Cosmetic corrosion on an 81 Corvette engine
 

My Father in law has an 81 Corvette he had in storage under a car cover. Moisture/humidity got onto the motor and he told me most of the exposed metal ( alternator, etc.) look corroded. I have not see it yet but besides good old elbow grease anyone have any thoughts or products to use? He is 77 and not too mechanical on removing items. I was hoping to find a simpler solution for him. The motor and it its parts have no mechanical issue just cosmetic.Thanks

thanks!

Try a small spot 1st.....I do know it will work for aluminum .
Also , it is used to pickle steel .
There is a thousand other uses for it.

no matter what you do that steel is gonna rust again, that's what all chevy tin does. Remove, clean, paint, replace.

Hire a local teenager to pull it apart. Give him a 9/16 wrench and a big pipe to adjust the belts. Not complicated, can do in <1HR.

rjp

This is a great idea, do they still teach auto shop in High school? If so talk to the instructor and see if they will take it on as a simple project (or maybe a occupational center).

I would think for not too much $$$ he could bling out the engine with new chrome/billet air cleaner. valve covers, etc. Could be done in an afternoon.

My guess is that what he's seeing is mostly corrosion on Al (rather than rust on iron/steel), the alternator casing, master cyl, etc... are all Al, I'm pretty sure. If that's the case, it might be easier to use a wheel cleaner designed for raw Al wheels than muriatic acid since it's probably the same or related, but at the best concentration and in a spray bottle. I'm just not sure what muriatic acid (or wheel cleaner) might do if it got into an Alternator.

My dad had an '82. I wonder how much you can really see. It might be easy to hit the few things with a rag and/or wire brush or somthing. Without seeing it, it's kind of hard to say.

If it runs okay.....leave it like it is and it will dazzle anyone at a car show. Generally known as a "barn find" which I guess yours wasn't found but stored under a cover. Take plenty of pictures and or movies just as it sits as it was stored and if you crank it up and it starts even if you have to use a gallon on instant start then your father in law will be famous on You Tube!

I was amazed as what a shot of Gibbs Brand penetrant does to take care of these sorts of messes without needing any elbow grease.

It's not going to be concourse but it's an amazing transformation for dull Chaulky surfaces and rust of a sandy consistency

Thanks for your help. He's stopping by Monday.