Help! '85 Custom Deluxe

[freddiesgirl]

Alright yall. I'm new at working on trucks....Just bought it in March. But I am willing to do the work once I have the know how. I know I need to clean up my engine. It runs fine, but looks like the man that had it before me didn't mind tearing stuff up. I've already had to fix a number of things, and when I would take one thing apart, I'd find another problem. I know that's how it is with old things, but it was pretty discouraging to have one thing right after the other wear out on me...as soon as I bought it.

So, I need some help. How do I go about cleaning this engine up? Do I have to take it out to do it? What do I use? What do I NOT need to do?

It's a 350 4bbl with headers...i dont have any pics of it at the moment, but I'm going home tomorrow so I'll take a bunch of pics and post them on Monday. Thanks for any help yall. I know that yall are the best ones to ask

[GMC91]

You just trying to clean the engine and engine bay up right? If so get lots of cheap oven cleaner and go to town, then wash it off. But be careful not to get stuff wet that dont need to be wet. Anyway, thats a start, others shall chime in and habe more detail.

[freddiesgirl]

Originally Posted by GMC91

You just trying to clean the engine and engine bay up right? If so get lots of cheap oven cleaner and go to town, then wash it off. But be careful not to get stuff wet that dont need to be wet. Anyway, thats a start, others shall chime in and habe more detail.

lol like which parts? i dont know what im not supposed to clean

[RuralRoute C-30]

Here is a great thread on engine cleaning.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=340322

There is this one and more in the link to "Detailing" here. A lot of everything can be found in this forum so have fun with it.

Good luck with the truck.

Mark

[freddiesgirl]

thanks for that link its helpful. I'm really talking about like under the valve covers where all the gunk is

[1985-GMC]

There shouldn't be any gunk under the valve covers as long as the oil was changed regularly and everything was properly taken care of. Just clean up the outside with oven cleaner or something like that and then paint it.

[GMC91]

Well if you had to take the valve covers off, guess you could use a flat head screw driver to kinda scrap the gunk out.

[freddiesgirl]

yeah i don't really know what it's been through...if the oil was changed regularly all the time or what, so i just want to check and make sure. do you clean that with anything, or just like get the sludge out like you said?

[GMC91]

you dont want any kinda degreaser getting in your bearings, it could mess them up(at least thats what my dad always told me). So I would just scrap it out with something.

[benoit454]

scrape it loose and vac. it up, try not to let any of it get into any holes you see, or use a rag and wipe it out, once the covers are off, that's easy. spray them with degreaser(of your choice) and then wipe or spray them clean. if it was me and I had them off and had the cash I'd throw on some chrome ones, a little bling and cleans it up underhood and adds some sparkle lol. if not maybe do the cheap route, clean and paint them.

[Gordonr1973]

I was searching the site last night on how to clean my motor and transmission and these are the threads I found:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...350986&page=13

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=340322&page=3

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=408947

When I've cleaned my other trucks, I try to not wash it when the motor is hot & not to soak electrical stuff (A/C compressor, wiring harnesses, fuse box). After I'm done I wipe away the water off it as I can and then I start my engine and drive it or let it run to dry off.

So far it has always started.