The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Removing Road Dirt & Grease

Now that I have the bed off, there lies the rear axel and differential all coated with 3/4" of @#$#$%^&*&. Does anyone have an easy or clever method of removing this stuff?? I'm not looking for ideas on blasting or dipping, just ways of doing it myself in my garage. Also some suggestions for a solvent that doesn't smell like gasoline.

If you're referring to the gunk that oil/grease & dirt become when they mix I had to scrape mine off. Once you get most of it off you can use a degreasing agent. I remember another thread from a few months ago about this same subject that had specific product recommendations from various bolters. A search would probably turn it up.

Once you get the majority of it off, use a good oven cleaner. It will also soften and stain paint so those part will need to be repainted,
Scott

I use a product that is made for cleaning paint brushes. I brush it on one part, go to another area and do the same. I then return to the first area for more brushing, wire brushing and scraping. In the end the majority of it comes of when using the paint brush and the solution. My motor came so clean with this method that it started to rust after.

scraping, wire wheel, oven cleaner and engine degreaser....

There is no real "easy" way to do it, unless you are wealthy enough to hire someone to do it for you....

On some of it, mostly cast iron or heavier steel parts, I found heating it with a small propane torch made it scrape/wire brush off much easier. I just avoided geting it so hot it could catch fire.

I used the wire wheel on a grinder and Castrol degreaser. Castrol degreaser comes in the purple jug and its water based. Greased lightening works great also

Dont forget the putty knife

I am with Billybolt, R/R and others;

A wire wheel knocks it off nicely and then hit it with Easy Off.

Wear safety goggles! The crud will fly!

a little carb cleaner might work.........

I like that Castrol degreaser also. It all works better if you spend a LOT of time scraping 1st. Start with a big old screwdriver or chisel, and work down to smaller tools. I finish off the small cracks, corners, holes, seams with a dental pick.

I used the purple "industrial De-greaser" from Home Depot. It's supposidly "bio-degradeable' but you know how that is. It says to dilute it but, more is better...right? I used a siphon feed sand blaster gun (also from HD) and put the siphon hose in the gallon jug of de greaser and spray away!. Be careful! it will remove paint at full strength but does a heck of a job on the 40 year oil/dirt accumulation on the frame , trans, etc.
Keep the siphon gun only for that since it gumms up the nozzle and the sand will stick to it if used for blasting. (ask me how I know!!)
It's probably best to make a dilution of the stuff since you're spraying it and in a wind it could travel a ways.But boy the stuff worked well. Rinse it off and go back on the stuborn spots,with the wire brush, or if you're me, a second application.
Cut my time way down and was pretty cheap which is important to a dumb cowboy!
John

Scrape off the thick stuff, then try a water based product if you don't like the solvent smells. We use Simple Green at work as a degreaser, I haven't tried it yet on my truck, but it does the job at work when mixed strong. Use hot water for even better results.

John

A 2 inch putty knife,wire brush,1 inch putty knife,scraper,flat screwdriver,spray carb. cleaner,cuss words,and then rent a pressure washer and connect it to your hot water outlet,spray it down with some sort of soapy mixture,the rest is up to you............pretty simple after that..........

Kip just remember it took 40 years to get there. If it was going to be simple restored trucks would be available for a dime a dozen. Good luck and let me know if you ever get the the lower south west corner of the state.

I jacked mine up and crawled under and scraped and brushed solvent on all the ugly stuff and scraped again.Different scrapers help.I did mine in the carport and had to de-grease the carport.I still have lots to do as mine came off a farm.One thing though ,I didn't find any rust.

I rented a steam cleaner from my local rental store.It was fueled with kerosene and had a high pressure wand.It worked great,washed my whole frame with it.

plain ol' pressure washer hooked up to hot water does an amazing job cutting crap loose....

Brian:

My daughter and family live in Chicago so I get through there about every other month. Where are you?

All the rest:

Seems the common thread here is the words scrape or brush. (12 out of 15 replies) Can't say I expected much different, but sure do feel better that I will not spending all that time scraping and brushing when there really was a better (magic) way out there. Thankx to all.

Did anyone mention "elbow grease"?

Builder, every time I look at your posts I think,
"how come he gets to own that many trucks and I only get my 62?"

You guys should really try the Castrol degreaser in the purple jug. Not aerosol spray. Just don’t get it on your hands it will degrease your hands severely.

Or Greased Lightning. Its in the paint section at the Depot and it is designed to be a prep before painting. Cheap stuff too.
Both are water soluble.

No wife, no kids. Girlfriend has her own home.

Not fair