Well, I have fixed the oil/coolant leaks I had and now its time to clean my greasy engine. I will cover my carb and distributor, but can I spray engine degreaser everywhere else, wires and all? Anywhere in particular to be careful w/ water? Ideas for better way to clean? I'm all ears.

-Nick

 

Since I have a new MSD wires which are really water tight on the plugs, I just cover the carb and the distro. with some nylon shopping bags and use my 120 bar pressure washer on everything else, I never use any kind of detergents, just the water pressure. It turned real clean everytime I do it, just dont forget to use a hand air blower to blow off all excess water (esp. on the intake around the carb).

 

That's all I use on all of my cars. Just be careful around the sparky bits, and have them covered in plastic. I use a spray on degreaser on the carby and dissy if needed, and clean them with rags. Then I plastic wrap them and bring out the Karcher!

Regards from Down Under

aussiejohn

 

That looks great !!!!!!!

 

Ok, Thanks guys. I will do that and see how it turns out. Hamad, awesome looking engine bay.

-Nick

 

Thanks guys, imagine what I started with :

 

Start with a good degreaser and a COLD engine. Over the counter Simple Green is probably about the best around. MOC Engine Degreaser is even better if it's available to you. Spray liberally to engine compartment.

If you don't have a pressure washer available a brush will be needed to scrub stubborn areas. Rinse thouroughly.

Once clean, optionally, you can apply your favorite product to rubber and plsstic parts. Here at our detail shop we use MOC Tire Shine which leaves a very glossy finish on any plastic or rubber. If you don't feel comftrable using a solvent-based tire shine on your hoses [insert web argument on silicates] stick with a water-based product like armor-all.

For chrome plain windex is your best friend for leaving it clean and streak free. Where possible, we also apply wax (Presta Fast Wax, sprayed in our case) to chrome parts which repels dirt and stains.

On an older vehicle like these you can plug the carburetor water tight and cover the distributor then spray freely. There's nothing on these cars that you can get wet that wont dry after a few hours in the sun, so don't sweat that.


All that said your best results will come from a pressure washer.. so borrow one if you don't have one. As mentioned above an air chuck is a greaat tool for areas such as the intake manifold where water and dirt will accumulate and look horrid.

 

I let mine sit outside in the hot sunshine to help soften any greasy dirt then I use Simple Green in a squirt bottle and soak it down good and give it about 15 to 20 minutes to work then get on it with the pressure washer. Mine uses an 8 hp Briggs and Stratton I think it is 3000 lbs but I back off the unloader so I get about 1500 psi and be careful around carb and distributor. Looks clean enough to eat off when you get done.