Cleaning under the deck

quote:

Originally posted by EA #3528:
Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for top quality cleaning supplies to beautify my engine and ZF ...

What's the best way to get at all the engine components deeeeep inside the bay?

Can you tell it's going to be raining all weekend?

Erik,

It's a simple 3-step process.

1) remove engine and all ancillary components from bay.

2) paint and/or polish each component individually.

3) re-install all components.



OK, can you tell it's been a LOOOOOOONG week?

First you lean into into the engine bay until your back is broken.

Then you get it up on stands, take off the wheels and clean underneath it.

You will be able to reach everything. Lots of rags, cleaners and time. After a full weekend, it will be gleaming and you will be afraid to take it outside.

But then it will get a little dusty and it will get easier. After a few hot runs it will get a little dirty and you can go back to having fun.

Until the next rainy weekend.

Welcome to the club.

I've seen pictures of guys actually climbing INTO the bay to get at the valve covers and heads!

What did I sign up for???

quote:

Originally posted by EA #3528:
I've seen pictures of guys actually climbing INTO the bay to get at the valve covers and heads!

What did I sign up for???

I don't know any other way.

BTW, thanks for the pic. Lets see some more!

quote:

Originally posted by EA #3528:
I've seen pictures of guys actually climbing INTO the bay to get at the valve covers and heads!

I have a moving blanket that I lay on top of the ZF when I need to get 'comfortable' in there for a while. What I hate is having to get back out 100 times to fetch something else that I need!

Michael

EA,
Get familiar with climbing into the engine bay. The ZF makes a wonderful perch. Often maintenance/repairs mandate getting inside and will be easier on your back.
Have fun!
Jeff

Johnny Woods make a neat little bench which mounts on the ZF.

Erik,
Just a quick word of caution. I have climbed in and out of my engine bay many times. The last time I was not paying enough attention, my foot slipped and I absolutely flattened the right side brake line, requiring a redo. S**t. Be careful.
Doug M

I'm no Johnny Woods, and I don't remember seeing his very nice platform until after I built mine (winter of 2004), but I still use this when I need to do any work on the engine. I now put an old blanket down first with this on top. Made from every-day size timber and plywood. The most exotic part was the foam pads (carpet underlay) that contact the body and the aluminum bracket (constructed from pre-formed stock-size channels) that hang over the camber bar. Best 2 hours I ever spent working on the Pantera was making this.

Mark

Man, you guys are serious!!!

Thanks for the advice, boys.

Don't use a product called "Greased Lightning" on any painted surfaces. It will remove the pigment. Dark blue changes to light blue.

"Simple Green" makes "Simple Green Automotive Cleaner" it is hard to find. It is worth the search. There are several, make sure the jug says "Automotive"

Here's how it goes. First you spend the day detailing it. Then you take it for a ride and it gets a little dusty. You dust mop the car and admire it. Then the next day you drive it again, a little harder and the rear gets a little dark from the exhausts and dust collects near the opening at the rear deck. Then you drive it more. Now the engine bay gets a light oil spray. Now I really drive it! Then some grease splatters from the half shafts. Then I drive the shit out of it. Then a hairline of oil starts seeping out from the manifold and trickles down the block. Now I take it everywhere. After a few days it's really dirty, so I dry wash the car and detail the engine bay. Then I stare at it for a few days. Then it starts all over again.

I built this thing so I can work on the car without scratching it, denting it or hurting my back.

I lie on it and can keep a lot of tools and supplies next to me. All the panels pop out for easy access where I'm working. Also a great place for a beer and cell phone so you don't have to jump in and out of the engine bay.

David B - That is quite the rig you've got there! A great bit of ingenuity. Ever thought of marketing it?

quote:

Originally posted by Indy Dave/4604:
Don't use a product called "Greased Lightning" on any painted surfaces. It will remove the pigment. Dark blue changes to light blue.

"Simple Green" makes "Simple Green Automotive Cleaner" it is hard to find. It is worth the search. There are several, make sure the jug says "Automotive"

Agreed on above. Greased Lightning uses a caustic substance, smells like sulphuric, that'll also instantly 'gray' any aluminum bits and 'brown' your tires. No fun.

Simple Green is great stuff for engines, brakes, suspension. Now you make me want to go check to see if I have the 'right' version of Simple Green. Good tip.

quote:

Originally posted by David B:
I lie on it and can keep a lot of tools and supplies next to me. All the panels pop out for easy access where I'm working. Also a great place for a beer and cell phone so you don't have to jump in and out of the engine bay.

David, The only thing missing is the gantry to lift you into place! Have you considered one that they use to hoist dolphins in and out of the water?

Michael

quote:

Originally posted by Cyboman:

David, The only thing missing is the gantry to lift you into place! Have you considered one that they use to hoist dolphins in and out of the water?

Michael

OUCH!

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Charlton:

quote:

Originally posted by Cyboman:

David, The only thing missing is the gantry to lift you into place! Have you considered one that they use to hoist dolphins in and out of the water?

Michael

OUCH!

I meant for ease and convenience, not for any other reason!

Michael

David,

What a terrific idea. Is it O.K. if I steal it? My first pantera project for next winter.
Doug M

quote:

Originally posted by David B:

I built this thing so I can work on the car without scratching it, denting it or hurting my back.

Does any one use Simple Green and a garden hose? It works for me. Here's one thing that might be a coincidence or it just might have been my time for something bad to happen. After seriously degreasing my engine compartment last summer, I snapped an axle the next weekend. I wonder if I somehow washed the grease out of my bearings when I hosed everything down. Can some one tell me if that makes any sense to them? Now I make sure to not get any degreasers near the uprights.

Ok George, I'm waiting for one of your classic "a picture's worth a thousand words" photos. Ya know, a pic of a giant crane lifting some morbidly obese dude out of his window.

Actually Michael, I thought of a harness but my ceiling was to low and too weak. And where would I put the beer?

ZF- after a complete degreasing, here is a great way to dress up the ZF (for non polished units)

Jim Kucera wrote this in 2004. A friend & I tried it. Still looks good after 4 years!

The easiest (and cheapest) way to clean up the discolored ZF is get yourself a tube of silver leaf Rub 'n Buff from a neighborhood arts and craft store like Michael's. A 1/2 oz tube ($3.99) will do 2-3 transmissions.

I did my ZF almost two years ago and it still looks great.

I'm sure others on this list have tried it and found it to be one of the BEST bargains available for P-car enhancements.

Try it and tell a friend,

Jim Kucera

Thanks again Jim for the great tip.
It is hard to imagine a small tube can do a couple of ZFs. It will!