CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Maintenance => Topic started by: bertfam on August 22, 2016, 11:04:52 PM

Title: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 22, 2016, 11:04:52 PM
20 years ago I used to buy the gallon can of Chem-Dip to clean my carbs for rebuilding. It was great stuff.

I read a lot of reviews today and they all said that Chem-Dip is now garbage. Apparently, because of the freekin' EPA regulations (thanks again big government), it's no longer the same formula it was years ago.

So... What do you guys NOW use to clean carbs? And can I get it in the most liberal (make that useless) state in the union, California?

Ed
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: 69Z28-RS on August 23, 2016, 02:34:28 AM
I've still got my 30-yr old gallon of ChemDip.. and it still worked the last time I used it (a couple of years ago)...  If you want to come to Bama, I'll let you use it for your carb..  :)
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 23, 2016, 02:36:53 AM
LOL!! Thanks Gary. I may have to take you up on that.

Ed
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: JKZ27 on August 23, 2016, 03:31:15 PM
Ah! I loved my can of Berryman's Chem-dip until the can rusted through and it all leaked out. What a smell that stuff had. Newer stuff isn't as good but more Eco friendly, I guess.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: Kelley W King on August 23, 2016, 07:13:58 PM
Nice to know. Glad I kept my years old can.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: maroman on August 23, 2016, 08:23:24 PM
My can corroded from the inside out and leaked all over the cupboard.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: Stingr69 on August 24, 2016, 12:39:22 PM
Mine too.  :~(
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: 69pace on August 24, 2016, 03:34:20 PM
Well taking a quick look at their on-line product information, they do sell the old non compliant VOC formulas on some products including the professional 5 gallon dip pail, but you can't buy it if you live in CA or NJ. :)
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 24, 2016, 03:52:13 PM
Quote
...but you can't buy it if you live in CA or NJ

[rant]
Exactly! you can't get ANYTHING that works here in CA because of the stupid laws. Man how I HATE this state. Unfortunately, I don't have the resources to leave, (too many obligations and roots), but if I could, I'd be outta here faster than you could imagine. And I'm not alone. Because of the high taxes, businesses are vacating CA at an alarming rate. Unless things change, and I mean DRASTICALLY, it wouldn't surprise me to see NO businesses in CA within the next 10 years. And it's not just businesses either. People are deserting this sinking ship so fast it's scary. California has shot itself in the foot too many times and people are sick of this place.
[/rant]

Ed
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: cook_dw on August 24, 2016, 04:10:59 PM
it wouldn't surprise me to see NO businesses in CA within the next 10 years.
[/rant]

Ed


Or water..
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 24, 2016, 04:17:04 PM
Quote
Or water..

That's already here. The weather experts* keep telling us we'll have wet winters, but nothing ever comes of it. For the last 6 years they've been saying this.

* Meteorologist - The only job where you can be 100 percent wrong, 100 percent of the time and still collect your paycheck.

Ed
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: cook_dw on August 24, 2016, 05:02:30 PM
* Meteorologist - The only job where you can be 100 percent wrong, 100 percent of the time and still collect your paycheck.

Ed


LMAO  Where's Bryon..??..
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: 69Z28-RS on August 24, 2016, 05:04:05 PM
Quote
...but you can't buy it if you live in CA or NJ

[rant]
Exactly! you can't get ANYTHING that works here in CA because of the stupid laws. Man how I HATE this state. Unfortunately, I don't have the resources to leave, (too many obligations and roots), but if I could, I'd be outta here faster than you could imagine. And I'm not alone. Because of the high taxes, businesses are vacating CA at an alarming rate. Unless things change, and I mean DRASTICALLY, it wouldn't surprise me to see NO businesses in CA within the next 10 years. And it's not just businesses either. People are deserting this sinking ship so fast it's scary. California has shot itself in the foot too many times and people are sick of this place.
[/rant]
Ed

But.. CA brings it on itself, by continuing to elect idiot liberal politicians....   :(   (so much so that it impacts the remainder of the country as well)...
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: Mark on August 24, 2016, 05:04:44 PM
Or Power Plants.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 24, 2016, 05:38:45 PM
Well, I've de-railed my own thread here, so let's put it back on track!

I spoke with Troy a few days ago and he said he's now using lacquer thinner to clean parts. You just have to be VERY careful with it. Use it outside, not in direct sunlight, etc... but it seems to work good. He said that if you leave parts in it too long, it will discolor them, so you have to keep an eye on it, but other than that, it works just fine.

I'm going to give that a try so I'll report back after this weekend.

Ed
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: 69Z28-RS on August 24, 2016, 06:05:21 PM
Chemdip will also discolor (take the yellow out) if left in the bath too long....  Let us know your process and results using lacquer thinner; I'd imagine the lacquer thinnner 'bath' would need to be sealed up, other the thinner will evaporate out quickly...
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bcmiller on August 25, 2016, 08:26:37 AM
* Meteorologist - The only job where you can be 100 percent wrong, 100 percent of the time and still collect your paycheck.

Ed

Careful. :)

There is a difference between a Meteorologist and a Climatologist.  8)

It has to do with the prediction period. Meteorologists generally forecast out to 10 days or less. Climatologists cover the longer range.  ;)

Fortunately I can still get good carb cleaner here locally.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: Mark on August 25, 2016, 11:01:34 AM
What kind of carb cleaner, or other chemical will strip paint off of a carb hopefully without affecting the coloring of the base carb metal?  I've got an old marine 720 CFM mechanical secondary Holley carb that was painted red (probably originally a Volvo Penta carb) that I need to strip the paint off of and rebuild.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: 69Z28-RS on August 25, 2016, 01:07:50 PM
I'd try lacquer thinner before I used a paint stripper...??
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bcmiller on August 25, 2016, 01:28:17 PM
I agree with Gary.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: Mark on August 25, 2016, 01:46:32 PM
I haven't used anything yet, but do have a bucket of Berrymans carb cleaner.  Dunk it in a pan and let it sit for a whiile, or rub it on with a rag and go to town with a brush of some kind?  I believe the paint is an enamel based product, don't think its any kind of Urethane or epoxy type paint.

Some people say the spray on Felpro gasket remover will lift the paint off as well.  Don't want to go the Eazy Off or chemical paint strippers as those will for sure affect the coatings of the carb.  I just need to get moving on some of my non car projects and cleaning this carb up is one of them.  Then I can rebuild it and put back on the BBC in my Barefoot Nautique and I can check off one more thing done on my list.
Title: Re: Chem-Dip is crap
Post by: bertfam on August 25, 2016, 02:39:11 PM
Mark, if brake fluid doesn't do it, then nothing will!! I swear that every time I check my brake fluid I spill a drop or two on the fender, and sure enough, up comes the paint! Luckily, the paint is old and crappy anyway, but give that a shot and see what happens.

Ed