Topic: engine makeover
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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During the winter down time i'm going to be painting the engine block and detailing the engine bay on my 78. The engine is not greasy but oily from failed gaskets. I'm taking the externals down to about long-block status and replacing all gaskets (except head) and checking everything out in the process (Joel and everybody, you'll have to stay with me on this one). I am also removing the radiator and fan/shroud. The hood is already off and the car is 18" up on stands. I am not planning on pulling the engine (as I should) but i'll try to work aound everything.
Shoot Joel, if you can get an NCRS with no body-off I should be able to work around a long block
Does anyone have ideas about solvents and cleaners that work great de-oiling metal surfaces? I would like to stay away from the nasty stuff and remain "green" but I think it's impossible to do and still get the surface very-very clean.
I sure don't want that hi temp paint to fail after all the work
.....Rich
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Rich,
I'm a big fan of Castrol Super Clean. Simple Green works pretty good too. Stuff like Brakekleen is too strong on painted surfaces & nasty on fiberglass.
After the block is clean, use some mineral spirits or alcohol in a spray bottle to clean the block. Follow that with a scuffing pad to give the new paint some tooth to adhere to, and then clean the block with Prep-Sol on a lint-free rag before you paint.
Good luck,
Anthony
Lifetime MemberModerator
Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
I am with you on using less toxic stuff. I have found Simplegreen works great.
PurplePower was recommended to me by StingrayJim when I was working on cleaning up "BIGBRRD"s engine. IMO it beat SimpleGreen by 1000%. A spray bath with laquer thinner afterwards really cleaned it up, but you wouldn't want to do that with the engine in the car.
Jim Olson 
"The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave! 
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20229
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I would suggest doing all of the cleaning first, before disassembling anything, such as pulling the intake off. That will keep all the nasty stuff outside of the engine.
I have used a product called Engine "Gunk" to clean engines. Don't know how environmentally friendly it is, but it works amazingly well, with little elbow grease.
Soak the engine...all of it...head to toe, and use a brush for the hard to get spots, such as down in the valleys of the intake. Let the cleaner do it's job, then hose off with water, and blow dry.
When I had the engine out of the '74, it was nasty. Gunk cleaned it well. All I did after that was squirt the color on it, and I was done. That was in 1998...the engine still looks fresh today.
Cleaning/detailing with the engine in the car takes a lot more patience, and care. Don't want to splash stuff on the paint that will discolor, or otherwise damage it. Be careful of all of th e electrical stuff...make sure it is well protected.
I have used a product called Engine "Gunk" to clean engines. Don't know how environmentally friendly it is, but it works amazingly well, with little elbow grease.
Soak the engine...all of it...head to toe, and use a brush for the hard to get spots, such as down in the valleys of the intake. Let the cleaner do it's job, then hose off with water, and blow dry.
When I had the engine out of the '74, it was nasty. Gunk cleaned it well. All I did after that was squirt the color on it, and I was done. That was in 1998...the engine still looks fresh today.
Cleaning/detailing with the engine in the car takes a lot more patience, and care. Don't want to splash stuff on the paint that will discolor, or otherwise damage it. Be careful of all of th e electrical stuff...make sure it is well protected.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I'm with Joel, engine gunk works well, but I am not sure how friendly it is!
Try and find some industrial citrus cleaner,works so well my Airline has discontinued using any solvents. I brought some home in a spray bottle for my engine bay and it worked wonders,even over spray on the paint won't hurt.If you want the name of what we use I will get it tonight at work and post.
I don't know if this is what Todd's talking about, but when I was in the military we used a citrus cleaner called Citra Clean. (May have been one word, Citraclean.) It worked wonders on greasy heavy equipment, and in doing a google search this morning, it is also environmentally friendly.
[QUOTE=gurtz]I'm with Joel, engine gunk works well, but I am not sure how friendly it is![/QUOTE]
10-4 on the Gunk Engine Bright. I've used it a bunch. Spray on hose off.
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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