I've read about being careful not to hose off the engine compartment, due to the risk of getting the optispark system wet, and causing problems, yet I see lots of C4 models with ultra clean engines and engine compartments. Just wondering if anyone has any tips on cleaning & detailing that area of the car.

JT

 

I just use rags (sometimes with a bit of water), black spray paint and hide (and even paint) the wiring.

My engine bay looks awesome.

 

I detail mine every week and this is the results you will get when you keep up on it.

 

You can buy Engine Degreaser at any parts store, Do not put water near sensors or your car may not start.

 

That is impressive.! You must have more invested under hood than I've got into my whole car..

 

paint the wiring - ??? - say what???

 

Thank you for the kind words. Fortunately for me I only drive it to shows so it rarely gets driven, so it doesn't get dirty much.

 

Haha, yeah, just a few small wires. For example, my thermo fan wire is green, which runs over the top of my engine (from the fan) and through the main firewall hole for the engine harness. I have the wire taped up (black) from the firewall, then hidden under a tube along the engine and the exposed green bit at the front of the motor sprayed silver to blend in with my alloy head and then painted black to blend in with the Kframe/crossmember then cable-tied under the horizontal beam-thing near the stabilizer bar...
I probably could've hidden the wire completely, but then I would've had to lengthen it by a mile to run it around the engine. My car isn't a show car and I like my cables being as short as possible.
I don't think I can upload pics here with a "free account". It's not that impressive anyways. Just an LS1 in a C4 with just about everything being black (no yellow dipstick, or writing on oil cap...), a shinny t/b, maf, thermostat housing, 180'd fuel rail (for a shorter fuel line), a silver-ish pod filter and no heater hoses and A/C...

(To everyone) Just spend a few hours hiding/shortening/lengthening/re-routing your wires in your engine bay (if your wiring's a mess) and it will make a big difference. If your car is blue, don't leave red, green...wires visible. Wrap 'em up in black tape &/or re-rout them under or in something (safely, with engine vibrations & heat in mind).
If something which used to be black is looking a bit faded or brown, clean it and spray paint it. It's all easy.
And obviously dress up kits will make your engine bay look like a million bucks (like pokerpro) and further hide all the ugly stuff. But for the street, I see it as extra weight, harder to check your engine and less horsepower (from the covers/heat).

I'd never use a water hose or car wash water gun near my engine. You only need rags and elbow grease.. and sometimes a flat blade screwdriver, cotton bud, a blade....

 

Looks beautiful, pokerpro! Thanks for the tips, guys.

JT

 

never water....lots of mothers.....like having a harley under the hood

 

I have a 95 LT1 and pressure wash it twice a year using gumout engine cleaner and then an engine detail spray that looks like armorall but stays on for easy wipe downs. Leave hood up till she drys off then start up and drive a few miles and have never had a problem. Stock oem opti.

 

Dixie: Looks great!

Roadcaq: Do you cover the opti? I'd suppose you use low pressure? Do you mind sharing what the spray is?

JT

 

just a reminder, and a little FYI - automotive electrical connectors are water resistant, not water proof, and somewhat true on sensors. in the past, I have just used a wide, long artists paint brush, and various household cleaners (fantastic, 409, simple green), working small sections at a time, and a quick rinse with water without any kind of pressure. I also use low pressure compressed air (about 40 psi) for a quick dry. a lot of guys get into trouble by using a pressure washer, and blasting everything under the hood. this is bad news for early opti's and anything around the TB. I also do a lot of piece-part cleaning and detailing. my engine cleaning/detailing is an ongoing thing. every time I wash the car, something under the hood get cleaned and detailed. finally, I prefer the stock-factory look - colored wires and all, and make every attempt to keep it that way. no flames, but I'm not a big fan of dress-up kits, but to each his own. here's a pic of my current daily driver - I'm guessing I'm about 85% there...

 

Looks good Joe C

 

Not cleaning related...but does someone know of a nice looking set of rocker arm covers that won't break the bank? My vette is a 1989 w/L98. The emblem on the rocker arm was kind of rough looking and it popped of a while back. A new emblem is about $45ish dollars. Really nice polished rocker arm w/C4 emblems etc. seem to run $300 or a bit more. Is there some of decent quality and reasonably nice looking somewhere in between price wise?

Thanks

 

why not just refinish your originals? a good cleaning, paint prep, a $10 rattle can (satin nickel), new emblem, grommets, and you're only into it for about $75 or so w/ gaskets.

 

Thanks for including a pic of yours, Joe. That seems to be a good goal for my '88, whereas a lot of the pics I see are not even a possibility for my '88 that is a driver with 160,000 miles.

 

I don't do graphics, I don't do garage queening, I dont buy shinny crap for the
engine. I do have a life, and drive the crap out of all of them.

I do wash it the old fashion way.

Avoid direct contact to the opti or the distributor if you have a L98.



Enjoy your Corvette today; Life Wont Wait For You.

 

[QUOTE=PLRX;1587188483]I don't do graphics, I don't do garage queening, I dont buy shinny crap for the
engine. I do have a life, and drive the crap out of all of them.

I do wash it the old fashion way.

Avoid direct contact to the opti or the distributor if you have a L98.



[QUOTE]

Holy sh*t that's hardcore. Cheers, brother.

 

Wax on wax-able parts, aluminum polish on aluminum, non-gloss interior treatment on black plastic.