81' Corvette Guy

Hi all, many on here have some gorgeous engine bays and motors..was just wondering if you guys could share some of your detailing tips for the motors and engine bays...thanks in advance for all the helpful info!! :hurray:

wcsinx

Simple Green & lots and lots of rags :lol:

77Dream

First you have to go to a local hand carwash and use the pressure hose on the engine. But make sure you cover the carb and distributor so you dont get water in them. Also take a few cans of engine degreaser and use before and during use of the pressure washer. This will give you a clean surface to work with and make the job much easier. You can go to your local auto parts store and get a can of engine detailer. Its kinda like armoral for the engine. You use it on all black plastic and rubber, it will shine it up and give it that always wet look. At this point you get the "while im at it" bug and start buying lots of chrome parts and a bunch of other stuff you dont need. :D

Stewart's74

Pulling the engine was a huge help. Painting the engine bay was key due to GM's overspray habit.

battsup

Gunk engine degreaser from walmart, gunk window cleaner(for all the plastic), 303 aerospace protectant(in place of armour all and i am going to try wheel acid next to shine up my carb and manifold.

edit* dont use the simple green on the alluminum, if you are unsure what metal is alluminum try to stick a magnet on it, if it doesnt stick then its alluminum.


[Modified by battsup, 8:37 AM 8/15/2003]

Fevre

I second that, it left a bunch of sand like crude behind where I didn't get it rinsed fully. Something to do with the Simple Green being high in alcolyds (sp?).

battsup

I also here its too corrosive on alluminum, i was reading some posts in car care and the simple green put indent in the alluminum and even seeped through somewhere!!

76Stinger

All good suggestions but the main ingredient is you must be willing to spend the time, lose skin and blood from fingers and knuckles, and be prepared to repair all the things you knock loose. :rolleyes:

There are some excellent products that help tremendously - the manifold dressing is great for rusted mainfold and other rusted steel. There is also a rust converter that turn rust into a very hard, epoxy-like surface. I have used them both.

Repeating myself - elbow grease is the best tool. Be careful of the car wash as sometimes the high pressure can knock off hoses and wires and you don't find out until too late.

Good luck and keep us posted.

STW :seeya
Robert
76Stinger