My Summer Project

kustomizingkid

kustomizingkid

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I am starting this thread to document my progress as I clean and modify my Mark VIII through the summer. I figured I would start one thread and update it through the summer instead of new threads every week :)

The engine bay is my first focus as it looks TERRIBLE....

Here is what I am starting with:

starting-point.jpg


Someone had some lovely undercoating sprayed all over the car, in the engine bay, and anywhere else they could try to make a mess.

Here is a close up of how it started:

more-dirty-undercoating-ii.jpg


So I took my first big step in cleaning the crap up today what a PITA... here is how it looked after some disassembly:

img_0994.jpg


Chipping Away:

img_1001.jpg


More:

img_1002.jpg


More:

img_1003.jpg


Still Going:

img_1004.jpg


The harness and connectors were covered in that same junk so I rewrapped the harness and delicately cleaned the connectors.

img_1012.jpg


Expect to see many more updates in the following weeks. After cleaning today I have realized that the only way to get the engine bay where I want it I will have to take off the fenders, hood, and wiper cowl along with a major disasembly of everything that can be easily removed in the engine bay.
 
Why in the hell is that wiring harness bare???? I'd put some loom on that, doesn't seem cool to me, don't know if they're like that or not, never had my cover off, just seems like it could create one big nightmare.

Looks like you got your work cut out for you, but it looks good so far.
 
That is exactly how the factory did it... here is what you would see if you took your cover off.

img_1010.jpg
 
I don't like it, have to check mine out, exposed wires like that in the engine bay worry me but then again I'm a little anal when it comes to wiring. I guess it's held up fine for this long, just seems like a stupid design on FOMOCO's part. But that doesn't really surprise many of us these days.
 
I have a steam pressure washer that I use for cleaning the engine bays....it eats the grime out of even the smallest areas.

awhile back i needed to rent one and ended up paying like $50 for a day.....well worth it.
 
You just dont want a too high of pressure those thing's can cut right through rubber and wires. A good low pressure steam clean might get most of it for you.
 
Lots of elbo grease... a plastic scraper, MF, and cheap Meg's liquid paint cleaner.

Nothing that doesn't use physical contact is going to remove this stuff... trust me.
 
well kid keep it up hope you get everything done with it that you want to this summer... get that intake and those gears installed
 
Very impressed. Almost looks like you just repainted it.

I love the fact you are willing to take off body panels to 'clean' the engine bay. You rock. I thought I was the only retard that would do stuff like that. But I see plenty of us here so I shouldnt be surprised.

For the love of the Mark:Beer Here, here!
 
Wow it is white under there!
That undercoating it the worst!

Hope your wearing safety glasses :D
 
looks good kid, at work i know gas liquifies that undercoating stuff, or at least the stuff they use at work, try some on a rag, while wearing your safety goggles
 
I tried a little bit of everything, gas, acetone, lacquer thinner, wax & grease remover, 3M adhesive remover, brake cleaner, carb cleaner, claybar, Megs paint cleaner, etc....

The harsher stuff removed it easier, but it seemed to hurt the paint. On the other hand the safer it was for the paint the more work it was... I'd rather do more work and not hurt the paint.

I will probably end up repainting part of the engine bay, like Geno did with the Supermark.
 
Warden said:
I love the fact you are willing to take off body panels to 'clean' the engine bay. You rock. I thought I was the only retard that would do stuff like that. But I see plenty of us here so I shouldnt be surprised.

For the love of the Mark:Beer Here, here!
Click to expand...

I'm using the redneck method of under hood detailing. With a Gen 1 we can hide most every thing under an ugly cover. The cover is ugly, but it covers the ugly better than it looks :D.
 
kustomizingkid said:
I tried a little bit of everything, gas, acetone, lacquer thinner, wax & grease remover, 3M adhesive remover, brake cleaner, carb cleaner, claybar, Megs paint cleaner, etc....

The harsher stuff removed it easier, but it seemed to hurt the paint. On the other hand the safer it was for the paint the more work it was... I'd rather do more work and not hurt the paint.
Click to expand...

I have always trusted Kerosene. :)

Yeah it still takes elbow grease but I've removed just almost everything with it and not harm the paint.

For small places, RainX usually works well also.

Kudos for your effort. Good work so far. :)
 
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