I've removed the hood and plan to start work cleaning up the engine bay and some various components. Are there any good suggestions on methods and cleaners? Proven degreasers? Steel wool? Thanks! -A
I've just taken any engine cleaner and hose the motor and engine bay with the stuff. Then after 15 minuits or so, hit it with a good pressure washer. Gets about 95% of the gunk off but makes a hell of a mess. Dont hit the distribuitor or carb directly if you want to start it anytime soon. I usually do it with the motor running at a fast idle.
Believe it or not, I've had really good luck using oven cleaner. It takes off alot of gunk. But be careful of aluminum pices--It can bugger them up. I,ve also found that those little nail brushes you can buy to get grease out from you fingertips work well for scrubbing. They're not too big to get in small places, and they're not too small to be ineffective.
I also used Oven Cleaner ... 99 cents a can at the local discount store. Took me four cans to get it clean enough to repaint. You WILL need to repaint if you use Oven Cleaner ... it turned my factory red paint pink and will probably lighten all other colors too ...
Ohhh! Pretty in pink! I spray a couple of cans of Engine Brite ( which is made by Gumout) on the engine and engine compartment and really load it on the thick, gunky stuff. Let sit a while and then scub it down with Castrol Super Clean. Pressure wash it down with more Catrol and follow that with a rince of warm water with a little soap in it. Having a good supply of wire brushes of all sizes is a good idea. It's messy as all get out, but the results are worth the mess.
That's great! I wish I had the knowledge and ability to empty out the front to clean it out thoroughly. I'll take a look at oven cleaner - my car is white, so fading isn't much of an issue for me. So far I've been using a pail of bleach/oxy clean mixture, steel wool and a towel. Results are good thus far, but the steel wool doesn't last long and will rub the paint off in some areas if you aren't careful. -A
the problem i have with steel wool is it get little pieces in the cracks and rust or blow out when i start painting. the oven cleaner is my cleaner if the paint is not an issue...frank...
Yes, that steel wool gets everywhere doesn't it. I'll have to get the air gun and blow out all of the nooks and crannies as I go along. I also found that WD-40 cleans minor grease pretty well within itself. Perhaps I should start another thread but does anyone know where to get repro ford labels/stickers (like on the carb top)? -A
Try http://www.autokrafters.com/ for your repro stickers. Also, I've used Dawn dishwashing soap as a degreaser. The commercials are true - "Dawn takes grease out of your way!" Sam
I used some stuff the other day called purple power I got from my local auto zone. That stuff works really well. I had some of the windshield caulk on my hands (I just installed my windshield) and it took it right off also. Just my .02. Tomm
First i use simpley green and spray everything then let it set for about 10 min then power wash it. Then i get Carb Cleaner then spray everything agen and wipe it down. it works for me i just do that for the weekly races just to make my engine look better i also power wash the under belly of the car every other week.
