Just starting to prep my engine and wondered how others had cleaned the outside of there engines?

The alloy in some areas needs a good clean and a few patches of oils need removing. Want to get it back to as new a looking as possible.

Any ideas appreciated.

Cheers

I used isopropanol (cos I had a load lying around), various rags, some old toothbrushes and quite a lot of elbow grease.
Also, if you want your engine to look spangly, then painting the cam-cover the same colour as the bodywork looks good (IMHO). I did mine last winter when I wanted sonething cheap but fun to do to the car while the weather was poo.

Cheers,
Ben

Hey Gremlin!

We had very much the same idea... trouble is most of the "Crud" is under the exhaust manifold right?

We have tried a number of options and probably the best one is to use a wire brush / wire dolly to get the oxide off. It is 'very' hard going - did anyone say it was going to be easy?

Let us know if you find anything better pleeeaaase!!!

Depending on the amount of Crud to remove: HP power wash after a suitable degreaser has been applied, steam clean, sand blast, shot blast or bead blast. For the latter ones make sure all the oilways/waterways and or core plugs and apertures are plugged, I have employed all of these at some time or other prior to painting the engine.
Shug.

I used a high powered hose
It removed all of the crud

Lots of elbow grease, degreaser, white spirit, wire brushing, a coat of aluminium spray paint to the block and some twin pack to the cam cover, starter, clutch cover plate and water pump, to get it from this






to







[Edited on 29/10/03 by MK9R]

Thanks all!

MK9R thats what im talking about! Mines a R1 will hopefully look a bit like that soon!

Any special silver alloy paint because of the heat?

We used the aluminium wheel paint you get from halfords. My dad uses it on the gearboxes he reconditions.