Problem cleaning the front cross member - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

twillie2460 · 09-22-2010, 10:57 AM

I have looked and read most of all the post on cleaning the frame, and engine bay area but I have not found any that talked about the area on the frame that is so hard to get to. I have been blasting on my frame and already went thru about a 100 pounds of stuff just doing the front crossmember. But there is area I just can't seem to get and it is in between the top of the crossmember and the bottom or I think what you would call the skid plate. I even rigged up a very flexable hose and bought adapter to get tip on it. But I still can't seems to get inside this area very good. I even took to the local part store to see if can be hot tanked to no evail. So what do people do about this area, is it a oven cleaner and power wash do I take it somewhere and have it dipped in a cleaning solution. I want to POR-15 the frame and as long as the grease in is there I know the POR-15 will never stick. I was also told to foeget that part as it will never been seen. Well it may never been seen but it will always be in the back of my mind if I do not do it at least a fairly decent job so I am looking ofr the solutions and I am sure I am not the first guy to deal with this.

68GMCCustom · 09-22-2010, 11:08 AM

I just cleaned mine up with a wire brush, a scraper, and some purple stuff (degreaser)

Sammy · 09-22-2010, 11:13 AM

Have you tried taking it to a good pressure washer car wash? That and a couple of cans of cheap oven cleaner. With the tranny and engine removed is one of the best ways to get all the areas as clean as a hounds tooth as my country friend tells me. Being from Joplin you may have heard that expression..

bigsnookmaster · 09-22-2010, 01:43 PM

You could also just unbolt the crossmember, and then clean and POR-15 it. .02

raycow · 09-22-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twillie2460

I even took to the local part store to see if can be hot tanked to no evail.

Please explain a little more about the hot tanking. Are you saying the shop refused to do it, or that they did it, but still didn't get the crossmember clean?

Ray

gkesseru · 09-22-2010, 10:30 PM

Some shops have an oven that bakes out all hidden oil. My local machine shop has such a service.

dfwright · 09-23-2010, 12:25 AM

If you take the cross-member off, you can manage to get in there. I sandblasted inside mine, and it took a long time to do a thorough job, and there was definitely some contortion involved in sticking your arm in through the spring holes, working the sandblaster cut-off valve one-handed...

But it can be done.

09-22-2010, 10:57 AM	#1
twillie2460 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Joplin, Mo. Posts: 153	Problem cleaning the front cross member I have looked and read most of all the post on cleaning the frame, and engine bay area but I have not found any that talked about the area on the frame that is so hard to get to. I have been blasting on my frame and already went thru about a 100 pounds of stuff just doing the front crossmember. But there is area I just can't seem to get and it is in between the top of the crossmember and the bottom or I think what you would call the skid plate. I even rigged up a very flexable hose and bought adapter to get tip on it. But I still can't seems to get inside this area very good. I even took to the local part store to see if can be hot tanked to no evail. So what do people do about this area, is it a oven cleaner and power wash do I take it somewhere and have it dipped in a cleaning solution. I want to POR-15 the frame and as long as the grease in is there I know the POR-15 will never stick. I was also told to foeget that part as it will never been seen. Well it may never been seen but it will always be in the back of my mind if I do not do it at least a fairly decent job so I am looking ofr the solutions and I am sure I am not the first guy to deal with this.

09-22-2010, 11:08 AM	#2
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: Problem cleaning the front cross member I just cleaned mine up with a wire brush, a scraper, and some purple stuff (degreaser) __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

09-22-2010, 11:13 AM	#3
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	Re: Problem cleaning the front cross member Have you tried taking it to a good pressure washer car wash? That and a couple of cans of cheap oven cleaner. With the tranny and engine removed is one of the best ways to get all the areas as clean as a hounds tooth as my country friend tells me. Being from Joplin you may have heard that expression.. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

09-22-2010, 01:43 PM	#4
bigsnookmaster Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: St.Petersburg,Fl Posts: 1,267	Re: Problem cleaning the front cross member You could also just unbolt the crossmember, and then clean and POR-15 it. .02 __________________ greg http://community.webshots.com/user/68406Stepside

09-22-2010, 10:30 PM	#6
gkesseru Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California, Maryland Posts: 544	Re: Problem cleaning the front cross member Some shops have an oven that bakes out all hidden oil. My local machine shop has such a service. __________________ 72 Fleet (died) 78 Step (sold) 55 Step named Fred (sold) 00 F150 68 Step (named El Scorcho by PO) Build thread for the new El Scorcho http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=392932

09-23-2010, 12:25 AM	#7
dfwright Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,374	Re: Problem cleaning the front cross member If you take the cross-member off, you can manage to get in there. I sandblasted inside mine, and it took a long time to do a thorough job, and there was definitely some contortion involved in sticking your arm in through the spring holes, working the sandblaster cut-off valve one-handed... But it can be done. __________________ 1972 C10 LWB, 350/350 Deconstruction began 5/2009, mostly completed restoration, 5/2017



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