Cleaning before a reseal?

[Soundmound]

SO I definitely need to do a reseal on the 305 that's in my rig now. However it's covered in gunk from the intake to the oil pan and I'd like to see where my pain points are.
The question is what do you all find the best method to "wash" down the engine bay? I've seen some YouTube videos and man do some folks play fast and loose with the rules! To complicate matters I live adjacent a river and would be using a catchment tray so minimal water would be preferred. Otherwise, I guess the option is to take it to a pro, but I'd rather have the satisfaction and peace of mind knowing it didn't take 3200psi to the face. Thoughts or experiences?

[Corts60]

Get your favorite flavor of foamy engine degreaser and let it soak a bit. Do it while the engine is cold so you don’t stress hot metal with cold water. I usually get in there with a hand scraper too and get the thick stuff off. You’re ok to use a pressure washer, just avoid carb, distributor, and alternator as much as possible.

I’m about to reseal the engine in my ‘88, but I’m just going to pull the whole thing as I think that is easier.

[Dead Parrot]

A lot of do it yourself car wash places have an 'engine degrease' option. And they will already have the water/bad stuff capture setup in place. Even if they don't have the chemical degrease stuff, they often have a hot spray setting which does pretty good on gunk removal.

When done with your cleaning, go for a thirty minute or so drive to dry things out.

[geezer#99]

To protect the carb or distributor just use tinfoil. It’s easy to work with and stays in place.
I’ve used engine degreaser and a garden hose. Multiple coats sometimes needed.
Use various sized wire brushes too.

[kwmech]

I head to the car wash with a couple rolls of quarters, bottle of purple power and a pair of overalls. That way I get both the engine and the engine compartment and as much frame as the wand can get to

[LT7A]

When I snag a new project, I soak down the engine bay with simple green - biodegradable - wash the truck and then wash down the engine. I have a electric pressure washer that does about 1600 psi. I'm always surprised how clean the engine gets after two or three sessions like that of letting the simple green soak in and pressure washing it off.

[farmall]

A small hand pump garden/bug sprayer and a large jug of super clean/purple power. Spray it down continuously, heavy first coat then keep it wet. Rent a high psi pressure washer 2800 is good. Everything will come off, including rust.

[JJH Jimmy]

You can say what you want about other POR 15 products but their cleaner degreaser is the best I have ever used. If you use it full strength be careful around painted surfaces and wear rubber gloves. It is also water based.

[Pontiac1976]

I like the do it yourself car wash places, Bring faces held, coveralls, safety glasses, gloves of some type, some type of engine degreaser, I have not used tinfoil at the place yet, but that would be extra good to do big pieces around the carb. Once at the place. I would start take off the air cleaner first, move to the Dist. then the Carb, then Alt.
Since got the tinfoil, I would cover any ground to frame or motor frame mounting points to ( before going to the place). After placing foil I would give it quick rinse down get some of the heavy dirt flaking rust, grease gobs off. Then spray your degreaser only greases areas try not to spray the tinfoil areas. And I would go at a vary off peck time (no line ups) then you can let the degreaser soak in for 5-10min minimum. Then have at it once safety stuff for set of work is on. Safety glasses are going to be most used when spraying, safety glasses and face faces held, coverall and gloves. After two or three time you should be happy enough to leave do your work later.