How to clean the hood insulation?

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JimA
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How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by JimA »

The insulation on the under side of the hood on my '78 Cont is in good condition but FILTHY!! I took it off to avoid the dirt falling on the engine or IN the engine when tuning with the air cleaner off.

Will it stand up to a good hose squirt? Other ideas to clean it?
1978 Continental Coupe
521 Stroker -- SOLD :-(
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Dan Szwarc
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by Dan Szwarc »

You can't brush it.
You can't powerwash it.

I guess a gentle spray with a degreaser that is paint safe, let it soak, and then spray it gently to rinse.
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by JimA »

Right. I used a detergent in a spray bottle and a low pressure garden hose. Biggest problem was handling it soaking wet. Managed to get it draped over the side of my Explorer and draining with just one minor tear. Think it'll be fixed with some spray adhesive once its dry.

If I did do it again, I'd get it lying flat on something on a 45* angle before wetting it so no handling would be required while its wet.

Ordered these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321666114380

Think I'll spray it with some flat black header paint when its thoroughly dry.
1978 Continental Coupe
521 Stroker -- SOLD :-(
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Dan Szwarc
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by Dan Szwarc »

Is it removed from the car?
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JimA
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by JimA »

Yes. As I mentioned in the first post, it was so dirty it was dropping dirt onto the engine.

The fasteners are about impossible to get off without breaking them. Was pleased to find new fasteners for not a lot of money.
1978 Continental Coupe
521 Stroker -- SOLD :-(
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Perry Bush
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by Perry Bush »

Can't recall where I learned this "trick", but it works very well. Most of the time, for most of the area of the pad, all that is needed is a good vacuuming, This would normally damage the pad, pulling and tearing the fibers. So place a section of wire mesh on the dirty surface and vacuum over that. Move the section around a bit as you're doing this, then on to the next section. amazing how much dirt that pad will hold! I used a 2 x 2' section with about 0.25" spacing in the mesh.
Drivers '70 Continental Coupe; '77 Continental Convertible; '79 CS Town Car; '78 Mark V; '77 Mark V
Projects '69 Mark III Convertible
For Sale '78 Town Car Convertible Project; '70/73 Town Coupe Project(s)
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JimA
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by JimA »

That sounds like a better technique than spraying it with water. I ended up with a couple of small tears.
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521 Stroker -- SOLD :-(
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Re: How to clean the hood insulation?

Post by 1958carnut »

After it is clean if it is discolored or stained you can use satin Rust-Oleum evenly fogged on from about 2 feet away and it will look like new.
I like both types of cars, Lincolns and Continentals
1971 Sedan
1976 Mk IV
1989 Hess & Eisenhardt
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