Engine Bay cleaning

So I have posted this on the build thread as well but I assume this is the appropriate place! I am looking to neaten up my engine bay and make it a bit more presentable!





As you can see the engine bay does not currently look the prettiest! I was just wandering if anyone might have any suggestions for making it looks a bit prettier? Currently I have the fan cover, bonnet prop, washer fluid tanks and coolant tank out to be either cleaned or powdercoated. I am also intending to steam clean then engine bay (After to carefully placed cling film has been placed on the electrical bits and the battery is disconnected !Any other recomendations for making it look nicer without pulling the engine out ?

Thanks for any and all advice,

Ben
 

That doesn't look too bad but will benefit from what you're doing. It sounds like you've got most bases covered.

You could remove and paint the brake servo plus a new radiator top card from Shughy would work wonders

Then it's a case of how far you want to go, painting every little detail or replacing bolts and fasteners etc with new?

That looks tidy to me, are you going for a show car or using the car every day?
If using the car every day don't steam clean the engine bay it as VW put the wax there to stop it rusting, it looks like it's done a good job for the last 26 years so why remove it now.
Steam cleaning the engine is OK and may be paint the rocker cover and some other bits which look a little rust will tidy it up no end.

P.S Change your expantion tank cap for a blue one while your at it as the black ones can course problems with over heating.

Thanks for the responses guys I will order a cap from Heritage ASAP. Yeh the plan is to try and keep it reserved for weekends and shows as I have a daily! I am currently attempting to clean the coolant and screen wash tank which is suprisingly nasty work!

Do you have any advice for my rusty bottom end ? (oooerrrmissus) Is there a way to treat prep and brush paint it with out taking the block out ?

Thanks for the advice already guys!

Coolant and screen bottle, wait for the wife to go out (if you are married) then pop in the dish washer, works a treat.
Andy

Hi 02benjat happy to post you over a complimentary rad card if you cover the postage to the UK. Yours is the clipper engine so the smaller rad card will fit right in.

I have used Autoglym engine cleaner on mine and works a treat spray it on and dab a brush at it - little bit at a time.  

Fine sand and gunk into bottles will take all the black marks off, then into dishwasher. Bend a tent peg and tape some old rag onto the top and then u have a giant cotton bud to reach awkward bits.

Gunk and bug and tar remover with 45 degree angled paintbrushes.

Autoglym rubber and vinyl cleaner and Autoglym bumper gel.



After

A great tip for cleaning the bottles, I used rice (uncooked) and soapy water on mine, and the dishwasher of course.

Even did the brake master cylinder reservoir.

The wife gets a surprise every time she opens the dishwasher. (Is that another oooerrrmissus)

Nearly got my dingle dangle removed the last time I used our dish washer!  

So now I get up at 5:00am, which gives me at least two hours to get the job done and get the hell out of the kitchen before the Dragon 🐉 surfaces from her den! 

Its stare can kill a Man at 50 paces, no problem .

   

golfcabrio said

Nearly got my dingle dangle removed the last time I used our dish washer!  

So now I get up at 5:00am, which gives me at least two hours to get the job done and get the hell out of the kitchen before the Dragon 🐉 surfaces from her den! 

Its stare can kill a Man at 50 paces, no problem .

   

I didn't realise we married the same woman  

Massbad69 said

golfcabrio said

Nearly got my dingle dangle removed the last time I used our dish washer!  

So now I get up at 5:00am, which gives me at least two hours to get the job done and get the hell out of the kitchen before the Dragon 🐉 surfaces from her den! 

Its stare can kill a Man at 50 paces, no problem .

   

I didn't realise we married the same woman  

Chris I'm guessing you are Married to a Scottish Lady. 
To be honest I don't know what's worse. 
A. A Woman scorned 
B. A Woman Scottish 
Or 
C. A Woman Austrian 
And mine came down from a mountain 🗻 region where the Men are Men and the Sheep 🐑 have a very worried look on their faces ! 

What about a scorned half Scottish half Austrian woman  

Sorry for talking on this thread about sh*t

Back to the topic then :-)

This is my bay cleaned with a few shiny bits but as I'm not handy enough, it's not like the rebuilt beauties on here but decent for me.

Lovely and well maintained engine bay! reminds me of my Mk2, it was red as well.

Chris, be honest now, did you put your entire engine bay with lump in your dishwasher?     

Right finally made some progress with these bottle and buy using chickpeas I have managed to get them to a decent stage although now I have to find a way to sneak them into my mums dishwasher! Wish me Luck!

Bloody chickpeas, they taste horrible 😉

Hi Iain thanks for message. I have most of my rad cards bits listed on my website. I also have the material to do the rear boot cards for the Cabrio if you still have your old cards you can just trace them out and cut with a craft or Stanley knife. I'll send u a pt now with prices.