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| | | | Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 | Just inherited a 55 3100, frame off restoration complete, very good shape, engine runs great but needs cleaning up, grease, crusty. Suggestions ?
55 3100 standard cab
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | Take it to the car wash. Plastic bag taped over the carb and distributor. Good hot soapy water and get after it. Take some old towels to dry things off and a can of WD40 to spray the inside of the dist cap and points if it doesn't start back up. Driving it there to get the engine good and warm will help too. I'm sure others will chime in with their suggestions.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2014 Posts: 3,677 | I was looking for methods the other day.
There's a high view count YouTube video where a guy swears that brakekleen does a fantastic job. Cant verify that myself, but I intend to do a small-scale test on some parts or a lawnmower or something.
1951 3100
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,479 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,479 | Gunk used to make a degreaser you sprayed on a warm engine and rinsed it off after a few minutes. It worked well unless you had thick or caked on grease.
Jon
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 | brakekleen does a fantastic job Careful what you use. Brakekleen will eat the paint off anything it gets on. Use a chemical designed for engine cleaning. Your parts house and Walmart will have several selections. Harold
Harold
Is a restoration ever finished? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 | Use a pump-type garden sprayer and a STRONG solution of Trisodium Phosphate (concrete cleaner) Soak things down under the hood, let it sit for a few minutes and hit it with a high-pressure nozzle on a hose. Repeat as necessary.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 | Thanks to all that replied. chevytrucks.org recommends dishwasher detergent solution applied liberally and then use power washer, of course protecting electrical parts. I'll also look at commercial "gunk" which is pretty effective but only on hot parts. Will leave feedback on how Im make out. Thank you.
55 3100 standard cab
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,271 | Check to make sure that you don't have vents in the valve cover.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2015 Posts: 236 | Just my curiosity but how did a frame off restore engine get all gunked up.
Stick with the common store engine cleaners, some good biodegradable ones out there that will cut grease and grime but leave paint alone.
Watch out on a pressure washer as they can damage gaskets if to high a pressure, (specifically cover gaskets)
Baking in the nice desert sun, breathing life back into a 48 3800 5 window.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 4 | Thanks for the reply. Good question, I purchased the truck as-is. Don't know why they didn't at least thoroughly clean/paint the engine when the frame was being done. I'm holding off the engine re-build for now, just wanted to clean it up.
55 3100 standard cab
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