mouse crap, cleaning engine, heat blanket

[DrSmith]

I had the hood up, and my engine is so dirty! The headers are rusty, and there are mouse turds all over. Have any of you taken off the heat blanket (or whatever you'd call it) under the hood? I think that is where the mice either hid or are hiding. I don't want to take it off and wreck it. I know there have been other threads about cleaning the engine, how may of you have done it, and how? My wife's car had mice after a few days of sitting, nests babies and all, I'm not sure if this is left from my car sitting out the winter.
thanks,
Doc

 

[bigcat]

they all pop out by removing the clips that you can see. they are either christmas tree style that just push in, or they can have an arrow point that will need to be squeezed to remove. you may need to buy a few new ones because they dont always play nice and come out easy. some may break.

 

[MikeysOTP]

I an attest to the fact that mice love that battery blanket. I used some poison in the garage to get rid of them, but if you are having a problem outside then you might want to remove the blanket.

 

[kooldawg6]

My hood blanket had the christmas tree push in style pins. You can either use an interior trim removal tool (recommended) or a flat screwdriver to help pry them up.

 

[PSYKOSTEVO]

I clipped mine off with side cutters and pushed the tree part through. Mine was filty and got tired of seeing it. Mice don't like Arizona so much thank goodness.

 

[klaw]

I clipped mine off with side cutters and pushed the tree part through. Mine was filty and got tired of seeing it. Mice don't like Arizona so much thank goodness.

I managed to pull the christmas tree type out carefully without destroying the blanket. Rocking them back and forth as you pull seemed to work the best. For reinstallation, I used push-button multi-use retainers. Way better than the christmas tree type.

 

[PSYKOSTEVO]

I managed to pull the christmas tree type out carefully without destroying the blanket. Rocking them back and forth as you pull seemed to work the best. For reinstallation, I used push-button multi-use retainers. Way better than the christmas tree type.

I definitely wasn't going to be reusing my trees. The blanket was missing atleast 2 clips and I didn't want it messing up my 07+ Plenum cover. It was already rubbing on the stock manifold.

 

[klaw]

I definitely wasn't going to be reusing my trees. The blanket was missing atleast 2 clips and I didn't want it messing up my 07+ Plenum cover. It was already rubbing on the stock manifold.

I think they changed the blanket between '05 & '07 to make it more rigid. My '07 blanket didn't rub on the plenum cover. When I installed my Whipple, they recommended removal of the blanket to prevent rubbing on the pulley at high speed. I didn't like the look of the hood without the blanket so I left mine on and haven't noticed any pulley rub although the blanket is definitley in contact with the inlet tube.

I've had my blanket off a couple times to install LED signals in my hood scoop hence the requirement for reuseable clips. With the current clips, you just pull out the center button and then pull the whole clip out. Low risk of damaging the blanket.

I'm looking at making a polished aluminum or stainless steal insert to replace the blanket. Anybody know if an aftermarket one is available?

 

[MikeysOTP]

I hope this isn't against the rules, but I remember seeing one on Modded Mustangs. If I remember correctly it was made by either Emay or HeavyGT and it was incredible.

 

[Towelly]

You can always measure and have a local machine shop do it. I bet it won't be much more than ordering one of the interweb... If not cheaper.