When I bought my '51 chevy, the interior and exterior looked great but the engine compartment still had the original 1951 oil and grease everywhere. I took off the generator, intake and exhaust manifolds and the distributor. Scrape all the big stuff with putty knife and screwdriver. I covered the floor in my shop with cardboard and old newspapers to absorb the Awesome (dollar store cleaner) and rinse water. Spray, brush, rinse. Repeat until clean. Get paint from Bill Hirsh. Looks great now.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee39/h4040510/Miss%20Daisy/DSC_1348_zpsy1diekg1.jpg

Hugh