Fuel Filter, Wheel Locks, and Wheel Cleaning

With the car completely on jack stands to make some of the brake work easier, it makes sense to go ahead and take advantage of the space to replace the fuel filter.  

I ordered a replacement fuel filter (WIX 33097) quite some time ago but have not put it on as I know I'll smell like gas and didn't want to tackle that job after working all day.  As a result, it has just sat in my cabinet waiting for the right opportunity.  Additionally, I'd already looked under the car and noticed the original bracket was in bad shape so I found another original on eBay to use during the replacement.   

I removed the original hose clips which broke almost immediately upon trying to take them off.  The mounting bracket then came off without much stuggle along with the filter.  The filter has not been replaced in a while as the case has some rust marks on it.  There are a few light words but not much that can be made out except for the numbers 097 at the top of the first string of characters and EEUU at the end of the second.  I assume it is many years old.

There was a considerable amount of what seemed to be dirt but was just undercoating on the underside of the car around the filter.  Once some gas got on it, I was able to start wiping some off.  I used a little brake clean, a small brush, and some towels to clean the surface the filter bracket mounted to and a little beyond but didn't get too carried away.

I'm glad I swapped out the mounting bracket.  I wouldn't have been able to clean it up enough to make me happy with the final product.  I also decided to buy OEM off eBay rather than some cheap reproduction on LMR.  I used the original bolts which cleaned up fine with a little wire wheel.  

With the wheels all off, I decided to work on the tires a little.  The previous owner used some form of black paste on the tires to keep them looking new.  While they looked nice, if you touched any wheel with your hand or clothing, they would immediately be covered in the black substance which was rather hard to get off.  I've cleaned some of it off before but this time used some citrus car wash and wheel cleaner that seemed to remove the rest. I don't need to but will go ahead and rotate the tires too.

I'll be reinstalling the wheels with some McGard 24130 locking lug nuts.  These are far better than what is presently on the car.  I'm concerned with the fragile looking current setup that the socket might break and leave me stranded.  

I don't know where the current locks came from as they have no identifying marks on them.  As a result, I was not able to get a spare socket.  I'll keep them in a box of original parts that I have in the attic but I don't think they will see active duty again.