Cleaning engine

[andreic]

I picked up over the week-end a 1.8L complete with FI from a 1974. The engine has been sitting for about a year, but it turns over easily and shows some compression. I would like to make it run again, so I can figure out the condition it's in.

So far I took apart the engine tin, the FI system, the fan housing and the fan. I drained the oil and changed the oil filter (the oil looked okay-ish). However, underneath all that I discovered that the engine is extremely dirty. At least on two sides of it (especially the back of the engine, where the fan housing attaches) there is a 1/4" layer of solid grime and grease. I think it is just oil that combined over the years with dirt, but it may also be that there was a fire near the engine compartment (this is what the former owner suspects, possibly started when someone tried to weld under the battery tray) and that cooked some of the dirt onto the engine.

What do you guys recommend to clean it up? Today I tried putting on GUNK degreaser, leaving it on for 15 minutes, and washing it off with a garden hose. While it took some of it off, most of it is still there, especially in the thicker areas. I also tried spraying it with brake cleaner, which also did not do much.

Tomorrow I want to borrow a pressure washer from a neighbor and try again the same process. Any other suggestions?

Another question: short of getting it to run to check compression and oil pressure, are there other things I can do sooner to check on the health of the engine? I would not want to put a lot of effort into it if the engine is tired, but if it is in good shape I'd like to clean it up good and get it in shape.

Thanks,
Andrei.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Scrapers work for the worst of the grime. Smaller putty knives, even flat-head screwdrivers. Wire brushes. Those will mechanically remove the hardest and thickest baked-on stuff.

After that, engine de-greasers or brake cleaner. Which is pretty nasty stuff, but will eat through oil and grease!!

--DD

[URY914]

Get that pressure washer and hold the nozzle close to it.

[John Rogers]

If you use a pressure washer, use it with hot water and a cleaner such as Simple Green and make sure the run off has a place to be collected and processed. The heat will make the biggest hit on baked on grease and dirt. There are some places where people will call the "pollution police" if they see someone doing an engine clean operation.

[Emo993]

I used Purple Power, a great degreaser. Comes in a concentrated gal. to add water for different needs. Used it on engines, engine compartments, 901 transmissions, garage floors after projects are done. As mentioned above, hot water via pressure washer after letting Purple Power work. Best, Mark

[jjeffzehnder]

Scrape first then Power washer and WD-40 will clean it up...