A buddy of mine is restoring a '57 Beetle (hi Matthew. Make a board account already 
) and needs some braintrust suggestion on how to de-grease the inside of the structural spine tube. It's got a bunch of old grease and goo in there, but being an "interior" space, it's not so easy to get to to clean it out.
So, what simple trick do we not know about to complete this operation? Any ideas?
Maybe a contraption like a chimney sweep brush, wrapped with a few rags.
Utilize a citrus based degreaser of your choice, plug everything but the highest hole in the tube, and fill it with said degreaser. Let sit for a few days, unplug the holes, rinse out with clean water and then apply a blower of some sort to dry it out.
Nylon toilet brush fastened to tube (for reach), dip brush in solvent or purple cleaner, swab tube, twist and shout.
Rinse, repeat till brush comes out clean. May take several beers to accomplish.
Have swabbed axle tubes using this w/ good results.
Wow!!! These are all great suggestions, thank you!!
I'll be posting updates :)
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:Make up a long wand for a pressure washer ?
http://plumbing-draincleaning.com/drain-cleaning.php
I really want one of those attachments now. Looks like it might be proprietary. Can't find one anywhere.
Leave it as rust proofing? I've not looked inside mine to see what it looks like in there
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
https://www.ebay.com/i/383207830902?chn=ps#
Google "tube sewer cleaning jet" or a variation of it.
Steam is the route I would go.
Toss it in the back of a truck and head to your nearest wand-type car wash with a roll of quarters.
Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:Leave it as rust proofing? I've not looked inside mine to see what it looks like in there
that would be my thought too. While the spine of the beetles do not usually rot out like the floor under the battery or the heater channels, I have seen some rusty ones. Grease makes a fine anti-rust solution, especially in places where it can't get all over you.
Paging Carl.
Having been defunking British parts with up to 1/4 inch of petrified grease lately...
Forget simple green or even purple power. Go get a bunch of cans of gunk engine cleaner and a chimney brush. Put at least 3 cans worth in there, better 6, and work that brush for quite awhile. Let sit and repeat brush. Rinse out with hottest water you can get hands on after a few brush cycles. And repeat with more gunk and brushing rounds if necessary.
Seriously, the gunk did way way better for me than other stuff including submerging in purple power for a few hours.
You should consult Richard Brunning.
So, you're saying you'd like to give up the funk?
I bought one of those pressure washer tips for $8. It'll be a nice surprise when it arrives in June long after I've forgotten I ordered it.
In reply to Stefan (Forum Supporter) :
Dear lord that was awful.
ShawnG said:In reply to Stefan (Forum Supporter) :
Dear lord that was awful.
What? That's one way to make sure there's no funk left.....
by destroying it.
Get an old garden hose
Tape a wad of steel wool soaked in your favorite brand of solvent to it
Shove an extension into the hose and tape it in
Push the hose into the cavity
Get a 1/2" to hex adapter, and drive the thing with your drill. As you wind the hose it will pull itself out.
Much success
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