Engine Cleaning

So my '69 CJ5 has a ton of sand and dirt build up over the entire engine (my guess is from sitting in the Arizona desert). I am looking for help in how to clean this thing up. My though it to remove the carb (already done) and cover the intake as well as put a plastic bag over the alternator and distributor and then pressure wash the entire thing. It is going to take alot more than a light scrubbing to get all of this stuff off!

The engine won't be running for a least a couple of months so I am not too worried about immediate water not allowing it to start.

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions on how to best clean up the engine bay?

 

Sounds like a plan. Before starting in a couple of months, Change the oil & filter.

 

Saturate it with a degreaser and pressure wash the hell out of it

 

Any worry about getting diluted degreaser on the paint of the vehicle?

 

Should be fine if you get any on it just rinse it off real quick.

 

Gunk Engine Bright been using it since the early 60's. I empty it into a spray bottle and spray it on let it sit and rinse it off works great. Good luck

 

I have used paint thinner in a spray bottle, and a scrub brush. Likely as effective as the stuff in a spray can. You need to think about the run-off.

 

I Bag the carb, distributor, alternator. Tape up any vents for pcv breather, steering box, brakes, battery.
Rinse the loose stuff off. Saturate with engine degreaser then wash again. Make sure the radiator fins are clean of dirt (my nemesis)
If water usage quantities isn't an issue you can use the sprinkler on it.

Once it is done and you are concerned you got water in the motor change the oil pull the spark plugs and crank it over.

 

If you get it really clean, you will need to protect it from corrosion afterwards.

 

Gunk engine brite (not foamy), and bag/tape distributor, and all intake/valve cover holes, and tape up dipstick hole. Be sure not to blast the bags/tape off when pressure washing. Starter and alternator can take some indirect spray , but not direct blasting.
-Donny