bb_66

Any recommendations on what product to use and how to go about cleaning an empty engine bay, prepping for paint? Also what color and type of paint should be used (1966 C2). - thanks, mike

Vet65te

Mike - Do you have some thick built-up grease around the steering or suspension parts? If so, and you don't have a nearby steam cleaning facility (I think a lot of them have gone away due to environmental concerns), then you'll probably have to get out the putty knife and scrape away the heavy accumulations. After that I lay down a large plastic tarp, and spray a lot of foaming engine degreaser followed by a stiff brush and then hand wiping it off. After you've gotten the bulk of the grease/oils/crud off, I'd use some 409 or Simple Green and wipe it all down.
Mike T - Prescott AZ

65 vette dude

I used a couple of cans of spray Gunk, and a power washer. I would paint with an Eastwood under hood paint in a satin black. I used SEM Trim Black and it looks great, but it reacts to gas.......under hood paint is made to be oil, gas, and antifreeze safe.......not sure if it's brake fluid safe.

bb_66

Thanks Mike.. Yes, there is some heavy grease build up in areas. I do have a pressure washer with access to hot water as well.

ifitgoesfast

Simple Green cuts the grease well, but have only used it on the engine and transmission. Haven't tried it on paint or fiberglass. Test sample first. It might damage paint.

bb_66

65 vette dude, can the Eastwood under hood paint be purchased at your local auto parts store?

Bill32

Did the entire underside of my 67 with SG after degrease.
Firewall too then, painted over it.

Tooth Doctor

Cheap oven cleaner from the dollar store is good for removing heavy grease.

ifitgoesfast

Any damage to paint or rubber/wires?

TCracingCA

Have someone else do it!

W Guy

I've had good results by using Purple Power and a stiff parts cleaning brush. IF you leave it on, it will soften paint, but you were going to repaint anyway, right? Start with a putty knife or similar for the clumpy stuff.

Verne

ptjsk

That Purple Power stuff is crazy. It will take paint in no time at all. I tried cleaning the side of a tool box with it, and the paint came off onto the rag!

Pat

Powershift

Eastwood paint is purchased from Eastwood. Google the name for info. A good company.

Krylon #1613 Industrial Semi-Flat Black Lacquer is probably the best choice IF the engine bay is still original lacquer paint. Lacquer will lift an enamel repaint. This paint is not easy to find, but there are sources..........and one person has recently been able to get Krylon to again manufacture it for himself for sales.

I can probably get this contact info if no one else can provide. It is also in the archives. I was part of one of the earlier threads on this same subject about a year or so ago.

Larry

chris ritchie

When you go to repaint in there, Saran Wrap does a good job at masking the wiring harnesses. Tin foil works well too.

bb_66

The engine bay had been previously painted and not very well. Is there a way to determine if they had used enamel or lacquer?

Bill32

Nope, nada.

I also used it on the engine bay of my C4, just lightly hosed it off, doesn't hurt the paint but I wouldn't leave it on paint for a couple days.

Bill32

Summit Racing also sells it now.

Powershift

Lacquer thinner will cleanly remove old lacquer paint. Lacquer thinner may or may not immediately remove/lift air dry enamel. But it should wrinkle up and lift and bubble the enamel paint. Very (very) old air dry enamel or enamel subject to heat (engine compartment) or enamel where a harder was used/added may not exhibit this behavior.....and may be okay. Only way is to test a small area that you know will be refinished anyway.

The newer (fully cured) urethane paints are pretty much immune to anything except a grinder.

I would try the Krylon Industrial #1613 in a small area and see what it does.

Larry

bb_66

Thanks Larry... Any idea how many cans are needed for the engine bay/hood?

Powershift

Here is a link to a source for this paint, along with a write-up. http://www.ebay.com/itm/KRYLON-1613-SEMI-FLAT-BLACK-Spray-Paint-Corvette-NCRS-Bloomington-CASE-OF-6-CANS-/351469192252?hash=item51d532443c
Eastwood Underhood paint and SEM Trim Black are also choices. A fourth alternative is to buy a quart of black and add flatteners to produce the desired matte/low gloss finish. John McGraw gave us his recipe for this a year or so ago, and it should be in the archives under his name if you search. But this also requires a compressor and finish gun for best results.

Your choice.............

Larry