Thanks for the positive comments guys!
I have a few secrets that Ive developed over the years from trial and error. Ive begun passing some of those secrets on to Tim (Speed). They arent so much secrets as tips I guess though and Im happy to share them with anyone who asks.
For the engine detailing the only real tip is Meguires cleaner wax, triple aught steel wool and time. Process is pretty simple: Take everything off, clean it, clean the place where it goes, then reassemble. lol, wish I could share some magic bullet that makes the process easier but there isnt one.
Most things get an initial cleaning with a degreaser. I like Purple Lightning or Simple Green MAX. I have a variety of brushes from toothbrushes to toilet brushes that help me get to hard to reach places.
For rubber items like hoses and trim I do have a secret weapon. Its called "blanket wash" and its a product used in the printing industry. Its used to clean ink off the rubber blankets on printing presses and it will pull just about ANY contaminant out and leave you near virgin rubber. Your hoses will look brand new. Blanket wash can be found at printing supply stores and some wholesale paper houses. Look for "offset lithography supply" or just "printing supplies" in your yellow pages to find it.
For painted surfaces I use the cleaner wax. If the paint i really bad or has overspray or other serious build up, I use the cleaner wax on the triple aught (000) steel wool.
Thats today detail tips. Now get out there and do some cleaning!