I need to restore a 56 Merc Carter WCFB. I've used many products but not lately. I do not have a sand blaster. It is all apart completely all shafts and butterflys. I have cleaned small steel parts by soaking them in Coke or Pepsi and they come out pretty nice. I now have a sonic cleaner any ideas on what product to use in it? How about the aluminum center section and top? I see even Wally World sells carb parts dip but I haven't used any since the new haz rules....any comments are welcome.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I have been struggling trying all kinds of cleaners in an ultrasonic cleaner but its an el cheapo harbor freight brand and I have yet to come up with the results I would like. I sent a carb out for a customer and it came back looking like brand new. Dont know how they do it or their secret for cleaning but I hear they also re-plate them. I too would like to know if you come up with a good solution.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

I made one of these to do the carb on my lads 250 Triumph. Brought it up like new.


South Australia

Use muratic acid and heat it up .Be sure NOT TO BREATH THE FUMES!Oldmics

Thanks for the info so far. I like the soda blasting idea especially for the interior of the float area. I am going to build one of those syphons. The You Tube lead to so many other ideas I didn't think of. On the muriac acid I remember doing that about 20 years ago to some Holley 2 barrels. As I remember i could only leave them in about 10-15 seconds before I moved each one to a double water rinse. They were definately clean but all plating was off too. I did it full strength and didn't heat it. I re-plated them with Alodine but I doubt if you can get it any more.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Fellas, there is an article coming out in the Y block magazine within a few issues that includes my foray into the Ultrasonic cleaner and carb parts... if you want that ahead of time, I would be more than happy to simply email it to you. I rebuild 3-4 teapots a year, not to mention the 94's and Edelbrocks. I use a full bottle of Awesome brand cleaner from the dollar store, and then fill the rest of the cleaner bowl with fresh water. I also use the heat function on the China Freight Ultrasonic Cleaner. I have used mine now for a little over a solid year and it has worked very, very well. Obviously the cleaner is gentle on parts. There are times that I have to cycle a fuel bowl or a carb base through the unit more than once, but never more than 3 times. I use pipe cleaners and small brushes and WATER when it comes out of the tank, and most of the junk just simply rubs off or wipes away. I even used this quite frequently on my recent 3 speed with R10 overdrive rebuild. (there is a two part article coming out soon on that one as well)

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com