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Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:29 pm
by Marty K Bird
Got my car up on stands at the front and im trying to clean off all the old grease thats caked up on the front end ..... whats the best way to shift it .

Only pressure washer thing i have is a degreaser pot thing for my air compressor ... but it didnt look like it wanted to budge it!!!

Anything i can paint on to really chew the grease to make it softer to blast off????.,....

I know its probably lots of elbow grease and a spatula lol ..... but yeah any advice?

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:52 pm
by Cal
I did the dame to mine some weeks back. Lots of petrol (or degreaser), a screw driver or something to scrape it of, and plenty of patience.

You wouldn't believe how much shit can build up over 50 years :shock:

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 11:30 pm
by zl296
done that too
you end up smelling like the grease your trying to get off.

keep scraping,high pressure cleaner...(hot) if you can.

:thumbsup:

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:12 am
by parisian62
Spray on liberal doses of kerosene, an assortment of flat scrapers, wire brushes, elbow grease and crank up some cool tunes...and get ready to get dirty.

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:05 am
by WayneXG95
parisian62 wrote:Spray on liberal doses of kerosene, an assortment of flat scrapers, wire brushes, elbow grease and crank up some cool tunes...and get ready to get dirty.
:thumbsup:

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 9:45 am
by Marty K Bird
Thanks guys for the replies....thinking of trying a slurry of kerosene, soap powder and concentrated degreaser that I can brush on oneday and shift the next... Sounds like the elbow grease is the key ingredient!

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:00 am
by WayneXG95
I used the degreaser and all the other stuff but still had to use a paint scaper and a hammer to get it off.
But mine was off the car when I did it, best of luck... :thumbsup:

Image

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:28 pm
by mr bean
Same here,
Paint scrapers,wire brushers,heaps of rags & litres of petrol. And I am not allowed to come in the house till iv'e showered. :? :? :?

Andy

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:42 am
by tm 50
Wire brush attachment for a 4 inch angle grinder , works a treat , make sure you wear a full face shield though

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 7:45 pm
by 61FBspecial
I went through this a few years ago with a one owner HR I bought. I tried several things when my neighbour saw me struggling and offered to lend me his Diesel high pressure washer. This is what you need, I'm sure you can rent one from kennards etc. It uses diesel fuel to heat the water to near boiling point, you don't need degreaser or any chemicals, it just cuts through the build up like a hot knife through butter. Plus you won't end up with the scratch marks left behind by a scraper or screwdriver.

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:38 pm
by zl296
12 stubbies of v.b,may help too... :ebiggrin:




:thumbsup:

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 9:04 am
by DOLLER
At least you know it wont be too badly rusted underneath!!!! :thumbsup:
You could just paint over it................ :econfused:

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:33 pm
by Marty K Bird
Brought a big tin of elbow grease, a paint scrapper, kero, simple green and various wire brushes.

I used a chisel to get the rough gunk off .... then i paint the kero on, sometimes let it soak in, wire brush it then use the air compressor pressure washer thing to blast it off.
So far i think im winning ....i found a few grease nipples!

Those hot water pressure washers sound the go!!

Thanks all

Heres what i have on one side so far

Image

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:25 pm
by parisian62
You found your front suspension and brakes Marty! :lol: It's fun isn't it :)

Re: Cleaning off 50 years of grease???

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:14 am
by Marty K Bird
Loving every inch of it Stewart!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Kinda wish i could dump the front out for a proper clean ......one day!