Show Prep....engine compartment
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Cumberland Rhode Island
Show Prep....engine compartment
Getting ready for an up comming judged show.I have the ext & int. spotless. What do you use to get the engine compartment spotless? The wiring,frame and firewall are sandy,dusty and just not the way I want them to look.......any idea's
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,159
Likes: 2
From: Stillwater, OK
Originally Posted by fixit055
Getting ready for an up comming judged show.I have the ext & int. spotless. What do you use to get the engine compartment spotless? The wiring,frame and firewall are sandy,dusty and just not the way I want them to look.......any idea's
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
I use a compressor to blow out all the dust I can, then I wipe down
everything I can reach with a damp cloth. Then I apply the hoses with
303 Aerospace protectant. It gives a nice sheen to them without over
doing it. Takes a little time but well worth it.
everything I can reach with a damp cloth. Then I apply the hoses with
303 Aerospace protectant. It gives a nice sheen to them without over
doing it. Takes a little time but well worth it.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
The Car Care Discussion section of the forum is the best place to go for answers to these type questions. Several very knowledgeable people and a few professional detailers hang out there.
Sticky thread at the top of C5 General: Questions about CAR CARE: wax, window cleaners, etc...
Good luck!
Sticky thread at the top of C5 General: Questions about CAR CARE: wax, window cleaners, etc...
Good luck!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,728
Likes: 24,678
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
For my engine compartment, I use an old Absorber and wipe down everything I can get to. If there is a lot of dust, an air compressor works well to blow the stuff off. If there is some grease/oil, I use a rag with Simple Green. To finish the job, I use a product called In and Out Detail Spray - available from Adam's Polishes. Works great on hoses and wiring looms.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,071
Likes: 0
From: Hoover Alabama
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
For my engine compartment, I use an old Absorber and wipe down everything I can get to. If there is a lot of dust, an air compressor works well to blow the stuff off. If there is some grease/oil, I use a rag with Simple Green. To finish the job, I use a product called In and Out Detail Spray - available from Adam's Polishes. Works great on hoses and wiring looms.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
As a disclaimer my car is never driven in the rain so this job for me is a bit easier. I did however win 1st place in the Stock Coupe division of the Beale Street Corvette Show in Memphis in April.
Dependant on how dirty it actually is here is what I do:
Use compressed air or even your shopvac on exhaust to blw away anything you can. This works well for the areas you just can't get to with a rag.
I then use a series of paint brushes to brush away what is left. I put tape around the metal area of the brushes so that they do not scratch or make things worse. This will take some time....be methodical.
I then wipe down with some Quick Detailer the entire compartment. This stuff will remove all the earlier detailer and leave it really clean.
Now for the shine, I spray liberal amounts of Armour All on the engine, hoses and plastic. Then I start the car and let it warm up all these parts. Then shut it off and let it cool. This will leave a simi-gloss shine that appears to be new/stock and will last for a good amount of time.
Try it.
Dependant on how dirty it actually is here is what I do:
Use compressed air or even your shopvac on exhaust to blw away anything you can. This works well for the areas you just can't get to with a rag.
I then use a series of paint brushes to brush away what is left. I put tape around the metal area of the brushes so that they do not scratch or make things worse. This will take some time....be methodical.
I then wipe down with some Quick Detailer the entire compartment. This stuff will remove all the earlier detailer and leave it really clean.
Now for the shine, I spray liberal amounts of Armour All on the engine, hoses and plastic. Then I start the car and let it warm up all these parts. Then shut it off and let it cool. This will leave a simi-gloss shine that appears to be new/stock and will last for a good amount of time.
Try it.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,105
Likes: 2
From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I always use Simple Green for the initial cleaning of the engine compartment if it is very dirty or greasy.
I spray it on a warm engine and let it sit for a few minutes, then lightly mist it off with a water hose. I'm also always careful around the alternator, usually covering it with plastic or foil.
After the engine compartment is clean, then it's a simple matter, everytime I wash the car, of misting it down with water , using a leaf blower to get all the crevises dry, and wiping down with a quality microfiber towel to keep it looking good...
I spray it on a warm engine and let it sit for a few minutes, then lightly mist it off with a water hose. I'm also always careful around the alternator, usually covering it with plastic or foil.
After the engine compartment is clean, then it's a simple matter, everytime I wash the car, of misting it down with water , using a leaf blower to get all the crevises dry, and wiping down with a quality microfiber towel to keep it looking good...
Last edited by Z06-JIM; May 25, 2006 at 10:54 AM.
