How to Clean the Engine Bay of a Classic Car
May 12th, 2010
While the cleanliness of the engine bay may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to a classic car, it is one of the most important areas on your vehicle. Unless you bought your car from a car worshipper, chances are the engine bay is less that spectacular. In order to achieve maximum performance, you will want to clean this area up, polish it and paint it.
This is a huge task and it will require time and effort and patience. You need to consider this area of the car the heart of the entire vehicle; therefore, it should be handled with care.
First, start by photographing the engine bay of the car. Never start work without making sure you know how it should look. This will help provide you with a point of reference to work off of.
Next, once you have removed the parts from the engine, you can start cleaning the area. Remember, this is the most time consuming piece of the entire process, especially if this is the first time it has been cleaned. Give yourself the ability to try different cleansers. Usually your local auto parts store will have a variety for you to choose from.
When you have cleaned the area completely, there should be a certain level of shine. Parts that are in bad condition should be replaced. The rest of the parts should be painted or chromed before they are reassembled.
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