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

[MESS-HALL]

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

[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

[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

[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.

[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?

[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.....

[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...)

[oldblue1968chevy]

ah yes, cant forget your section lol

im saving this link

al, that looks so clean i could eat offa it

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

ah yes, cant forget your section lol

im saving this link

al, that looks so clean i could eat offa it

thanks, it was well worth the effort here is a pict after it was painted....

[72BlckButy]

Al did you go gloss on the inners and radiator support as well?

[dfwright]

So far I've used 6 cans of oven cleaner -- mostly on the crossmember and control arms. I've also used most of a gallon of the purple degreaser, a quart of por-15 marine clean, a half gallon of acetone, and a quart or so of paint thinner on various parts and places.

I can't believe the amount of grease and baked on dirt there is to get off, not to mention tar and asphalt.

[DPowers]

HOT water pressure washer- you don't need alot of pressure- the hot water is the ticket. Just an idea to throw out there- used to sell Hot Water Pressure Washers and water systems. We had to do so many "demos" on a monthly basis, so I was always looking for places to demo. If you find someplace that sells them in your area- call them up. You might have to listen to a sales pitch, but you might get it done for free.
I rented one for a day-
Before and after pics.

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

Al did you go gloss on the inners and radiator support as well?

yes we did radiator support, inner fenders, vertical support and fire wall. The frame and all the suspension area was done with some special urethane paint not as shinny...




sorry about hi-jacking the thread...

[Copytron]

Wow, it looks great. It is encouraging to see. Makes me want to go out now and get started. Good job.