was cosmoline as that is what my dad and his friend called it, but it might have been something else. I know it looked like the same stuff that was on some of the things we got over in VN.
Even if it did hurt the rubber items, that is a super great find. Good luck

Mike

 

Yes sir you certainly did.. As above, we need a pic of that just to worship..

 

I had an old milsurp rifle that came covered in cosmoline and it was a nightmare to get it all off. Heat was the best way I found, it turns back into liquid when hot. Use a heat gun to soften the cosmoline and scrub it off with some rags. Good luck.

 

I'm currently living in Hawaii now so it'll be a few months before I can get a pic out being that the motor is in Washington, but the crate came boxed with the AMC logo on it. The original owner purchased the engine right after AMC aquired Kaiser Jeep in 1970. The engine is a short block - less heads and intake manifold, if I'm not mistaken, but it has the timing cover. It's been awhile since I checked it out. If I get a chance to get back anytime soon, I'll be sure to post some pics. I really appreciate all the advice.

 

Just went through this with some Russian AK bayonets and scabbards. Paint thinner and LOTS of scrubbing worked well for me to get most of it off. Scrape off the thick stuff first. Getting the last of it out of the scabbard tips was the hardest. I eventually boiled them in a garage sale crock pot to get the last little bit out.


Sent from my iPhone

 

Go get a large plastic storage box and a fountain pump at Home Depot. Then get 5 gallons of solvent and pour it in the plastic box and turn on the pump. Kinda like a parts washer. Ok, exactly like a parts washer.

My parts washer pump went out (tractor supply or Harbor Freight) and the Home Depot fountain pump was an exact match.

 

Answer: Water. I've stripped many surplus rifles of cosmoline; solvents are a pain in the a*s. The BEST way is with boiling water. It literally melts right off. As long as you have an outside area to do it, boil up several large pots of water (of course, spark holes, oil filler, other holes filled or plugged) and pour it on the engine. I can get a rifle de-gunked completely with about two gallons of water.

 

My other concern is that since the motor's been sitting for so long I'm thinking of taking it apart to inspect the inside. Can a motor so old, yet new, be fired up just because it looks alright from the outside. Any thoughts. I can't imagine the seals, rings, etc., would still be good.

 

My other concern is that since the motor's been sitting for so long I'm thinking of taking it apart to inspect the inside. Can a motor so old, yet new, be fired up just because it looks alright from the outside. Any thoughts. I can't imagine the seals, rings, etc., would still be good.

 

Any advice from engine experts?

 

Its only a short block..............take it apart, pull the rods off the crank, and pull the crank , change the seals. pull the oil pump apart if there is one on there. Look at the condition of the crank , rods,bearings , cylinder bores, pistons and rings...........clean it all up and reassemble. It is hard to know what the condition of the cylinder bores will be below the pistons.........if there is corrosion or a little rust you may have to run a ball hone through there........Then there well be no more questions.......

 

That's what I figured. Thank you very much!

 

I finally got some pictures posted. Follow the links:

 

Did you ever take it apart?................Odd Fire I assume?............What Year is that supposed to be from?