What's the best way to clean engine parts?

I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.

I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
money.

So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
in the basement for storage.

One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.

Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?

Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
than external parts?

I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?

Any information is appreciated.

-Rick

Have you looked into buying a hot tank? You might get by with using
engine degreaser at a self serve car wash on less delicate parts. I use
a liquid called Greased Lightening that works very well.

wrote:
> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>
> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
> money.
>
> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
> engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
> this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
> gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
> work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
> in the basement for storage.
>
> One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
> time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>
> Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>
> Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
> than external parts?
>
> I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
> beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>
> Any information is appreciated.
>
> -Rick

I think andything that is an alkalytic cleaner (greased lighning,
simple green etc.) will pit aluminum (maybe magnesium, dont remember)
so you might want the be careful if you go with one of them. I've
also had good results with crushed walnut shells for abrasive
blasting. Eastwood sells a ton of cleaners and about 6 different
kinds of blaster media, www.eastwoodco.com.

On Mar 19, 6:19 pm, Michael Johnson > wrote:
> Have you looked into buying a hot tank? You might get by with using
> engine degreaser at a self serve car wash on less delicate parts. I use
> a liquid called Greased Lightening that works very well.
>
> wrote:
> > I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
> > since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>
> > I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
> > pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
> > me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
> > money.
>
> > So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
> > engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
> > this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
> > gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
> > work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
> > in the basement for storage.
>
> > One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
> > time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>
> > Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>
> > Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
> > than external parts?
>
> > I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
> > beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>
> > Any information is appreciated.
>
> > -Rick

You're right. That's why I stated to use them on "less delicate" parts.
I doubt the off the shelf engine degreasers will do much harm to
aluminum. The Greased Lightning might but then that is the reason is
works well.

jjj wrote:
> I think andything that is an alkalytic cleaner (greased lighning,
> simple green etc.) will pit aluminum (maybe magnesium, dont remember)
> so you might want the be careful if you go with one of them. I've
> also had good results with crushed walnut shells for abrasive
> blasting. Eastwood sells a ton of cleaners and about 6 different
> kinds of blaster media, www.eastwoodco.com.
>
> On Mar 19, 6:19 pm, Michael Johnson > wrote:
>> Have you looked into buying a hot tank? You might get by with using
>> engine degreaser at a self serve car wash on less delicate parts. I use
>> a liquid called Greased Lightening that works very well.
>>
>> wrote:
>>> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>>> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>>> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>>> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>>> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>>> money.
>>> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>>> engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>>> this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>>> gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>>> work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>>> in the basement for storage.
>>> One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>>> time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>>> Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>>> Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>>> than external parts?
>>> I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>>> beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>>> Any information is appreciated.
>>> -Rick
>
>

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:08:18 -0400, wrote:

>I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>
>I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>money.
>
>So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>in the basement for storage.
>
>One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>
>Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>
>Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>than external parts?
>
>I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>
>Any information is appreciated.
>
>-Rick

Somewhere near you is probably a truck station; either a major truck
stop on an interstate, or a large trucking company; which will have in
close proximity, a major wash station. A drive through similar to your
local self serve car wash, and some have either a pit or a ramp so you
can get to the underside. They tend to use higher pressure and good
jet of steam steam (not the weak stuff you normally find at the local
self serve car wash).

I wasn't aware of such a thing until you mentioned it. (Remember, I'm
ignorant.) I saw one at Northern Tool this afternoon, but its price
(>$1000) seems like overkill to clean the parts on one car. (I'm not
in this as a hobby. My Dad bought this car new when I was 11. Once I
get this baby back on the road, my restoration days are done.)

But, I'll look around some more at hot tanks anyway.



On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:19:17 -0400, Michael Johnson >
wrote:

>Have you looked into buying a hot tank? You might get by with using
>engine degreaser at a self serve car wash on less delicate parts. I use
>a liquid called Greased Lightening that works very well.
>
wrote:
>> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>>
>> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>> money.
>>
>> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>> engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>> this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>> gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>> work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>> in the basement for storage.
>>
>> One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>> time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>>
>> Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>>
>> Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>> than external parts?
>>
>> I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>> beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>>
>> Any information is appreciated.
>>
>> -Rick

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:50:18 -0700, Spike >
wrote:

>On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:08:18 -0400, wrote:
>
>>I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>>since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>>
>>I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>>pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>>me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>>money.
>>
>>So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>>engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>>this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>>gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>>work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>>in the basement for storage.
>>
>>One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>>time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>>
>>Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>>
>>Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>>than external parts?
>>
>>I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>>beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>>
>>Any information is appreciated.
>>
>>-Rick
>
>Somewhere near you is probably a truck station; either a major truck
>stop on an interstate, or a large trucking company; which will have in
>close proximity, a major wash station. A drive through similar to your
>local self serve car wash, and some have either a pit or a ramp so you
>can get to the underside. They tend to use higher pressure and good
>jet of steam steam (not the weak stuff you normally find at the local
>self serve car wash).

Hmmm. That doesn't seem very practical in my case. When I say the
car is in pieces, I mean pieces. The car is literally in boxes. The
engine is completely disassembled. There is hardly a bolt anywhere
that has not been turned. Most of them are in labeled baggies.

But that does make me wonder if a portable steam cleaner would be
effective. Any opinions?

-Rick

Check on ebay for one. Maybe there is a deal to be here there.

wrote:
> I wasn't aware of such a thing until you mentioned it. (Remember, I'm
> ignorant.) I saw one at Northern Tool this afternoon, but its price
> (>$1000) seems like overkill to clean the parts on one car. (I'm not
> in this as a hobby. My Dad bought this car new when I was 11. Once I
> get this baby back on the road, my restoration days are done.)
>
> But, I'll look around some more at hot tanks anyway.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:19:17 -0400, Michael Johnson >
> wrote:
>
>> Have you looked into buying a hot tank? You might get by with using
>> engine degreaser at a self serve car wash on less delicate parts. I use
>> a liquid called Greased Lightening that works very well.
>>
>> wrote:
>>> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>>> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>>>
>>> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>>> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>>> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>>> money.
>>>
>>> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>>> engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>>> this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>>> gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>>> work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>>> in the basement for storage.
>>>
>>> One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>>> time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>>>
>>> Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>>>
>>> Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>>> than external parts?
>>>
>>> I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>>> beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>>>
>>> Any information is appreciated.
>>>
>>> -Rick
>

wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:50:18 -0700, Spike >
> wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:08:18 -0400, wrote:
>>
>>> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
>>> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>>>
>>> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
>>> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
>>> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
>>> money.
>>>
>>> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
>>> engine parts. What is the most effective way to do that? I'm doing
>>> this in my basement, and don't want the whole house to smell like
>>> gasoline or kerosene. Now that it is getting warmer (Georgia), I can
>>> work in the back yard, but at some point all this stuff has to go back
>>> in the basement for storage.
>>>
>>> One neighbor told me to just buy all new parts, but I'd rather spend
>>> time and save money. But I don't want this to take forever either.
>>>
>>> Another guy told me to buy a parts washer. How do they work?
>>>
>>> Should internal engine parts (pistons and such) be treated differently
>>> than external parts?
>>>
>>> I have a small sand blaster, and my pro told me to get some glass
>>> beads for it. Where does that fit into the process?
>>>
>>> Any information is appreciated.
>>>
>>> -Rick
>> Somewhere near you is probably a truck station; either a major truck
>> stop on an interstate, or a large trucking company; which will have in
>> close proximity, a major wash station. A drive through similar to your
>> local self serve car wash, and some have either a pit or a ramp so you
>> can get to the underside. They tend to use higher pressure and good
>> jet of steam steam (not the weak stuff you normally find at the local
>> self serve car wash).
>
> Hmmm. That doesn't seem very practical in my case. When I say the
> car is in pieces, I mean pieces. The car is literally in boxes. The
> engine is completely disassembled. There is hardly a bolt anywhere
> that has not been turned. Most of them are in labeled baggies.
>
> But that does make me wonder if a portable steam cleaner would be
> effective. Any opinions?

A high pressure washer can do wonders to remove grease and grime. For
parts that have a varnish coating this won't work but maybe a good long
soak in a solvent will do the job.

wrote:
> I'm not sure how to ask this question without seeming ignorant, but
> since I am ignorant, I guess that's ok.
>
> I have a '65 coupe that I'm starting to rebuild. It has been in
> pieces for a long time. I've contacted a professional who will help
> me with the hard stuff, but I'm willing to do grunt work to save
> money.
>
> So this guy told me to clean all the grime off of the chassis and
> engine parts.


You would surprised at how well common household
cleaner can work here.
Scrape away as much of the grime as you can with a
putty knife.
Use Easy Off oven cleaner for the steel parts.
Dawn dishwashing detergent, brillo pads, and
plenty of water; preferably hot water.
Simple Green works very well without damaging
hands , parts, or sinks.

--
..boB
2006 FXDI hot rod
2001 Dodge Dakota QC 5.9/4x4/3.92
1966 Mustang Coupe - Daily Driver
1965 FFR Cobra - 427W EFI, Damn Fast.