Since I'm waiting on a new head, my loose exhaust manifold repair is in limbo.  I figured, with the engine out and nothing else to do, this is the perfect time to clean this thing up.

I know, I am cheating by doing my detailing with the engine out.  It is much easier this way, but I wouldn't recommend taking the engine out just for that reason (although I know someone who does, regularly). 

I am using an engine degreaser to loosen everything up and a bucket of water to rinse, but the real cleaning is coming from a scrub brush, rags, and a lot of good, old fashioned elbow grease. 

I removed many of the brackets and such for painting.  I used semi-gloss engine paint for the black bracket, heater valve, smog can, etc.  For the corroded aluminum parts like the relays and igniter I used the same aluminum paint I have been using on the engine itself.  I did not remove the ABS control, I just cleaned it up real good. 

I also bought new TEMS covers as the gaskets on the old ones were dried.  I originally was going to see about getting some new gasket material from somewhere and repainting them, but at only $13 each, I just paid for new ones.

I used Mequire's Cleaner & Polisher wax for the final touch.

1- With the wiring harness gone, removing the parts for cleaning and painting wasn't too hard.

2- Getting all the years of gunk off of the top of the cross member, now that was a chore.

1- Now that it's all clean and pretty, I will have to keep it up.

I knew the engine bay had some dirt in it, but when I cleaned one little spot by the shock tower, I couldn't believe the difference.  Now to open the hood and see the inside gleaming like new, well worth the time and effort.