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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 03:15 PM
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Is there any reason I should not get my engine compartment cleaned at a detail shop?
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 03:31 PM
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IMHO, as far as they don't unplug/plug or unbolt/bolt anything, no, you don't have to worry.
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by painterman52
Is there any reason I should not get my engine compartment cleaned at a detail shop?
You haven't provided enough information about the shop, its employees' training and experience, what they plan to do and how they plan to do it.

I would find all this out, before allowing some monkey to start spaying degreasers, water or steam all over my engine, the electrical, hoses plastic, powdercoating and possibly the paint on the front fenders and bumper.

I detail my own engine bay. You can take all the needed precautions- there aren't too many. It ain't that difficult to do yourself.
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 05:09 PM
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if you have the time I would surely do it myself, nobody has the same affection for your car as you. I ended up redoing everything I had a shop do to my car as their attention to detail didn't match mine
Nick
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 05:14 PM
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agreed, if you have the know how, patience and attention to detail.. NO ONE will do a better job than you.
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 05:54 PM
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Hi,
I think detailing an engine compartment is really a matter of time spent; not the products used or the worker's skills.
I'd suggest you get one of the books on detailing older cars for hints and products in order to get an idea of how to begin.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi,
I think detailing an engine compartment is really a matter of time spent; not the products used or the worker's skills.
I'd suggest you get one of the books on detailing older cars for hints and products in order to get an idea of how to begin.
Regards,
Alan
Alan, any personal recommendations for a good book on this subject?

Gary
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Old Jan 8, 2011 | 06:17 PM
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only reason i can think of is save the money and do it yourself.
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Old Jan 9, 2011 | 12:41 PM
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Hi Gary,
I really can't suggest a title that I've used; I haven't bought one. I see them in the automotive section of the larger (Borders/ Barnes&Noble) book stores.
For someone getting started I'd suggest HPBooks; AUTOMOTIVE DETAILING, by Don Taylor. Chapter 8 is about engine compartment detailing.
I'd also recommend studying the EASTWOODS catalogue. When you see all the various products and paints available it helps you to decide what you want to work on and what to use..
Some people think that there's something magic you can spray on the compartment and it's beautiful again. Not so!! As I said in my post it's really a matter of the time spent. I've spent hundreds of hours on the engine compartment of my 71 and I'm going down to the garage later this afternoon to spend another hour or two.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jan 9, 2011 | 01:10 PM
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do it yerself

when i got my 80, a few years ago , i hated that slight dank, oil smell drifting into the cabin

bought a can of that spray degreasser stuff, put a plastic bag over the distrib & carb & sprayed the thing silly

20 mins or so later rinsed it all off with garden hose & wow - what a difference

went for a quick blast down the country back-road , just to dry everything

now how much detailing & wiping ya want to do after that , is up to you ( or how many beers are in the fridge lol)

Pete

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Old Jan 9, 2011 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Gary,
I really can't suggest a title that I've used; I haven't bought one. I see them in the automotive section of the larger (Borders/ Barnes&Noble) book stores.
For someone getting started I'd suggest HPBooks; AUTOMOTIVE DETAILING, by Don Taylor. Chapter 8 is about engine compartment detailing.
I'd also recommend studying the EASTWOODS catalogue. When you see all the various products and paints available it helps you to decide what you want to work on and what to use..
Some people think that there's something magic you can spray on the compartment and it's beautiful again. Not so!! As I said in my post it's really a matter of the time spent. I've spent hundreds of hours on the engine compartment of my 71 and I'm going down to the garage later this afternoon to spend another hour or two.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks for the suggestions Alan. I definitely don't believe in magic. I know that it involves a lot of tedious and time consuming work. I was just wanting to start planning and making a list of what I want to do to mine. I will never have anything to compare to yours or some others that I have seen here. Truly amazing attention to detail around here!

Gary
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