Engine cleaning question

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Sep 10, 2005 | 07:45 PM

87 rag

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 1,747

Likes: 1

From: Port McNicoll Ontario

Engine cleaning question

My L98 doesn't look as clean or new as I would like it to.
I think a past owner sprayed it with some sort of clear coat or something that is now old yellow and flaking off. It is on the plennum, runners hoses, you name it.
Does anyone know if a product that I can try spraying on and hosing off that should restore some newness to the look of the engine?
I don't like the idea mutch of tearing it down and polishing each piece by hand but I don't want to leave it the way it is either.

Thanks in advance

Sep 10, 2005 | 07:57 PM

95Torch

Racer

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 292

Likes: 13

From: Houston Tx

Simple green works great, and can be found at most auto parts stores. Spray it on while the engine is warm, hose down. Most of the top layer of oil and gunk should come right off. For the subborn and hard to reach areas I use a toilet bowl brush...it seems to work well. Also make sure and cover you distributor or opti-spark, otherwise you could have problems starting it back up.

Sep 10, 2005 | 08:01 PM

87 rag

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 1,747

Likes: 1

From: Port McNicoll Ontario

Thanks
I'll look for simple green.
No opti in the 87 but I'll cover the distributor. Anything else that doesn't like to get wet?

I'm jealous of your engine bay.

Sep 10, 2005 | 09:25 PM

65Z01

Team Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 90,675

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From: SE NY

Cruise-In II Veteran

I'd be careful of the dist as well as any weather packs that are not really tight.

Sep 10, 2005 | 09:28 PM

corvetteronw

Race Director

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 16,475

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From: Kingman AZ

Cruise-In VII Veteran

Cruise-In VIII

St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95Torch

My 87 was pretty nasty too. I used Simple Green and some brushes. I also repainted the plenum and valve covers with paint from Corvette Central. Nothing fancy but it looks a whole lot better than when I bought it.

Sep 10, 2005 | 09:49 PM

myvettesblue

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 2,348

Likes: 0

From: Belews Creek north carolina

St. Jude Donor '05

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvetteronw

looks good ron

though simple green works well i personally use purple power which also works real well also works to cleanyour carpet and wheel wells

Sep 10, 2005 | 10:07 PM

daddog

Instructor

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 185

Likes: 0

From: Broomfield Colorado

St. Jude Donor '15

water=bad air=ok

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87 rag

i am skeereed of using water on my motor (174k never touched) so i use air with a long "snozzle" and brake cleaner.......if you really want to use water and a motor cleaning product, i would say wait till the motor is not going to be needed for a day or two and then spray the cleaner on being careful not to get it on anything electric or on your paint areas......then water spray it off 1/2 hour later , still NOT spraying on any thing electric and pour water on the painted parts that that you did not mean to involve in this process, but did. the next part is the most important......DONT start the engine untill at least the next day...
if you have compressed air dry everything as much as you can. hope this helps i have been where you are going and want to save a brother some agony.

Sep 11, 2005 | 08:55 AM

87 rag

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 1,747

Likes: 1

From: Port McNicoll Ontario

All good advice.
I'll watch for the purple as well.
Nice looking engine Ron. Don't tell me you left it all together to make it look like that.
Am I the only one with a dirty engine?
Toilet brush shounds like it would work.