I had a 968 crank polished about a year ago at a local machine shop from hell. To make a long story short, among many other wrongs, they returned the polished crank to me without oil on it. As soon as I noticed this, I put oil on it to prevent rust. I just took a look at it today, and notice that there are some tiny specs of surface rust on some of the journals. They pick right off with my fingernail, but leave little stains behind that mostly rub out with my finger.

Any good way to deal with this (hopefully short of repolishing the whole thing)?

 

Good question, I have 2 cranks with pretty significant rust. Anyone have a DIY solution that works? It seems like some ultra fine sandpaper would do the trick.

 

when i pulled the motor the crank seemed to be in great condition look wise compared to what i see on here. is it because they cleaned it when they put new rod bearings in the car?

 

It is the storage out of engine that kills it, a crank in a motor is protected by the oil.

 

just try 1000 wet and dry.

 

The same thing applies to the camshaft, mine was out, cleaned and after a week, tiny rust particals.

I covered it in loads of grease to protect it.

 

Try using steel wool with four 0's it looks like this, 0000 use this with some wd40 and it the results will shock you. works great and dose no damage its very soft.

 

some light oil and blue rags or 1500 200 grit will work well.when polishing etc, we take a piece of emery cloth cut it to fit the journal's width and make the length so it just makes it all the way around the crank. A piece of leather strap or even rope wrapped in a circular pattern once arond and pull back and forth the rope will walk side to side to ensure uniform pressure, doing this slowly will result in a very nicely polished juornal, best of all its DIY!