Tools and Advice for Starting a Restoration.

JimCIV said:
Thanks for keeping this thread alive regardless of the OP's status. Lots of good info and advice.
What currently available products do you folks recommend for cleaning the underside and mechanical stuff. iow: nothing with paint on it that you care about.
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First I move vehicle to a select area where I can make a mess on the ground and cleanup. Put vehicle on jackstands as high as you can safely go. Using a pressure washer I get underneath and blast off all the build up. Wear safety glasses as things will fly back at you. And you will get wet. This handles 95% of the crud. Some scraping will be needed. Then using a spray bottle filled with kerosene I soak remaining crud, let sit then blast some more. Now you're at 99%. What’s left is a skim of oil that’s tough to remove without using a volatile substance. Several spray cans of brake cleaner comes in here. Spray liberally to the point it’s running off, it carrys oil scum with it. If you’re painting you may need to also wash/wipe down.
Any way you do it, it’s a mess. Dress accordingly and wear eye/face protection.
 
Fred46 said:
First I move vehicle to a select area where I can make a mess on the ground and cleanup. Put vehicle on jackstands as high as you can safely go. Using a pressure washer I get underneath and blast off all the build up. Wear safety glasses as things will fly back at you. And you will get wet. This handles 95% of the crud. Some scraping will be needed. Then using a spray bottle filled with kerosene I soak remaining crud, let sit then blast some more. Now you're at 99%. What’s left is a skim of oil that’s tough to remove without using a volatile substance. Several spray cans of brake cleaner comes in here. Spray liberally to the point it’s running off, it carrys oil scum with it. If you’re painting you may need to also wash/wipe down.
Any way you do it, it’s a mess. Dress accordingly and wear eye/face protection.
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Make sure to use non chlorinated brake cleaner spray
 
Thanks for the replies. Honestly, sounds mostly like what I used to do, although I didn't own a pressure washer back then. I do now. Hope to never be without one again. <added: I've taken to wearing a full face shield when using it on stuff that isn't flat. It's amazing how often you can spray yourself in the face even when you're trying not to.>

You guys mean to tell me there's no new magical Janitor In A Can that I can spray on, come back ten minutes later with a garden hose, and be done?

Also, I do appreciate the safety oriented tips. Safety Third
 
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JimCIV said:
Thanks for the replies. Honestly, sounds mostly like what I used to do, although I didn't own a pressure washer back then. I do now. Hope to never be without one again.

You guys mean to tell me there's no new magical Janitor In A Can that I can spray on, come back ten minutes later with a garden hose, and be done?

Also, I do appreciate the safety oriented tips. Safety Third
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Unfortunately not the best bet is gasoline and a brush.
Also wear a face mask when using a brush on older jeeps asbestos is not fun.
 
Jeepguy 43 said:
Unfortunately not the best bet is gasoline and a brush.
Also wear a face mask when using a brush on older jeeps asbestos is not fun.
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LOL, yeah, sorry I added that I wear a face mask about the same time you were replying. I'm almost religious about protecting my eyes, and only slightly less so with my lungs. The rest of my body, well, I'm a good healer.

Gasoline and a brush was me in the 70's. I haven't actually done it in a looong time. Honestly though, I'm not sure how different it is from acetone, brake cleaner, etc.? I started using kerosene on my motorcycles, and still use it on stuff with old oil and/or grease that I don't want to power wash.
 
JimCIV said:
LOL, yeah, sorry I added that I wear a face mask about the same time you were replying. I'm almost religious about protecting my eyes, and only slightly less so with my lungs. The rest of my body, well, I'm a good healer.

Gasoline and a brush was me in the 70's. I haven't actually done it in a looong time. Honestly though, I'm not sure how different it is from acetone, brake cleaner, etc.? I started using kerosene on my motorcycles, and still use it on stuff with old oil and/or grease that I don't want to power wash.
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I use gas cause it's easier to get
 
Jeepguy 43 said:
Make sure to use non chlorinated brake cleaner spray
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What? You don't like phosgene gas? :D ;)

JimCIV said:
Thanks for the replies. Honestly, sounds mostly like what I used to do, although I didn't own a pressure washer back then. I do now. Hope to never be without one again. <added: I've taken to wearing a full face shield when using it on stuff that isn't flat. It's amazing how often you can spray yourself in the face even when you're trying not to.>

You guys mean to tell me there's no new magical Janitor In A Can that I can spray on, come back ten minutes later with a garden hose, and be done?

Also, I do appreciate the safety oriented tips. Safety Third
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Spray in the face. Happens sooooo many times when I use my pressure washer on auto parts.

Purple power is pretty awesome. The Zep brand orange cleaner is less caustic. The awesome-est degreaser but also the most environmentally and humanly unfriendly is oven cleaner. Particularly the original Easy Off formula. Breathing protection should be mandatory in restricted spaces.

"Safety third", ha ha that looks like my operating procedure.
 
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Just wanted to let everyone know that even though the OP is long gone, this thread is a goldmine. I just acquired my first jeep, '52 CJ3A, and will be tackling restoration. I appreciate all the contributions and guidance provided thus far.
 
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