Rusty crankshaft help/ideas

[Taterhead]

Ok so the next thing I felt like getting done was to clean up some parts before storing them. The crank for my car has been bugging me so I wanted to get it cleaned up so I can soak it in wd-40. I have never had to deal with one this bad (hell to be honest I've never had an engine torn down to the crank before) and was wondering what you guys & gals would do in this situation.
It looks to be just surface rust & not pitted any that I can tell.






I know the only thing that has to be cleaned is where the bearings sit but I don't know what to use. I've tried steel wool with wd-40, someone I know mentioned naval jelly but I have no clue where to get some. I was thinking emery cloth and wd-40 maybe. I think a dremel and wire wheel would probably scratch it up to much or leave it with high/low spots or grooves. I don't want to take it to the machine shop to have it milled off (don't want to get bigger bearings)
In Alabama we don't have l20's laying around in the grass so it's not like I can run out & get another and shipping one from the left coast might get pricey (with Christmas here $ is scarce). I might end up having to wait for something to show up at pull a part with an l20 in it & just go rob that. Like most of you know, I'm slower than stink of of shit when it comes to getting stuff done and I'm a cheap ass bastard and want to spend as little as possible.


Like always, thanks for any and all help.

[71Goon]

That looks pretty rough but if it isn't pitted you might be able to get away with having it polished which many machine shops can do and isn't nearly as expensive as having it ground. I'd call around to local shops and find one that offers polishing and not just grinding. In my area, there are several shops that have the ability to polish in-house but send grinds out.

[datsunmike]

.

[Taterhead]

Thanks for the input. I'd rather look at soaking it in something or a rust remover of some sort than to send it off but it is an option. So what you're saying Mike is remove it as best as I can & run it?

[datsunmike]

.

[510freak]

What Mike said,see if it is pitted
Pics are hard to tell right now

[Taterhead]

Thanks guys. Let me see what I can get cooked up.

[DRIVEN]

Electrolytic method in a plastic tub?

[Taterhead]

I will look into this^^^^


Small update:

Naval jelly sucks. I will try to pick up something else in the next few days.

This is after 3 or 4 treatments of NJ. Better, but not good enough for me.