Craig wrote:
The problem with the pneumatic or hydraulic method is that it will not remove all pistons on all cylinders. On a Packard V-8 block, only #1 & #8 cylinders are completely open on the bottom. The other six are squeezed in on one side by the main webs. You need to remove those out of the top.

I like Eric's method (chemical tank) as a step before my brute force method. But, because of EPA rules, many automotive machine shops have gone to the furnace method of removing old rust/sludge/etc.

Craig