Mid9'er - Softcore Wheel Well Cleaning Porn

[Dan in Pasadena]

Okay, this is NOT the hardcore, "take-every-single-thing-out-and-have-all-the-hardware-yellow-zinc-plated" kind of porn we are so used to seeing here...yet(!) but...

I pulled the wheels to take a look at the brakes (shot!) and the general conditions in there. I found 30 years of filth so being the sick person I am, I started with a brush and some Simple Green. Of course this resulted in about 2 hours per wheel well of scrubbing with steel wool (doesn't work) Scotch Brite pads (works) and one of those fiber type "wire" wheels for the really stubborn stuff. Brakleen, lacquer thinner and Harbor Freight degreaser...and I'm not really done yet. no, I don't own a power washer...but its a 3 day weekend so...

I've only done the driver's side wells but I am pleased with the progress so far. While in the driver's front well I found damaged fuel overflow hoses and while taking these photos I realized I'm going to have to pull the shocks for repainting as well as some more hoses...but at least you can see the progress so far. Certainly better than the nasty "Before" pictures if nothing else.

Before (haven't touched these yet):






"After" - I can see I need more diassembly and more paint. Slippery slope............

[k9handler]

very nice

[KFC911]

Wow, looks good! ....it's a VERY slippery slope however

[cak]

Stunning. You're a braver man than I.

One of the first tasks on my 911 was tracking down why the horns didn't work (easy, corrosion at every connection along the way). Part of that task was finding the horns in the wheelwell ... they were so covered by 30+ years of muck that it took quite a while.

I got in and got out. But I know I'll be back.

[rsrfan]

Wow. great job. Looks like I will have to clean mine now.

JP

[Howard M]

At first, I misunderstood the first photo, and I thought, "Nice job on the wheelswells, Dan". Then I saw the rest. Wow! Looks terrific. But aren't beige wheelwells something like white carpets....asking for trouble?

[goat]

Very shiny. using Brakleen, lacquer thinner and Harbor Freight degreaser hope you are not too light headed!!
Looks great.

[Thrasher]

Looks great Dan, but was your car repainted?

I ask because you say "30 years of filth", yet I see overspray on the rear spring plate and on your front strut. I don't think this happened at the factory.

Or, are you saying you sprayed the wheel wells after cleaning them up?

[bigchillcar]

dan...nice porn.. sticking with body color in the wells, then? i was tempted to go with black undercoating once until i read that would spoil originality..
ryan

[mjshira]

looks good! if I did that with my old 911 the tangerine would show! she still never had that part repainted.

[syncroid]

Great job on the wheel wells Dan. Kind of motivates me to do mine again. I thought for sure I would see those nice new calipers in place by now. Did that become a back burner project? Just curious.

[75Carrera]

Well.. very sweet wells Dan. Where'd ya find that butterscotch paint?

[klaucke]

You need some SSI's!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by syncroid
Great job on the wheel wells Dan. Kind of motivates me to do mine again. I thought for sure I would see those nice new calipers in place by now. Did that become a back burner project? Just curious.

Hi. I'd forgotten your Pelican name! No, the WHOLE BRAKE job became a back burner job! Actually, I really wil do it now. I wasn't in a hurry and after buying your Carrera calipers I eventually found good deal - all here on Pelican - for new fornt and rear rotors, a big box full of new-old-stock pads...and now the only thing I need are flex lines which I will of course have to buy new! I am realizing now that I've had those calipers for about a year! I better get on it. My pads are about potato chip thickness right now!

75Carrera - Somebody here (sorry, I don't remember who) clued me into the light yellow rattle can paint sold at Sears of all places. It is DutchBoy spray paint and it matchs very closely...close enough for wheel wells anyway. It is much closer in person than these pictures show...but then Sahara beige doesn't photograph accurately anyway.

klaucke - SSI's...'ya think? I'd love to have some under there, but I've got bigger fish to fry right now. Still hunting down an elusive oil leak....

[Loaded]

Im a fixin to do the same on my 86. I have a 3200psi power washer hooked up to its own Hot water tank............Do you think I should try simple green or engine degreaser?????

[DUK]

Great looking job, Dan. Now it's time to clean up the trans. and suspension. You said it was a three day weekend right?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by Loaded
Im a fixin to do the same on my 86. I have a 3200psi power washer hooked up to its own Hot water tank............Do you think I should try simple green or engine degreaser?????

I think others with experience could give you more accurate advice but I would NOT use that pressure washer anywhere near the 3200 psi under my car. I think it would cut through hoses, paint, etc. I'd keep it down to about the 1700 psi that an entry level pressure washer has...maybe up to about 2000 psi. The hot water alone will work wonders. I did mine with just the cold garden hose and a spray head! I'd tell you to use the Simple green for sure. It worked better than the Harbor Freight neon yellow degreaser stuff.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by Duke Zink
Great looking job, Dan. Now it's time to clean up the trans. and suspension. You said it was a three day weekend right?

No question, especially the trans. Getting all that gunk out of the little webbing all around it will be nearly impossible without a pressure washer. Anyone know if the trans case on my '76 is magnesium? Isn't mag more suspectible to damage and/or more porous than aluminum? The alternative is a parts brush and kerosene I guess. But doing that upside down will be a beatch! But I agree I could spend a LOT more time under there. I guess "little by little" is the plan. Thanks for the compliments guys, I didn't really plan this well I just started and got carried away!

[Loaded]

thanks Dan I will Dial down

[SP2]

I hope you used the special wheelwell paint available in very few stores in the U.S. Without it the rubber from the tires will ignite the paint and you will see smoke...

Just kidding. Thought I would give you more than the usual congratulations! It really looks great. The only problem is you have given us all more food for thought this weekend.