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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 03:01 PM
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Default Sticky Interior Panels

I have noticed that many of my interior panels (mainly the "softer" vinyl wrapped ones) are quite tacky and sticky. These would be mainly the trim pieces around the roof area and surrounding the t-tops. All of these parts are in fairly impeccible shape but could benefit from being cleaned up, as they're not very pleasant to the touch.

Has anyone else ever seen similar things on their interior parts and can you recommend anything to clean it up? I wouldn't be opposed to using a solvent of some sort to get rid of the tack and then possibly lightly re-dying the parts to make them like-new. I just have no idea what to use on these parts, as I don't want to ruin them. The surfaces are good, just sticky.

Thanks!
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 03:06 PM
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simple green or purple cleaner

vc
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 03:33 PM
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The sticky is the armorall breaking down the vinyl .Try protectant 202 (non petroulm) and has A sun block . I get mine from my local hottub guy they use it for spa covers.
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 04:19 PM
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just make sure they arent painted. Could be they were painted and something got on them and its letting go, some kinds of paints wont harden and flake, they will soften.
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Old Dec 7, 2007 | 05:58 PM
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I would bet that they have had a lot of Armor-all (or other petroleum based "protectant") on them also. That stuff is NOT good for vinyl material...it will degrade it over time and [apparently] make the surface gooey. Clean the panels as well as you can with detergent/Simple Green/whatever to get the "sticky" off of them. Any solvent type material will just dissolve the vinyl, so be wary of doing that. Mineral spirits will not harm the vinyl, but I don't know that it will do anything to the sticky stuff. Good luck on the clean up effort. It would be best to remove the panels so that you can clean them up easier and then re-color with vinyl dye (NOT PAINT). If the panels are already "painted", I'm afraid you are out of luck; it would be easier to re-paint them or replace them. If you still have a vinyl surface and succeed in getting them cleaned up and refinished, us Nu-Vinyl or some other polymer sealer made for vinyl as a protectant. Nu-Vinyl is my choice as it is easy to put on and lasts for a long time. No yellowing and no peeling. Get it (or order it) at True Value Hardware stores.
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 03:10 AM
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Thanks for the responses. I am trying to keep myself busy but I can't do any heavy lifting due to some medical problems and I can't be out in the cold garage either.

Just gotta get a decent day to get all the parts off the car and inside. I can't let this thing sit untouched all winter, after all.

Thanks again!
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 03:35 AM
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You might be surprised at just how well straight lemon juice cleans interior plastic/vinyl ... followed by straight water wipe.
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 10:55 AM
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I had that with my 72, I removes the pieces and used hot water and simple green with a soft brush. It worked. I had armor all on there since 1978.
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 11:58 AM
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I used some stuff called "Goo Gone". It worked just great.

Dave
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 12:01 PM
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My '73 was the same way. It had sat in a garage untouched for 10+ years. I used 409 to clean it up. It worked well and the sticky has not come back. However, when it sits in the sun, the steering wheel oozes oil. I have no idea what that is about.
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Vette Crazzy
simple green or purple cleaner

vc


Simple green is great for that. I think mine had a smoker for the first owner. Cleaned all the crud
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Old Dec 8, 2007 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Lon Wayne
The sticky is the armorall breaking down the vinyl .Try protectant 202 (non petroulm) and has A sun block . I get mine from my local hottub guy they use it for spa covers.
Oftentimes it's cigarette residue, not Armor-All. Especially if the roof panels are the problem.

Originally Posted by ajkogut
I have noticed that many of my interior panels (mainly the "softer" vinyl wrapped ones) are quite tacky and sticky. These would be mainly the trim pieces around the roof area and surrounding the t-tops. All of these parts are in fairly impeccible shape but could benefit from being cleaned up, as they're not very pleasant to the touch.

Has anyone else ever seen similar things on their interior parts and can you recommend anything to clean it up? I wouldn't be opposed to using a solvent of some sort to get rid of the tack and then possibly lightly re-dying the parts to make them like-new. I just have no idea what to use on these parts, as I don't want to ruin them. The surfaces are good, just sticky.

Thanks!
I've had the same problem. An archives search under my name should turn up the old thread...I got some great responses.
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