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Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

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Old Aug 7, 2018 | 09:45 PM
  #1  
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Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7
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Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Hello all! I am working through my engine bay, trying to clean everything up. I am going part/area by part/area. Wondering tips on paint combination to restore parts. Currently working on my header fan. Cleaning it up, going to want to shoot with black paint. Didn't know if clear coating this would be a better option too? Any advice is welcome!

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Old Aug 7, 2018 | 09:56 PM
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Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Low Gloss or Semi-Gloss Duplicolor Engine Enamel. The factory did the bare minimum, do similar, and it'll look close.

Unless it's a really low time, low mile car, I'd probably replace the blower motor. The bearings do wear with age, and the progressively run slower.
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Old Aug 7, 2018 | 10:39 PM
  #3  
brando278705's Avatar
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Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.70
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Nope, not rare at all! I’m going through everything and want to clean it up. Appreciate the info!

What about orimer useage?
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Old Aug 8, 2018 | 02:29 AM
  #4  
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From: Livonia MI
Car: 88 Camaro vert/86 SC
Engine: 355 tbi/2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4/T5
Axle/Gears: 2.72 posi/3.42 open
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Hi there,
My fan looked the same as yours. First thing I did was clean it really good; get every speck of dirt and grease off of it. Then I used a kitchen scotch-brite pad to scuff the whole surface. I used some fine sandpaper to sand off any flaking paint. I then cleaned it off using mineral spirits, then shot it with 2 coats of satin black, like Drew said. It came out looking like new, virtually for free.
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Old Aug 8, 2018 | 07:56 AM
  #5  
vinny R's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:42 Auburn
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Bought these brush kits from Harbor Freight. I used Zep 505 degreaser, then clean the brush and use water and brush to remove the degreaser and then blow it off with air. You can rinse off also. These worked great for cleaning in the hard to reach areas and I was able to clean a lot of the parts in place. The brass brush and degreaser I used on all metal lines and fittings, transmission, AC, fuel, etc and man it took all the crude and dullness off. This also worked on the aluminum brackets. Another trick use a cardboard box and punch holes in it and thread your bolts into the holes and paint them also. As Drew said if you want it to look stock, whatever you paint should be matte or satin finish. I used gloss finish on my stuff I painted but I am not going for a stock look.

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Old Aug 11, 2018 | 11:16 PM
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Car: 1987 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.70
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Sick!
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Old Aug 27, 2018 | 06:49 AM
  #7  
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Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

Originally Posted by Drew
Unless it's a really low time, low mile car, I'd probably replace the blower motor. The bearings do wear with age, and the progressively run slower.
After thousands X thousands of revolutions over the years, wear is inevitable. You may be surprised at how much more air you feel in the cabin after replacement.

JamesC
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Old Aug 28, 2018 | 04:22 PM
  #8  
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From: Knoxville, TN
Car: 1988 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T56 swap ongoing
Axle/Gears: 2.77 9-bolt Posi
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

I've found that inexpensive grill paint seems to work pretty well. It's generally pretty heat resistant, since it was intended for BBQ grills, and has a nice sheen between flat and satin.

Works well for wiper arms, too.
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Old Sep 11, 2018 | 06:13 PM
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From: Indianapolis, IN
Car: '88 GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Engine Bay Clean Up - Renewing Parts

I swear by any thing SEM. I've used them for years and they look great and last a long time.
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