is it a bad idea to clean aluminum heads by getting them acid dipped like you would iron heads/blocks?should i specify that i want them to sit in the tank for a shorter amount of time?they are bare with excpetion to the valve guides and seats.thanks in advance

aluminum in a caustic tank is similar in effect to dropping Aka-seltzer tablets into hot water, kinda fun to watch actually. Lots of foam as it eats away the aluminum. We use a cold dip similar to carb cleaner for our aluminum components and normally they still need glass beading to make them look "as new".

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What about Eagle spray aluminum wheel cleaner? You can do it yourself, and it's made for aluminum and does very well!

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 1978LT:
What about Eagle spray aluminum wheel cleaner? You can do it yourself, and it's made for aluminum and does very well!</font>

That was my thought also, the etching aluminum wheel cleaner for non clear coated wheels. http://www.eagleone.com/_products/0,1010626.asp

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try a car wash, high pressure and hot water and soap works OK
Some brake cleaner will clean the rest.

I had a real dirty aluminum block and I took it to the shop. They use a hot soapy tank to get rid of the gunk. It took four days but it came out great.

There are no issues putting the heads in the hot tank.

I use a sand blaster loaded up with plastic blasting media. It takes off EVERYTHING but the aluminum.