Rusty Lifter Bore Clean Up

[Freakin A Scrib]

So my stroker project has been a long drawn out process and in the mean time my lifter bores have wound up with a little surface rust inside them. I can still slide an old lifter in them no problem, but have not tried a new one. My question is, How imperative is it that my lifter bores are shiny-clean like my cylinder walls, if at all? What is cost effective and an acceptable solution? Taking the block to a machine shop to have them hone each bore is not my first choice, but if the general consensus is to do so, I will.

Possible paths forward:

Scotchbrite pad and oil (or something)
12 ga. barrel cleaning brush and oil (or something)
Get a wheel cylinder hone of sorts and hone 'em with oil (or something)
Use hydrochloric acid to act with the rust and neutralize it with baking soda??
Scrub 'em with mineral oil

IDK, give me some advise? I'm ready to do the final wash and put it all back together.

[SilverXJ]

Scotchbrite pad and oil (or something)
12 ga. barrel cleaning brush and oil (or something)
Scrub 'em with mineral oil

I would go with one of those. I wouldn't use the hone as there is a big hole in the bores for the hone to get caught on.

[Freakin A Scrib]

...there is a big hole in the bores for the hone to get caught on.

Excellent point. Perhaps I will lean towards the 12 ga. brush and try to get it down the oil galley as well.

Should I use mineral oil? Just get a bunch of it and use it to clean the crank and everything else?

[IH 392]

Get a long 1/4" bolt, cut the head off then cut a slot length wise with a hack saw, put a strip of the scotchbright pad in it and flap it out with a die grinder or drill.

[I6FAN]

I'd do the gun brush thing. Those abrasive pads leave abrasive contaminants behind after use. Some engine build shops actually ban the stuff, and say it winds up being embedded into bearings! Whatever you decide to do, you will need to go back and do a thorough wash.

[IH 392]

If there's crap left in the engine after it's been assembled it was never cleaned properly! NEVER trust a machine shop to tell you an engine is clean and ready to assemble! it's the assemblers responsibility to get it CLEAN!

[I6FAN]

[quote][/quote]If there's crap left in the engine after it's been assembled it was never cleaned properly! NEVER trust a machine shop to tell you an engine is clean and ready to assemble! it's the assemblers responsibility to get it CLEAN!

Actually, I was referring to shops that build turnkey engines/sold out the door not the do it yourself assemble. They don't even want them [pads] in the assembly rooms! These pads can put microscopic, abrasive "sticks" that can be difficult to remove from typical cleaning methods. Their made from synthetic fibers that are resin impregnated/coated with abrasive media. When broken down, a trapped fiber may not be that easy to get free from casting flash ect...It's also well known that they can get embedded in softer metals such as pistons. OP said he was looking for something to take care of it before he does his final wash, so he'll be alright.