Engine Cleaning? Tips, Tricks and Ideas?

[Mopar440+6]

Heres the deal. I've got the 383 out of my Charger but I have been offered another engine so I am considering selling the 383. The 383 is currently hanging on the engine stand and is complete minus the intake and valley pan. The paint is flaking off pretty badly and its covered in oil and grease. I don't want to get water or solvents into the engine but this thing is almost as dirty as Paris Hilton. What is the best way to clean this thing up besides investing in Brakleen and a scrub brush?

[resq302]

What I would do is tape up the areas where water could get in and then spray it down really good with Simple Green.  Excellent product for removing grease and grime and happens to be environmentally friendly.  Brake cleaner is also a good alternative but you will probably go through a ton of it.

[mally69]

Another good one is called ( GUNK) you can get it at napa it works well also.

[1BAD68]

I highly recommend this stuff thats called "Awesome"
You can get it at the dollar stores super cheap but its incredible stuff.
I just did my engine, I sprayed it all over until it was soaking pretty good, I used a toothbrush to loosen the heavy deposits and then used the empty bottle filled with water to rinse.

[hutch]

GUNK and a pressure washer.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I usually use an engine degreaser and acid brushes and just get all the old paint that i can off....      I usually media blast the valve covers and intake to make sure there are no old paint on them (which gives you those annoying high and low layers of paint) - simply because those are the parts you really see..

[StockMan]

I found that if the block was really greasy heating the cast and then wiping it with a wax/grease remover would get the final residue from the pores of the cast.  The cast will sweat a small amount of grease even after it appears clean.