I don't really know where to post this thread so I'll ask and move on from there. I need a 73-74 ironhead engine to strip the parts out of in order to put my engine back together. I just bought a 73 basket case and have found that after disassembled the engine was mostly kept in a plastic tote that apparently was left in the rain or something because everything other than the case and transmission are trash. I know how to work on these bikes but as usual coming across parts is next to impossible. any help would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like you might be better off to use the one you have for parts and get another bike.

 

Have you tried to clean parts form rust ? if not do it... usually rust is only in surface.
Acidum Citricum ( C6H8O7 ) removes rust very easy... then inspect parts again.
Bearings you need replace ....

 

I have no experience with this situation, but this would also be my first choice. Surface rust can look really bad, but still be just on the surface.

 

Yeah we tried cleaning them off but most of the parts are in such bad shape that they just need to be replaced. The flywheel is trash and my cylinders have the pistons seized in them. I'm not really sure how they took apart the engine with the pistons jammed in the cylinder. The cams are just gone and the primary chain is junk. Primarily I have a parts list but the cost of an engine is generally less than a new engine. I need so many parts I just thought that if someone had a junk engine I could strip the parts I need out of as opposed to rendering another old bike to the highway in the sky I would be better off. If someone has parts and could help me out I have a complete list of everything I need. The oil pump, starter, rocker assembly, pistons, cylinders, clutch assembly, primary chain and sprocket, carburetor, rear motor mount, cams.

 

buy a sand blast cabinet,and blast evrything.. most of the parts can be saved.. even if they look really bad... i rebuilt a vw engine that sat in water for years, i had to take the cylinders off it with a sledge hammer and a big chisel, but it cleaned up and ran good(with new cylinders and bearings)