Show car's engines

[MAJohnson]

I was browsing the auto show the other day and I am curious what you guys use to clean your engines, example around the carb. and valve covers etc.? I am attempting to clean up my car for a couple auto shows and figured I would get some input before I started. Also is it possible to repair small cracks in the door interior armrests? or do I just have to pickup replacements?

[Jack H.]

Re: Show car's engines

On the vinyl interior portion of your question, there are two schools of thought. One says if there are already cracks in the existing vinyl it means the internal plasticizers have outgassed due to time/sun and repairing the existing damage is like the little Dutch boy....the dike is soon to develop another crack. Those with this philosophy bite the bullet and buy fresh reproduction door panels.

The other school thinks this way. There's nothing like the real McCoy factory original part. NOBODY makes a reproduction that's a perfect copy in all respects. So, they save (or try to save) the original part.

In the second vein, there are vinyl repair 'experts' in most major metro areas who specialize in 'invisible' repairs of vinyl. Their major customers are restaurants and other high traffic commercial facilities with vinyl covered seating areas. These guys can and do deliver excellent results in vinyl repair.

So, it's your judgement call here....

[Jack H.]

Re: Show car's engines

On the vinyl interior portion of your question, there are two schools of thought. One says if there are already cracks in the existing vinyl it means the internal plasticizers have outgassed due to time/sun and repairing the existing damage is like the little Dutch boy....the dike is soon to develop another crack. Those with this philosophy bite the bullet and buy fresh reproduction door panels.

The other school thinks this way. There's nothing like the real McCoy factory original part. NOBODY makes a reproduction that's a perfect copy in all respects. So, they save (or try to save) the original part.

In the second vein, there are vinyl repair 'experts' in most major metro areas who specialize in 'invisible' repairs of vinyl. Their major customers are restaurants and other high traffic commercial facilities with vinyl covered seating areas. These guys can and do deliver excellent results in vinyl repair.

So, it's your judgement call here....

[Christopher R.]

Re: Show car's engines

Assuming there's not years of caked on grease, oil, and general crud, those citrus based cleaners (Simple Green, Purple something or other) and an old toothbrush will work great. Will clean the painted surfaces nicely. Rinse with a heavy mist from a garden hose. Will clean the bare metal surfaces too good. They'll start to rust (steel) or oxidize (aluminum) shortly afterwards. Coat the bare metal surfaces with WD-40 or something greasy that won't attract too much dirt. Eastwood sells waxy stuff in a spray can. Only wash a cold engine.

Now that the engine looks great, the exhaust manifolds and the engine compartment really look like crap.

[Christopher R.]

Re: Show car's engines

Assuming there's not years of caked on grease, oil, and general crud, those citrus based cleaners (Simple Green, Purple something or other) and an old toothbrush will work great. Will clean the painted surfaces nicely. Rinse with a heavy mist from a garden hose. Will clean the bare metal surfaces too good. They'll start to rust (steel) or oxidize (aluminum) shortly afterwards. Coat the bare metal surfaces with WD-40 or something greasy that won't attract too much dirt. Eastwood sells waxy stuff in a spray can. Only wash a cold engine.

Now that the engine looks great, the exhaust manifolds and the engine compartment really look like crap.

[Rob M.]

Can't you use a new toothbrush? ;-) *NM*

[Rob M.]

Can't you use a new toothbrush? ;-) *NM*