Slick 60's

any tips or tricks to simplify engine cleaning? also what do you use to clean an aluminum manifold. I have my 352 on on the stand and it is taking forever to clean.

I've always used oven cleaner. The foamy kind.
Anthony

I tried the typical spray can engine degreasers. They were Ok for lightly greased areas. But, I had some 40 year old, baked on wyoming dirt/oil covering my 352. It was tough to scrape off with a putty knife. I used EZ off oven cleaner and a pressure washer with good success on this thick grease. Get the good stuff and let it sit over night. You probably might want to keep it off the aluminum for any length of time. It still took a wire wheel and an air tool to get all of the grease off.

http://fordtruk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9110

hmnn never thought about oven cleaner thanks guys!

Patience and elbow grease are the 2 best things for engine cleaning - in short to do a good job sucks, LOL. Lots of wire brushes, the oven cleaner best way to go.
Have your intake bead blasted then clear it with this.
http://www.eastwood.com/specialty-coati ... 11-oz.html

i use a flat blade screw driver and a gasket scraper to get all big stuff off. then a wire brush and a drill with a couple different wire brushes. then i use the parts stores cheapest super blast engine degreaser.
i can get stuff pretty darn clean this way.

get a pressure washer and a big bottle of engine degrease and follow the directions. thats what i did. you can find the engine degrease at auto zone and somtimes at wall mart.

I used "Greased Lightning" to get the majority of the grease & gunk off the inside of the engine compartment.
A little elbow grease and a plastic putty knife did the rest.

Grease lightning does work good, I got a couple of cans of of cd2 engine detailer at a dollar store, Holy crap, I couldn't believe how good it worked. Of course I've never seen it there again for a buck.
Charlie

I've used the oven cleaners also. I try to get a clear day and roll it out in the sun for 2 to 3 hours before cleaning. Seems like the heat helps.