Ideas on how to clean engine parts??

Anyone have suggestions on how to clean engine parts?
E.g., Cams, timing components, inside of valve covers and timing covers, etc.

I am in the process of replacing my head gaskets and a lot of parts are coming off. Some friends have suggested to leave them as is. I am not sure if that makes the best sense since everything is covered in oil and open to dirt and debris. All that can stick to them while out of the truck.

Ideas?

Btw, I don't have a parts washer. Not sure if that is the only way to do it.

 

One of those free harbor freight tarps works well to have underneath the truck, to capture gunk and spills that happen when removing parts.

Plastics go in buckets with simple green diluted.

Another bucket for clean rinsing.

Those buckets could've been freebies too as harbor freight often has the deal going on.

Cardboard boxes to capture thick grease and whatnot, especially when going through several rolls of paper towels for wiping gunk off.

Brake cleaner and rags for final polishes, and set out on table tops at the ready for when I reinstall them.

Cleaning parts is messy, but very rewarding in the end.

 

Thanks. So plastics like the upper intake can be cleaned with Simple Green diluted. How about the engine parts? Simple Green for that too or just the brake cleaner?

 

I mean, that's how I've done it for many years.

Unless you see oil residue inside your intake then no real reason to wash the inside of it. If water gets in, no worries as long as it goes out on your table top to dry as well.

Engine parts do get water on them if they were nasty and covered in grease as I've used degreasers before. But I always finished off with brake cleaner as it gets rid of the remainder and dries off instantly.

 

Some of the degreasers and brake cleaner readily on my shelf -



Simple green is in the kitchen under the sink since I use it for various items.

Bags of rags and 12 pack of shop towels in the background -