Chemicals to clean rocker covers with?

P

p6-dave

New Member
Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site and to the world of RoverP6's and would hopefull like to own one soon. But first I want to rebuild a V8 for one first to improve my skills in car repair and engineering.

I plan to build a workshop in the back garden after coming back from my holiday (in September) and then hopefull aquire an old V8 block and work from the ground up. I've already got a piar of rocker covers and have just bought a paif of cylinder heads from a 1970 H-reg. P6, but the rocker covers are looking kinda grubby even tho the seller said they were paint stripped and the rocker covers look like they've been bathed in what can only be described as marmite. :?

Any ideas on what to use on the rocker covers and also the cylinder heads?

Cheers,

Dave
 
A good brush and soak in de-greaser then into a hot wash in the dishwasher with a good rinse aid! :wink:
 
Rocker covers into the dishwasher!! You must live alone! :LOL: Engine degreaser will do it, then wipe down with more degreaser and clean off with brake cleaner ...... your plates need never be affected.
 
TwinPlenum3500S said:
Rocker covers into the dishwasher!! You must live alone! :LOL: Engine degreaser will do it, then wipe down with more degreaser and clean off with brake cleaner ...... your plates need never be affected.
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I treated the wife to a new dishwasher and now the old one is in the garage awaiting my planned rebuilds of bike ad Rover.... :mrgreen:
 
I've just done mine in the dishwasher - with a good rinse aid and the wife out of the house. They came up a real treat. So did the inlet manifold...
 
I use some stuff called hazsafe and g101 at work, available from autosmart. Mix with water, spray on with a hand squirty bottle and watch the crud wash instantly away :shock: .

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^With a toothbrush I could have easily removed the oil from the corners on that block.

Simon
 
That looks like a good option for the block, Simon, which is far too big for the dishwasher. The dishwasher is good for smaller parts and the inlet manifold is about as big as it can take. My carburettor casings came up really well too - a quick brush down to remove the bulk of the crud and then a spell in the dishwasher. They came up looking like brand new.
 
Speaking of rocker covers, mine are looking a little tatty so I thought I'd get them powder-coated along with my other grey bits and pieces (elbows, inlet manifold, alternator guard etc). Will the powder-coating guys be able to coat them yet leave the ribs on the top bare? I like that original look - I don't want all-grey covers.
 
Warren, you'll need to use a block and sandpaper to clean the ribs on you rocker covers after they been powdercoated.

As for cleaning them up I had to use a chisel, then a wire brush to clean up the insides. Then to get the old cork gasket off took about another 2 hours with a chisel and sandpaper, it was stuck on harder than weetabix and milk in bowl!
 
WarrenL said:
Speaking of rocker covers, mine are looking a little tatty so I thought I'd get them powder-coated along with my other grey bits and pieces (elbows, inlet manifold, alternator guard etc). Will the powder-coating guys be able to coat them yet leave the ribs on the top bare? I like that original look - I don't want all-grey covers.
Click to expand...

If I'm spraying a part and want a bit left bare, I smear that with grease and spray over it. Rubs off OK when the rest of the paint's dried, but not sure how it would work with powder-coating though. And it'd be a bit tricky coating all the ribbing.

I was lucky as an electroplater I deal with at work chromed mine for free, and I black-enamelled the ribs with an artist's brush à la Edelbrock.
 
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