Hello everyone! I have recently visited a friend who has a 64 1/2 mustang with a 289. Really good condition, all original. I popped the hood and with any engine not taken care of, there is grease and grime and everything everywhere. I want to get it to sparkle. Can you recommend how to go about doing this? What type of solvent to use? Thanks a bundle.

Eman24

 

It depends on just how dirty it is. If it is a real mess with built up grease and dirt, firts use a putty knife and scrape the biggest chunks off. Then get a big can of "Gunk" brand engine degreaser and take the car to a self service car wash. Take the air cleaner off and use either plastic wrap or a big zip lock bag to comer the carburetor and distributor. Spray the engine down good with the Gunk and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Use the wand, and put it on the soap selection. Spray the engine down, then rinse it. Drive the car back to the house and see just how clean it is. If it needs further cleaning, use some Automotive "Simple Green" that you get at the parts store. Let that sit for awhile, then rinse it off. You should be pretty clean by now.

 

lol. I think Soaring did that before :-)

usually you don't cover the airfilter, but fior this car you have to. They are not tight and I had my carb full of water after clean. It took me ages to get it back to life. nearly drowned the poor thing.
For the distributor. Make sure to get no water in there. Otherwise the car wouldn't fire up either.
If that happens to you take off the cap and clean all the water out with paper kitchen towels or so. So better not let it happen.

Kalli

 

When you wrap the distributor, you do mean just the cap, right? And all the wires and stuff, that's okay if they get wet?

 

Keep in mind that in some areas it is illegal to clean your engine at the coin-op car washes. I'd just take it to a place that specializes in these things and get it done. Last time I checked it was less than $100.

 

$100 ????? arhhhh. that's madness

I'm a strong believer in what sticks to the engine will fall off the engine sooner or later.
The only thing you have to check with the coingwash is if they have an oil filter. So oil doesn't run into the gutter there.
They usually don't like you cleaning your engine there, as this will fill the oil filter and is messier than just normal car cleaning.

as to your question with the distributor. No worries about the wires. Never had problems with that.
You just need to make sure that you don't get any water into the distri. That usually happens just under the cap.

As you'll probably leave the spark cables on the distr, it's a bit weird with the bag to fit it around the distri.
But If you kinda make sure that you don't spray directly on the distri and mind the areas around it and have it covered you should be good to go.

Always take tools with you to be able to remove the cap and clean it with kitchen towel.
With the air cleaner: you must not get water there.
I can tell you from experience