Cleaning the Engine
03-27-2009, 03:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ga
Posts: 30
Cleaning the Engine
Hey everyone, I have a question on cleaning the engine bay. I would love some input on the best way to clean the engine as well as any recommendations on any upgrades to things, such as wires, etc. thanks and yes I know it is one dirty engine bay.
03-27-2009, 03:33 PM
#2
America ftw
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: ca
Posts: 2,261
tape a plastic bag over the distributor and pressure wash the whole thing.
then if you want you can remove as much as you want so you can repaint it. or at least the front of the engine.
thats what my dad does on his. when he cleans it real well he might do some touchup spraying on anything that mightve flaked away from heat.
you can also take anything off of the shock towers and fender aprons and rough them up enough to spray a coat of satin black.
otherwise you can pull the engine and tranny and strip the entire bay and repaint it all.
then if you want you can remove as much as you want so you can repaint it. or at least the front of the engine.
thats what my dad does on his. when he cleans it real well he might do some touchup spraying on anything that mightve flaked away from heat.
you can also take anything off of the shock towers and fender aprons and rough them up enough to spray a coat of satin black.
otherwise you can pull the engine and tranny and strip the entire bay and repaint it all.
03-28-2009, 01:35 PM
#7
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: CA
Posts: 1,278
Brake cleaner works well to get grease off hard to reach places. Rinse it down. Sand the engine compartment down. Mask off. And paint. Its not too hard and pretty cheap to do and looks great after. Pulling the engine is not needed for cleaning up or painting and probably not worth it anyways. Dont be afraid to use the rattle can. I think your engine bay will clean up real nicely. Maybe throw a PS or PB kit on there.
03-28-2009, 07:23 PM
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Northernish Eastish Central Texas
Posts: 3,302
I know this sounds all wussy..but here goes..
Think about the visual asthetics and make a plan on how to 'organize' it.
- replace all the spagetti electrical wiring with fresh, cleanly run lengths of wire. Run the wire like you would run wiring when building a house, so that it all follows a path and branches off.
- Use high quality terminations and cover with heat shrink. The crimp on plastic spades say 'in a hurry'.
- Cover the wiring runs with small black corregated plastic wrap, insullation wrapping tape (not electrical tape) or the factory style cloth braid. Don't use the bright yellow, blue, green, purple or pink plastic wire sheathing. Black only.
- Organize your spark plug wires so that they lay flat and run visually appealing. You may have to buy replacements and cut to length.
- cut some slack out of the heater hoses and run them along the intake so that they are unobtrusive.
- Take some Go-Jo to all the rubber tubing and hoses. It will clean them right up.
- Lose the blue air filter. It visually conflicts with the blue of the engine block.
- as others have said. Steam clean (different than pressure wash), some rattle can paint, and you'll be looking sharp!
http://www.midnightdsigns.com/Mustan...DSC00140-1.JPG
Think about the visual asthetics and make a plan on how to 'organize' it.
- replace all the spagetti electrical wiring with fresh, cleanly run lengths of wire. Run the wire like you would run wiring when building a house, so that it all follows a path and branches off.
- Use high quality terminations and cover with heat shrink. The crimp on plastic spades say 'in a hurry'.
- Cover the wiring runs with small black corregated plastic wrap, insullation wrapping tape (not electrical tape) or the factory style cloth braid. Don't use the bright yellow, blue, green, purple or pink plastic wire sheathing. Black only.
- Organize your spark plug wires so that they lay flat and run visually appealing. You may have to buy replacements and cut to length.
- cut some slack out of the heater hoses and run them along the intake so that they are unobtrusive.
- Take some Go-Jo to all the rubber tubing and hoses. It will clean them right up.
- Lose the blue air filter. It visually conflicts with the blue of the engine block.
- as others have said. Steam clean (different than pressure wash), some rattle can paint, and you'll be looking sharp!
http://www.midnightdsigns.com/Mustan...DSC00140-1.JPG
03-28-2009, 10:56 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Ga
Posts: 30
Thanks for the replies guys, I will start working on it soon. I will definitely clean up the wires and hoses and make it shine more, hopefully. 1 more question that i have often wondered, what is the purpose of the Monte Carlo bar?