V8david Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Need a decent method of cleaning things like the timing cover, rocker covers etc, and getting stubborn old gaskets off. Is there anything I can dip them in over night and come back in the morning to find them looking brand new? O, and can you recommend a supplier for a new distributor cap/rotor arm? I have a 3.5 Efi. Cheers, think that's all for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 A bit of elbow grease and a tin of brake cleaner will get you a long way. I find a new stanley blade a good way of getting gasket remnants off, especially if it's in one of those scraper handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishbosh Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 Dizzy cap and rotor arm - Genuine Parts only. Pattern parts cause all sorts of running problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveRK Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 I'll Echo that - theres no wonder product out there for softening gaskets and removing carbon deposits - A sharp flat blade and paraffin is what i use for 99% of cleaning up jobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris200100 Posted May 17, 2008 Share Posted May 17, 2008 loctite do a good gasket remover. Loctite 7200 works well leave it on for a while for the really old gaskets and it soften them up. Also loctite 598 RTV is a good gasket replacment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HM Nut Strangler Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Regarding the dizzy cap and rotor arm, i have been after some 'genuine' one's. the rotor arm i got from famous four seems to be the real deal, but the dizzy cap seems odd, it came in a Lucas box but the cap is black without any lucus details like the one i'm currently using. Can anybody confirm that if its advertised as a lucas and come in a lucas box and is black its ok even if its missing the lucas detailing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I recently restored my 300TDi engine - including cleaning and painting the alloy parts. I first cleaned the heavy muck off with a wire brush, scraper, and petrol, then I used a wire brush in an electric drill to remove ingrained dirt and oxidisation. I then rinsed it with brakes and clutch cleaner to de-grease and then a couple of coats of '5-Wheel Silver' paint. Brake a nd clutch cleaner is very good, but it evaporates really quickly and is quite expensive. You can use petrol, parrafin, cellulose thinners, white sprit, etc initially, but the final clean must be done with something that leaves no oil traces if you are going to paint, so brake cleaner, acetone, cellulose thinners. Watch out for fumes from these though or you'll find yourself in La-La land Very dirty - After cleaning with petrol/scraper Wire brushes in an electric drill - Rinsed with brake and clutch cleaner, then a couple of coats of 5-Wheel Silver. With some patience you can do all the alloy components this way. I've always removed old gaskets with a stanley blade/paint scraper/etc or very carefully with a wire brush in an electric drill. You have to be very careful not to damage the underlying alloy though. I've never tried Loctite 7200. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quagmire Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Les, that looks fantastic- i'm rebuilding a v8 at the moment and would like it to look as good as that how well does the paint hold up to heat, oil etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 The paint I used is originally designed to restore alloy wheels, so is pretty heat resistant and is ok with oil, fuel, etc. I've sprayed motorcycle engines with it and it's been unaffected. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8david Posted May 18, 2008 Author Share Posted May 18, 2008 Cheers guys, much appreciated. Les that looks awesome mate, A1 job. If mine ends up looking half as good I'll be pleased! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveRK Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Hi Nut Strangler - I bought my Disty' cap from Famous Four and came in a Lucas box, it is Black with no markings as yours is - I haven't thought anything about it as it seems to b o.k. The original cap was Blue which i have kept. Lucas was bought out/sold off a few years back so it may be why the cap has changed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Original equipment caps have indeed changed colour from blue to black, no idea why, but probably financial reasons Dingocroft stock the genuine parts, should you still struggle to get hold of them, just sit down before you as ANYONE the price of the rotor arm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish13 Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 To free up some of the grease and gunk when I was rebuilding a V8 I used a spray can of Mr. Muscle oven cleaner. It foams up like a mousse and then leave it for a bit, give it a scrub and a rinse and it removed heaps of crud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.