Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out...
My engine is at the machine shop, and I want to take this opportunity to clean the engine bay. The bay has never received any love. It has a ton of spray can overspray, leftover from all the Bubba rebuilds.
There is a ton of grease, and a ton of rust. I know I can handle the rust with a sandblaster and CLR. But what about all the crap that's on the plastic pieces, like the rear firewall and A/C heater core shroud? What is safe to use? Should I go with a degreaser only? Can I use a paint stripper? Will this harm the plastic parts? What have the rest of you done?
Thanks/
There is a ton of grease, and a ton of rust. I know I can handle the rust with a sandblaster and CLR. But what about all the crap that's on the plastic pieces, like the rear firewall and A/C heater core shroud? What is safe to use? Should I go with a degreaser only? Can I use a paint stripper? Will this harm the plastic parts? What have the rest of you done?
Thanks/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (joeveto)
* wire brush/scraper to remove big stuff
* Simple Green, let sit, wire brush, rinse with water (safe for environment)
* brake parts cleaner to remove film and grease before painting
* Lacquer thinner to clean small plastic parts and wires
* Painted with Rustoleum rusty metal primer and satin black
* Steel wool to make steel lines and metal parts shine
* hand lotion to repair skin after removing 20 years of crap :smash:
[Modified by vettesite, 2:23 PM 5/8/2002]
* Simple Green, let sit, wire brush, rinse with water (safe for environment)
* brake parts cleaner to remove film and grease before painting
* Lacquer thinner to clean small plastic parts and wires
* Painted with Rustoleum rusty metal primer and satin black
* Steel wool to make steel lines and metal parts shine
* hand lotion to repair skin after removing 20 years of crap :smash:
[Modified by vettesite, 2:23 PM 5/8/2002]
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,990
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From: No longer a member
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (vettesite)
What he said. I just spent 4 months doing exactly that. Although I had taken everything out and cleaned up parts individually, you can hose it down with simplegreen or other cleaner, let sit, then hose it off. I put a big plastic tarp on the ground then drove the vette on top of it, taped the front up so water ran out the garage not into it. I sanded, primered, then painted. It was king of a pain doing the firewall because it had rubber goo all over it but a good heavy scraper took care of most of it. Do it right and you'll only do it once, I was pleased with the results. Buy a box of good rubber gloves, they help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 5
From: Boston
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (verskel)
Use some diesel to clean the grease, and use a rag with some thinner to clean the overspray. The paint stripper is quiker than the thiner but be careful.
Paul
Paul
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 9
From: Fairport NY
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (Steve Grodin)
I'm with all of the above. My wife use to laugh at me sitting in the engine compartment with a bucket, water hose, simple green, SOS pads, wire brushes, etc. You'll be glad you spent the extra time to do it.
Before:
After:
[Modified by Red73, 7:47 PM 5/8/2002]
Before:
After:
[Modified by Red73, 7:47 PM 5/8/2002]
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 295
Likes: 187
From: North Olmsted Oh
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (joeveto)
Yeah, and learn from my mistake. Don't use a pressure washer :smash: . I obviously got water into my windshield wiper motor and fried it. 1800 PSI will do that, I guess...
Oh, well. It's just another one of those '68 only parts that cost $150.00. No biggie, right?
Bill.
Oh, well. It's just another one of those '68 only parts that cost $150.00. No biggie, right?
Bill.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 9
From: Fairport NY
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (78Vette-SA)
Joe, I didn't realize you did all that with the engine still in the car. I still want all your toys. Rod :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (Red73)
Joe, I didn't realize you did all that with the engine still in the car. I still want all your toys. Rod :cheers:
I'd still swap my stock looking bay for your very clean and mean look. As far as the toys go, I look forward to the day when I can kick back and have nothing to do. Then again, I might get bored. (Might be selling the Harley though!). :rolleyes:
[IMG][/IMG]
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NY
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (78Vette-SA)
Save yourself a ton of time and rent a pressure washer for a day. I rented a gas pressure washer (11 hp...WOW). This will blast anything off of your compartment so you have to be careful, but I promise you this...you won't have to scrub anything. It blows grease and anything else off almost like a sandblaster, but without the sand. Then get some spray on truck bed coating and do your firewall, fender walls, and frame with that. It took me only a day to do this. The pressure washer seems like the quickest way, for real...it only took me about an hour and every drop of grease and overspray and even the crusty muddy rust off. Then the truck bed coating....this stuff works great on not so smooth surfaces because it provides a somewhat rough finish so everything blends in well. This is what I did and it worked great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (78Vette-SA)
Hey, Joe, what did you use on your carb, brake booster, etc, to get that nice bronze-y color?
Also, does anyone know off hand when Chevy engines stopped being orange and started being blue?
JB
Also, does anyone know off hand when Chevy engines stopped being orange and started being blue?
JB
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
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From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (joeveto)
Yep,I'd say next to the body work and paint I probably spent the most time "ungrungin" under the hood :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (JB)
JB
According to the 77 Registry info data the engines went to blue around the #2200 of the 77 production line early September 13th -14th:)
[Modified by paso, 9:18 AM 5/9/2002]
According to the 77 Registry info data the engines went to blue around the #2200 of the 77 production line early September 13th -14th:)
[Modified by paso, 9:18 AM 5/9/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,206
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From: WANTED: '68 rear valance with b/u light assemblies IM, e-mail, or PM me here. Thanks!
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (joeveto)
One of the best investments I ever made was my 2800 psi power washer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (JB)
Hey, Joe, what did you use on your carb, brake booster, etc, to get that nice bronze-y color?JB
The gold I used is a little on the darker side but I kinda like it. NCRS wouldn't, but fortunately I'm not having it judged. :p:
Drifting
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 1
From: Hagerstown MD
Re: Suggestions for cleaning engine bay while engine is out... (joeveto)
I used Simple Green and a pressure washer. Still had to scrape a few places that I missed the first time around (I did it all the way tothe rear of the car, not just the engine compartment). Man, she's starting to look good now...