Any tips or tricks to degreasing my motor?  Need to get her cleaned up and attempt to tackle my leaking tappet cover.  Seems like all the degreasers Ive bought most recently aren't very strong anymore.  Simple Green, Purple Power as we as the Orange stuff don't seem very powerful.  Anything I should really avoid getting wet (I know there is no distributor but is there something else important?).

Try not to directly spray any of the electronics (I know almost impossible). I used foaming engine degreaser multiple times on my 12v due to a timing case leak. omg oil erywhere. Engine brite specifically.

I used ZEP from Home Depot. It says you're supposed to dilute it, but I didn't and it worked great. I went through and disconnected all electrical plugs and put dielectric grease in them prior to washing it down, and then just used my wide angle pressure washer tip and went to town. I was careful spraying directly at anything electrical, but it definitely still got wet.

I know the products you get at the local parts stores just dont seem to have the cleaning power, I try to have a couple of spray bottles on hand and use my own solutions, sometimes solvent from the local hardware store or if I dont have any I will just use straight diesel or WD/40 in bulk, What ever you use make sure to rinse well with water, I like to make a mess at the local car wash and not in my own driveway. A couple cans of brake clean used sparingly can go a long ways too. Depending what you spray through them the spray bottles only work a couple times but they get the job done.

 

 

 

 

Now put this in the spray bottle...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Industrial-Purple-Degreaser-ZU0856128/100047759

 

 

This stuff is super strong and takes little time at full strength to clean a pretty ugly engine. It will shine up your aluminum wheels too. For my stuff I normally mix it down 50/50 with water. Just don't leave it on aluminum long it will start to foam up and if you do it will turn it black. It's truely a acid based cleaner. 

I will give the straight Zep (rinsed quickly and thouroughly) a shot. Any advantage to leaving the engine running? 

No... You want  cool engine when washing. Leave it off.

I use oven cleaner.Very happy with result.

Purple power is pretty awesome, it cleans well and it's pretty cheap, it's basically a lye (oven) type cleaner but a little less harsh.