Hi all,

I just got done looking at a wonderful thread showing everyone's really clean engine bays and I am completely jealous (in a good way).

So, I don't even know where to start...do you guys remove everything and clean/paint it and then re-install? Or how do you get it so nice? You don't do it in place do you?

Any tips would be appreciated!

 

 

To start, take your car to a quarter car wash. Remove the air cleaner and cover the carb intake with something that won't blow off under high water pressure....also any other 'openings'. Some folks like to put a plastic bag over the distributor/coil. I haven't found that to be necessary.

Start by spraying some engine degreaser (that you bought and brought with you) over all the areas that look like they need it. Read the can instuctions; usually, you let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then shoot those areas with the 'High Pressure' water spray to remove the loosened grease/oil/gunk. Be careful around 'sensitive' areas like thin wiring, small tubing, small plastic parts. Just use some reasonable care where you aim the wand and how close you are to the surface you are trying to clean.

When you get done, check your work and see if you need another "shot". If so, you might want to drive the car a while to dry everything off before you put more degreaser on it. 'Straight' degreaser does a better job of loosening 'gunk' than degreaser/water.

After you get all the surfaces clean, then you can get to work with detailed cleaning, painting, etc. of stuff in the engine compartment. For rubber hoses, plastic-insulated wiring, and sturdy plastic parts, I like to wipe them down with lacquer thinner to get them all clean; then coat them with Nu-Vinyl or other polymer polish so they look like new. Engine compartment surfaces get painted semi-flat or satin black; engine components (that are black) get painted semi-gloss black.

You can do a SEARCH for other "engine compartment detailing" info...there have been many over the past few years. If you have specific questions, ask away!

 

I have been told that the local semi truck washes or service stations have steam guns that will make short work of a greasy engine or undercarriage. I really want to try to find one and see what it might cost to defunk mine.

 

7T1Vette - great advice. I used Simple Green on the top of my engine block and it took somes of the orange paint off. I've been afraid to use any chemicals after that.

 

I Start if there is a leak on the engine so much easier to fix leaks then keep it clean. If you fix all your leaks then it is easy then you only have to clean the dirt off once or twice a year. Once leaks are sealed there is not any reason a Engine can not be kept clean

 

Mpls Funk, thanks for asking this question. I am getting ready to try and restore mine and look forward to all the advice on this thread. I do plan to pull the engine to do it.

 

Steam cleaning is effective...but you have to be even more careful because of the heat involved. And, it's relatively expensive. I had my complete undercarriage steam cleaned when I purchased my '71. That was 8 years ago and cost me $250, as I recall. For removing all of the collected road grime/dirt/oil/grease/tar/etc over a 35 year period, I felt the money was well spent. But, not sure I'd pop for that with an engine compartment.

 

the key is to fix all the leaks as stated above. then get it clean and paint it.

then its easy to do the up keep

 

pull the engine for better access to the frame
lift the body for better access to the engine
that's how these things start
winter project!

 

Pulling the engine is the best but if you can't do that you can still take your time and do a pretty nice job.

I have made all of these mistakes and more:

Don't clean and paint the engine and leave everything around it as is. Unless it's supposed to be a rat rod it just looks cheezy. And don't grab a can of flat black rattle can paint and shoot everything around the engine with it either. That looks even cheezier. Remove any parts that can be taken off, thoroughly clean and paint the inner fenders and firewall, then shoot and re-finish the parts you removed separately in an appropriate color. Also, don't paint over rusty parts. It won't last and will actually increase corrosion, not inhibit it.

 

its like a snowball headed for your wallet

 

Pull the body off the frame.
Then, while you're at it, ........

 

you forgot to strip the paint,and remove the complete int

 

now that you mention it, why doesn't everyone do this? You know it's the only way a guy can be satisfied he got at everything properly

 

It worked for me. Except, 7 year project