So after reading a bunch of posts and contemplating the destruction of my 292 if I kept running it, I pulled it out last weekend. Being a Georgia car it's entire life it has an extreme amount of clay mixed with engine oil and then baked on like some type of coating. I need to degrease/defunkify the motor and trans just so I can take stuff apart. Any one know what is best to use at my home garage? Degreaser? Oven Cleaner? Needle Scaler?Dave

All of the above. Gunk works pretty well but may require several applications depending on amount of crud to be removed.

Basic lacquer thinner from home Depot is pretty potent. You can keep reusing it if you store the dirty stuff in another can and let the big pieces settle out. Environmentally and health wise it can be problematic. I recommend using it out doors and of course wear protection, that is hands, eyes, lungs etc.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

HOT water in a pressure cleaner can do OK

I'll use a sacrificial screwdriver to clean around bolt heads so that a socket can be used, take the stuff apart then set each item on a pan that's about 2 by 3 feet, continue to use the screwdriver to get large chunks of stuff off then use a wire brush that I dip in paint thinner which is in one of those quart paint mixing containers that you find at the hardware store and finally, wipe it down with a rag and paint thinner. This keeps the amount of sludge you have deal with to a minimum and for the average home garage, that is a good thing and a gallon of pant thinner goes a loooong way.


Lawrenceville, GA

I wound up disassembling and boiling a fifty gallon drum of water, TSP, and a whoooooole lot of Pine•Sol. Then pressure wash. Repeat if needed.

Got any one with a steam cleaner? That should work really good

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ