Wash engine bay

[LTZ C20]

Hey all, got a quick question. my new engine is getting pretty dusty and dirty. I want to wash it. Just want to k own what is ok to wash and what's not. Here's what's in the engine bay.

-engine: HEI disti, holley carb, serpentine setup, fuel pressure regulator, valve cover has oil cap that's also a breather. Stock air cleaner housing (all access holes, vac diaphragm and stuff have been removed from air cleaner housing and duct taped until I weld them closed.

-power brakes, wiper motor, alarm siren on inner fender, electric fans and there accompanied wiring and relays and fuses. HVAC control diaphragm,  not all ac parts are present. Only have the blower motor, condenser and lower line from condenser to evaporater.  Compressor and upper lines and accumulator not installed yet, ports plugged.

If my air box is sealed and all my electric is plugged in and not open. Would it be ok to just wash the engine bay? Do I need to cover the carb and distributor?

Engine and most under hood parts are brand new so I know all seals and gaskets are good and don't leak. Thanks all, don't wanna wash it and put water in my new motor and short put a bunch of electrical and ruin other inside parts.

[bake74]

     When I detail any of my engine bays, I always cover with a plastic bag and rubber bands the things I know should not get wet.  So in your case I would take off the air cleaner and bag the carb, the dist., any electrical component that you know should not get wet, and all fuse locations that are not totally sealed up from water.
     Also I never use any thing higher than 500 psi when I do them at work, most of the time plp use the garden hose with a sprayer.  I like to make sure to get all the oil and gunk off with a hot pressure washer.

[FlatBlack77]

like bake said wrap anything that shouldnt get wet with some plastic bags and rubber bands. i just wrap the distributor and carb with a plastic bag, purple power everything, scrub here and there if its really dirty, then hose it off. if its really gunky ill use my pressure washer.

im planning to do some new gaskets on my 79 and im going to use this exact procedure to get all the oil and gunk off before doing the valve cover gaskets and such. its hard to tell where the leaks are if everything is already leaked on lol

[rich weyand]

I'm odd man out.  I spritz it all down with degreaser and let it sit for half an hour, then drive it to the car wash and hit it all with the jet spray with hot soapy water, then hot rinse.  I hit it everywhere, and never bag anything.  Never had any problems at all, not even a single miss.  YMMV.

[LTZ C20]

On my old engine I have covered up the carb and disti before. I know sometimes there are problems and sometimes not. But it's a new engine. No leaks or grime. It's just getting dusty and dirty and needs to be cleaned and pretty again.  I don't  water to go thru the oil breather or pcv into the motor. I don't wanna blow water into my carb or disti. But I've also just washed right over the junction block and pulleys and alternator before. On new cars at work I've spread degreaser on the whole bay and power washed with a gas powered pressure washer. Never had a problem, cars trucks, gas or diesel.

Bake suggested taken the air box off but I thought that would help seal the carb front water?

I've thought about blowing it all off with compressed air and a vacuum cleaner to suck up big stuff but I don't think that will really get the set in dust and such.