Cleaning cad plated parts

[Sweden_Mike]

I've started preparing for winter projects, which will include cleaning up some of the the mess in the engine room. I'm concerned about the cad plated parts. They look salvageable to me, so I've searched for how to possibly clean them. However, it seems as if most people replate.

Is there a best practise on how to gently clean the yellow parts? Or are they to the rats?

Thanks for your input.

[114015]

Hey Mike,

Good to see you here finally on the Forum.
Was great talking to you in Duesseldorf; we have not finished yet and need to continue that in Italy !

Regarding your question, cad plated parts ...
It depends....
Your car is highly original - very close to Brian Peter's Holy Grail.
As such - if I were you - keep as much in "as is" condition as possible.

Cad-plated and other engine parts clean up very nicely with a cloth and some WD40 or that like.
WD40 is also able to remove some light surface rust.

Good luck!

Best,
Achim
(with ugly engine bay)

[Sweden_Mike]

Achim,

Thanks for your kind words. I really enjoyed it in Düsseldorf and we will certainly not run out of discussion areas in Italy!

I'm terrified to do things wrong, so I hear what you are saying - don't do anything.

Cheers, Michael

[wwheeler]

Lightly "oiling" plated parts will extend their appearance life and keeps corrosion away and will not hurt originality. Is a real pain though and you can do all the parts including underneath. As Achim said, WD-40 or something that has a bit more life to it will work well. I wouldn't replate the parts in this engine bay unless they were rusting. Even has the original "Metzler" air hose. Very nice original car!

The old black oxide parts required oiling or it would rust. It didn't have near the corrosion resistance that CAD or zinc plating have. 

[Sweden_Mike]

Thanks guys, that's what I needed. I understand the "air filter" mostly contains steel wool that can be cleaned with pressure air. I also understand it functions as a silencer when air is sucked into the WRD while warming up.

[wwheeler]

I believe it is actually a filter as well. Additional air is drawn through it during warm up, and then directed to the cold start valve where it goes directly into the intake manifold. This air does NOT go through the main air filter. So the WRD filter is the only filtering device in that circuit. When the filter gets clogged, it restricts the air during warm up and can result in a very rich warm up mixture.

If you are concerned with originality, you can keep it and screw it on for shows. Then use a new one for driving. Easy to take on and off. Use a narrow blade open end wrench.

[114015]

Yes, Mike,

The filter should be replaced in regular maintenance intervalls.
Don't remember exactly "how often".
Would guess every 20,000 or 30,000 kms.

Will look this up.

Best,
Achim