[alfa] Re: Engine detailing

[Jon Pike <jhpike@xxxxxxx>]

Not that I'm detailing anywhere near what sounds like the level that you 
guys are..  but I wanted to throw in finding a good basin of some sort 
to put under your extremely greasy whatever is a helpful tip.. 
It needs to handle whatever solvents you end up using,  so some plastics 
may be out of the question.  I ended up with an enormous steel mixing 
bowl my wife didn't want anymore.. good to scrub smaller parts in,  and 
to sit under larger things while the scrubbing and washing down goes on.

You really don't want all that dirty grease going on your concrete,  or 
you'll be looking at it for a long time...

Another thing I stumbled across that's good for catching the splashes,  
as well as any other dirt that falls off a car while working on one..  
is a heavy brown paper usually found in the paint section of hardware 
stores.  It's about 3' x 150' for $8-9,  tear off a piece or pieces, lay 
under the car,  when the work is done,  roll it up and throw it and the 
dirt away! 
Last note.. watch the fume level!  If you use brake cleaners or some 
such with Methanol, or some of the other bad solvents,  they're pretty 
toxic.  Make sure the garage door is open and there's reasonable air 
circulation so you don't gas yourself...

Jon
77 Spider


> It is hard to add anything more to this great advice.  Evaluate the paint and 
> use the appropriate polish to remove any swirls, etc.  Wax will look good but 
> remember given the high temperatures next to the engine, wax will not stay 
> there for long.  I would highly recommend One Grand Blitz or P100 (from local 
> Harley Davidson dealer).  Cotton wool buds are also very useful tools for those 
> hard to reach places.
>
> If I can offer one tip, it would be to do just one section of the engine bay 
> at a time and ensure everything is cleaned and protected.  
> A matter of time and a sharp eye indeed.
>
>  
>
> > > I saw your car at the 2003 National Convention, and the engine bay is in 
> > > pretty good shape.  Thus, what you need to do is a lot simpler than if the car 
> > > had 20 years of accumulated schmutz (technical term) on it.  The key is to 
> > > use the most gentle cleaners that will do the job, a minimum of water spray, 
> > > and a lot of time and elbow grease.
> > >
> > > Before you start, cover all the sensors, air intakes, and electrical gizmos 
> > > with saran wrap or something similar.  Then, start with the macro dirt.  I 
> > > have found that Griots Garage Engine Cleaner works well on moderate grease and 
> > > is gentle.  You do have to agitate with a brush though.  Get a bunch of cheap 
> > > paintbrushes of various sizes.  If you have heavy grease and dirt, then a 
> > > Gunk type product works well.  I suggest rinsing with canned carburettor 
> > > cleaner instead of water.  The carb cleaner removes the grease and the gunk and 
> > > leaves things nice and clean.  Beyond this, just use a sponge with regular soap 
> > > and water to clean everything, and rinse with a hose without a nozzle on it.  
> > > You want to rinse, not blast water and dirt into components.  Towel 
> > > everything off and use compressed air to dry things fully.
> > >
> > > Once everything is clean, I suggest a mild polish like Griots Fine Hand 
> > > Polish on the painted surfaces, followed by a wax for protection.  Plastic and 
> > > rubber can be dressed with a low gloss protectant.  Spray it on a rag and wipe, 
> > > and don't just spray directly into the engine bay.  Whatever you do, stay 
> > > away from those aerosol silicone "detailing sprays" that used car dealers use.  
> > > They yellow over time and just trap any dirt that was not cleaned off.  The 
> > > dealer had to replace all the underhood plastic covers on our Land Rover when 
> > > his high school dropout "detailers" sprayed that crap in the engine bay 
> > > without cleaning it first.
> > >
> > > Detailing is just a matter of spending time and having a sharp eye.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Arno Leskinen
> > > AROC-USA National Concours Chair
> > > Gilbert, AZ
> > > 102 x 2
> > > 115
> > > 116
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided