Hey guys, I'm trying to clean up the grimy looking engine bay, and after an hour of wire brushing one of the metal pipes connecting the two manifolds, it's only marginally better than its untouched brother.

Any other techniques for cleaning it, or does it have to go for a full nickel (or is it cadmium?) plating process ? What would ball park costs be in U.S. For plating?

I've seen some paint it black, I guess that's the path of least resistance





I've also tried cleaning the manifolds with simple green, brake cleaner etc and results there are marginal at best. Suggestions ?

 

I should mention that the PO has maddeningly painted the manifolds with silver spray. Sigh!


I have tried sandblasting on the air balance pipe at the rear of the engine and while it's quick, it's not a good idea either - the finish is uneven much like the wire brush. And unless you use some high temp clear coat, it looses its shiny appearance in weeks

 

For grease removal I use Super Clean. I warm the engine and spray. Wait a bit and hose off. It works the best

 

I wouldn't get a "water hose" anywhere near an XJS underhood area.

 

Those little pipes seem to be some sort of low grade alloy or something. I've never been able to make mine clean up with a damn.

IMHO, just paint them and be done with it.

Cheers
DD

 

took me close to 2 years to clean my engine, I used greased lightning full strength in a pump spayer, followed up with warm water in another pump sprayer, for the cross over pipe and some other parts I used a FINE brush attached to a drill, followed up with a FINE lap sander attached to a drill and then scotched bright it, will try to remember to take pictures of the drill attacments I used








you can see the years of grim needed to be cleaned, been using Greased Lighting which I found works the best

 

The crank case ventilation activation pipe is still available new. Something like €10... I bought one...

 

I agree with Doug.

They are made from what we call "Bundy" tubing. Pretty easy to work with at produstion level, and definately NOT for looks.

Mine got the works when the engine out for refresh internally, and a lot of that pipe stuff dleted.

Manifolds got the heat proof Aluminium paint treatment, and name plaques.

 

I wondered if that is what it was. It is a special tubing, widely used in UK cars, tractors and the like, before the days of reliable rubber fuel hoses, that does not fatigue through vibration. USA invention.
Why do brake lines rust? and who is this Bundy guy? - Safe BrakingSafe Braking

Greg

 

You showed me yours so it's fair to show you mine .

 

Now that is snake pit (German name for the V12)...!

 

That is a beautiful engine bay!