If you can take the engine to one of those wash it yourself places you should be OK. However, I would either buy or rent a power washer and do it at your place. Once the engine is out spray it with a lot of GUNK degreaser, on my engine it took around six cans to get it clean! Spray it on, wait 15 minutes run a wire brush over the bad parts and power wash it off. Then repeat.
Once you have done the engine, you can detail the engine bay pretty easily.
Once you are done you will have a nice clean environment to soot up
__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"
Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad
