detailing the engine

what parts of the engine should i cover up when im cleaning it ? any thing i can apply to it to protect it better ? i have a 2004 crown vic sport and right now the engine looks nice and clean and id love to keep it that way. what parts of the engine should i cover up while im rinsing it out and detailing it ?

Well I'm not sure of everything that needn't get wet, but make sure you don't spray your COPS (coil on plugs) which are the boxes underneath the fuel rail directly connected to your spark plugs. When these get wet, they WILL go bad, and at $121 a piece from FORD, you don't want to have to replace them. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!