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Thread: Cleaning Road Grime.

  1. #1

    Cleaning Road Grime.

    So, My '55 has some weird combination of grease, oil, road grime, something fuzzy, and I don't know what else on the frame cross members, the brakes, the steering column, and pretty much everywhere underneath.
    Any good tricks to cleaning this off? I think maybe it has never been cleaned in 60+ years and might be the only thing holding the underside together.
    I have access to a pressure washer but am not sure that is the best route... and if it is, what should I watch out for. The pressure washer is at my work so 20 minute ride from home, I assume I would want to hit all the grease points up again, so I'll bring my grease gun with me.

    Any insight?
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  2. #2
    Super Moderator bmorgil's Avatar
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    Clearly Grease Putty. Grease and oil from the leaky transfer-case, engine, transmission and axles mixes with road kill, dirt, dust, sand anything on the road. It then dries out a little and makes those hard chunks of stuff. I always go after it all with a scraper/wire brush and an old screwdriver with everything dry. Then a good dose of de-greaser and after it again then once more with the de-greaser and a power wash. You will find a lot of junk on top of the skid plates and elsewhere.

    It is a messy job to say the least but very rewarding once you get it cleaned up. Pick a spot on mother earth you aren't particularly fond of or, you can clean up. I hauled a garbage can full of dirt out of my garage! It was unbelievable. So much nicer to work on.

    Hit the grease zerks after and try not to pressure wash the u-joints and the top of the transmission directly. The shift tower is not real good at keeping water out of the transmission.
    Last edited by bmorgil; 06-15-2021 at 09:02 AM.

  3. #3
    Super Moderator gmwillys's Avatar
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    VT,

    Some will use industrial strength degreasers or even oven cleaner to loosen up the big chunks. A hot water pressure washer would help the most, but pack a lunch and a rain suit. Stay away from the vents to the diffs and drivetrain.

    In my opinion, I would scrape the big chunks of grease then use some nylon abrasive brushes sold by Horrible Freight for $4.00, and plug it into a 3/8" variable speed drill. This will remove the grease residue and rust/old paint. The pictures bellow are from my wagon project, and it looked a whole lot like yours when started. The nylon brushes work really well in removing paint and rust from everything. I am not a fan of sand blasting, so this is the best thing I've found.

    https://www.harborfreight.com/4-in-8...ank-60325.html
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  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by bmorgil View Post
    Pick a spot on mother earth you aren't particularly fond of
    Well, Work it is then.. haha!

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