Cleaning, Degreasing engine, tranny, and frame - Tips and Best Practices?

[cedorris]

I've got my truck torn down to just the rolling chassis and drive train.

I want to clean it up as I don't think it's been washed in 38 years. I'm looking for some tips and best practices for power washing the engine, tranny, and chassis.

I've heard use water, oven cleaner, Simple Green, and water in that order.

I also know I need to seal off my carb, distributor, transmission lines, and A/C box. Anything I'm missing?

Thanks folks! You rock

[oldblue1968chevy]

free bump i wana know too

[vegaschevy]

get some oven cleaner, the cheap stuff. spray on, let soak in, spray off with a hot pressure washer, cuss that it needs more...repeat

[MESS-HALL]

A couple cans of degreaser and a trip to the local carwash.......unless you have a pressure washer.

[oldblue1968chevy]

how many cans of oven cleaner?

I plan to do, cab on back. and rear axle and trailing arms.

pressure wash
oven clean
presure wash
wire wheelin
pressure wash
let dry wipe down with mineral spirits
primer
dry
primer
dry
paint
dry
paint
dry

sound good lol
also, how many cans of paint do i need for this and how many cans of primer? and should i use self etching primer?

any brand recommended?

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

any brand recommended?

por-15

[ace of shades]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

.....how many cans of paint do i need for this and how many cans of primer? and should i use self etching primer?

any brand recommended?

On any bare metal you want to use self etch, but remember, self etch is not a primer primer, you need to use the self etch for the bare metal and then primer.

Originally Posted by leddzepp

por-15

Never really had good luck with por-15, It works ok, but I will swear by http://www.masterseriesct.com/ . good people, good product.

[FLDBRED]

Don't forget to use your local'dollar store",you can get your paint brushes,oven cleaner etc. real cheap!

[dznucks]

ditto ^^

I was about to mention the same thing. Get your oven cleaner at the dollar store!!! i spent $20 on oven cleaner, needed a box to carry it all. you can get carb cleaner, brake cleaner, etc, as well.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by ace of shades

Never really had good luck with por-15, It works ok, but I will swear by http://www.masterseriesct.com/ . good people, good product.

If the surface is prepped properly, por will never come off. I have never had a problem with it.

[Hottrucks]

cover the carb ,dizzy. oil and trany dip sticks........

[marcsRX]

Originally Posted by ace of shades

On any bare metal you want to use self etch, but remember, self etch is not a primer primer, you need to use the self etch for the bare metal and then primer.



Never really had good luck with por-15, It works ok, but I will swear by http://www.masterseriesct.com/ . good people, good product.

Im sold. Going to buy this when I'm ready to coat my frame.

[ace of shades]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

If the surface is prepped properly, por will never come off. I have never had a problem with it.

Never had problems with the prep or it coming off. I prep cars for a living, that brings up a very good point. Anything you do is only as good as the prep work, that is key. You can spend a billion dollars and thousands of hours making your paint job look perfect but if your prep and whats under is it crap its a waist of time. As for the the por-15 it does it's job but personally speaking I have had better luck with masters (so far). I used por for a long time because it was all I knew.

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

hmm so bare metal I need etching primer

are you guys going to bare metal when ya do frames etc?

Do i HAVE to go bare metal? why? im guessing because it sticks better?

i wanna do this 1 time not again next year lol i got 2 cans of oven cleaner today should i get more just for cab back?

You don't HAVE to go to bare metal, just down to a good substrate. As far as oven cleaner, if its from the dollar store (great tip, I never thought to look there) why not get extra cans, 1 - its only a dollar and 2 - if you don't use it, clear your oven.

On a side note by boss was talking about renewing his DEQ stuff and from the way it sounds "aircraft stripper", "gun cleaner" and other like solvents are going to be banned from public use by not being put on the shelf. He was saying that even for the shop to have the gun cleaner around he has to pay an extra $800 a year for the DEQ stuff.

[John Fabris]

can't say how many cans, you will have to try and find out for yourself. you have over 40 years of baked on grease and dirt, so, who knows?

I would start with 2 cans and let everything soak for a day (less if you cover up with saran wrap) then scrap all the soft stuff off with putty knife, spray one more can, soak, then with a pressure washer or a jet nozzle on your garden hose, spray. Wear clothing you dont care about, and wear googles. take a picture of yourself when done so we can see how soaked and greasy you get.

[oldblue1968chevy]

well really hate to por 15 heard it can be rough stuff lol

I THINK we have everything to spray paint with..never done it like to get by with a rattle can....

you guys are sorry lol wanna see how dirty i look

heck i cant stay clean under my truck its ICKYYYY lol
its just a DD but wanna clean up while im down there

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

well really hate to por 15 heard it can be rough stuff lol

Then just keep using rattlecans as needed.

[Hottrucks]

use Castrol super clean..buy a gallon at wally world..put it in a spray bottle ( I use the big punp one like you use in the garden) spray it a couple times let it sit then hose it off...if you spray it on a damp day it works better...do that a couple times to get it clean....trust me not alot of scraping..then back to wally world for a couple/ few of those cheap paint brushs and a can of satin black rustolium and then just brush it on...I have done all my DD's and if theres a little oil left over it will mix in a bit shhhh dont tell...it will also clean up the inside of a beat up bed pretty well I use a 4" foam roller for the bulk and a brush in the corners.....looks good and is easy to touch up after hauling wood or junk .it wears alot better and cleans up better than a rattle can....

oh keep it away from any shiney aluminum parts or plan on some polishing time...and its pretty harsh on spray painted stuff too.....

[oldblue1968chevy]

lol well its my DD and i live in the country and dont wanna run short.

5 cans of each? i dont care to put it on thick lol

10 cans of each?

[Hubscrub]

as far as paint goes i use the rustoleum in the quarts i have used the stuff in the eastwood catalog but the rustoleum works as well to me and you can get it at wal-mart, lowes etc. and its about 8-9 dollars a quart or use the rattlecan rustoleum i just like to spray with a paint gun though

[gus]

1st) Use a sharp spatule and remove all the chunks of dirt,mud and grease.

2nd)use about 4or5 heavy duty engine degreasers
(not oven cleaners or engine brite cleaners) for oven cleaners you will need a front apron and engine brite thats what it is engine bright (gloss) for your black rubber hoses !

3rd)spray engine degreaser on motor frame etc. wait 5to10 min. and pressure wash it.

4) spray it again, and wait 5to10 min. and pressure wash it again


5)repeat 3rd) and 4th) steps again and again.


6)Buy 1 Gal. of Acetone and wipe off all the metal that will bee painted !

7)repeat step 6)

8)Buy (1 quart)=4 spray cans of engine primer at you local auto parts store.

9)spray 1 coat and wait for 15 min and re-spray it again a 2nd coat.

10)buy (1quart)=4 spray can of your favorite engine enamel paint.

11)clean up all the mess!

[johntom]

cheap oven cleaner. about 4 cans.
scrape as much as you can first.
then spray, let it sit for a minute, and scrub with a scotch brite pad
wear gloves!!! and avoid rubber
pressure wash off and repeat
wipe with acetone
rustoleum satin black in a quart and cut it with acetone
spraying is the easiest and fastest

[joeelutz]

2 words
STEAM CLEAN.

[Mowdigger]

The Super Clean purple stuff works great, just don't get it on your hands. Use rubber gloves and a respirator. It's wicked stuff

[big_al_71]

I bought gallons of degreaser , sprayed the engine bay all over, let it soak then pressure cleaned the heck out of it.
I cant find the picture of what it looked like before but here are a couple of picts of the after result.

[72BlckButy]

Don't forget about the Detailing section of the board. Should be plenty of tips and tricks listed.

Click me.... Do's/Don'ts of Engine Cleaning (Tell us your experiences...)