1970 Chevrolet C20 Pickup - Removing and Prevent Rust in Motor Area

[PbFut]

Engine bay clean up is a slow labor of love. You disassemble a deep as you want to go. Then clean your parts with solvent or soaps. Wire brush and clean some more. Then use paint of choice. Rustoleum products work quite well and provide a respectable overall finished look. Eastman has a nice gray phosphate paint for hinges and hood release. Remember that anything you paint will make surrounding parts look worse. It becomes a rabbit hole of sorts.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by PbFut

Engine bay clean up is a slow labor of love. You disassemble a deep as you want to go. Then clean your parts with solvent or soaps. Wire brush and clean some more. Then use paint of choice. Rustoleum products work quite well and provide a respectable overall finished look. Eastman has a nice gray phosphate paint for hinges and hood release. Remember that anything you paint will make surrounding parts look worse. It becomes a rabbit hole of sorts.

It’s not Eastman, it’s Eastwood.
Lots of stuff in their site including some cast iron paint that doesn’t flake off the exhaust manifolds.


https://www.eastwood.com/

[HO455]

There dozens of opinions on what process to use. Are you looking for short term prevention until a restoration or long term fix?

Personally operating under a budget and wanting a longer term solution. I would remove things like the hinges, hood latch, battery tray to clean and wire brush them. Followed by soaking in vinegar. Before painting neutralize the parts.

For large items like the core support I likely would clean and wire brush in place then treat the parts with Ospho. After 24 hours re-apply Ospho and then rinse with water. Once dry paint with your choice of paint.

Lots of information on both of these processes on the interweb.