pics of the 52s engine bay whats the best way to clean without taking off the 60yr old codes on the firewall?

B-52 · Guru

pics of the 52s engine bay whats the best way to clean without taking off the 60yr old codes on the firewall?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Mask off the writing before powerwashing, then with some good wax on a cloth, trace and clean around the stencil with your fingertips. Worked good for me. Funny how our marks look so similar in colour!

-- Edited by cdnpont on Tuesday 19th of June 2012 11:21:37 AM

B-52 · Guru

Thanks for the tips Mark, I'm guessing they bought a lot of yellow marking pens and that's why our colors looks the Same on the Pontiac blue cars. Look at the 6 on my code and the second 6 of yours, now that's creepy close the way they look similar, the 9's in our codes are close too. Could these cars have been built in the same factory and had the same old inspector writing codes for over 25 yrs on cars firewalls?

-- Edited by B-52 on Wednesday 20th of June 2012 09:02:27 AM

68 427 · Poncho Master!

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I JUST USED DISH-SOAP AND WATER WITH A SPOUNGE ON MINE. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE MARKS MUCH, IF ANY.

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B-52 · Guru

Thanks Mike, I will try a test section just to make sure. I don't think I can take a pressure washer to the engine bay yet, this seems to be the safest option.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Picture 105.jpg somethings "wrong" here!! when I compare your 52 engine bay to mine, they don;t "MATCH!!! WAASSS UUPPP with that????

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

If the firewall writing ever gets wiped off, a touch up with a yellow (in your case) china marker is an original fix. That's what they used on the assembly line. They can be bought at craft/office supply stores.

Mine (unrestored):

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

By-the-way Chris, what does the original windshield washer reservoir look like for these cars? Would it be a square mason-like jar?

Love the looks under the hood!

B-52 · Guru

Thanks Darryl, the OE jar for these cars are round "mason style jars" . My jar and cap were replaced at one point, the jar says "Improved Gem" "Made in Canada" at least its still a Canadian Jar lol but the vacuum pump, bracket and internals are the ones from the 40's- early 50's. I'm glad it even got the option back in the day.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

That's funny about the mason jar ... I never knew that! I'll have to research it. I was wondering if it was a square jar, because the holder/bracket is square. It would be nice to put a purple or green glass mason jar in there.

Also, that external oil filter canister is easy to change in that location! Mine is a canister one also, but in the regular spot under the engine. I could get a thread-on filter adapter, but I kind of like the canister type (doesn't bug me) and they are still available at NAPA.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

This is a cool old one:

http://saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-auto-body-parts-1950s-Chev-GM-Cadillac-Pontiac-Olds-Buick-windshield-washer-jar-W0QQAdIdZ363781406

B-52 · Guru

Maybe I could find a big old blue poison bottle that will fit in the bracket, I like the colored bottle idea. The optional external filter canister doesn't bother me either, I might just clean up the crued bracket that was made in the 50's or could leave it because it also is period "correct" of a mechanics craftsmenship. Lots of other guys say it wasn't needed because the internal filter should last its lifetime but who really knows how long each engine will last. I resealed the oil pan when I rebuilt the front end and I couldn't believe how clean the bottom end was and the internal filter looked like a golden crown, I should've taken a picture.

B-52 · Guru

Thats sweet, i heard there were other styles for the period.

Pontiacanada wrote:

This is a cool old one:
http://saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-auto-body-parts-1950s-Chev-GM-Cadillac-Pontiac-Olds-Buick-windshield-washer-jar-W0QQAdIdZ363781406

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

B-52 wrote:
Maybe I could find a big old blue poison bottle that will fit in the bracket.
I might just clean up the crude bracket that was made in the 50's or could leave it because it also is period "correct" of a mechanics craftsmenship.

If you find a blue "poison" bottle that size, I'll give you at least $500.00 for it! wink

I hadn't noticed the bracket ... that's the way it was done in the day ... no chrome, polished, billet, $100.00 brackets back then! biggrin

B-52 · Guru

yeah, thats weird haha.

dualquadpete wrote:

somethings "wrong" here!! when I compare your 52 engine bay to mine, they don;t "MATCH!!! WAASSS UUPPP with that????

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

B-52 wrote:
Thats sweet, i heard there were other styles for the period.

Ya, I just did a quick search and there are vintage Duraglass and Trico brand ones ... they are not cheap ... $50.00 - $80.00 just for the jar! I'd just find a nice old mason myself!

B-52 · Guru

Pontiacanada wrote

If you find a blue "poison" bottle that size, I'll give you at least $500.00 for it!
I hadn't noticed the bracket ... that's the way it was done in the day ... no chrome, polished, billet, $100.00 brackets back then!

no points for style back then, you might see the wirinig for the upgraded signals and also the block heater cord in the pictures. That part i will clean up for sure.