Tar Like Undercoating Removal?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
Tar Like Undercoating Removal?
I've tried everything and short of a razor blade...this stuff isn't coming off.
Any idea what it is? I can't imagine it's road tar but it is so uneven over all the wheel wells that it almost has to be road grime.
Tried pressure washing, soaking it in oven cleaner foam, simple green, scotchbrite pad scrubbing, razor blade is getting it but also doing damage and can't get into tighter areas.....
Anything else I should try that might help soften it up and make it easier to remove? steam cleaner?
Guess I can use some Captain lee's and see if that works... but I hate to get to that level where i have to strip the paint AND the underbody.
What you see here is hours of cleaning it up already to get it this nice...
Any idea what it is? I can't imagine it's road tar but it is so uneven over all the wheel wells that it almost has to be road grime.
Tried pressure washing, soaking it in oven cleaner foam, simple green, scotchbrite pad scrubbing, razor blade is getting it but also doing damage and can't get into tighter areas.....
Anything else I should try that might help soften it up and make it easier to remove? steam cleaner?
Guess I can use some Captain lee's and see if that works... but I hate to get to that level where i have to strip the paint AND the underbody.
What you see here is hours of cleaning it up already to get it this nice...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Believe my crew also used stripper and scotch brites to clean up the leftover residue...
Rogman
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I used heat gun & scraper followed by scotchbrite pad With Lacquer thinner (do in well ventelated area and don't get thinner on the paint.
Then sprayed a few coats of black rubberized RockGuard
Still holding up great 6 years later
Then sprayed a few coats of black rubberized RockGuard
Still holding up great 6 years later
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
Using a heat gun I'm sure the risk is high that i damage the rubber seals.
Should I not worry about them and re-seal them somehow after i'm done cleaning the undercoating off?
Should I not worry about them and re-seal them somehow after i'm done cleaning the undercoating off?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,214
Likes: 4,301
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I had good results using lacquer thinner and a plastic scraper on the original undercoating on my 71's underbody.
I bought some 'slow' thinner so it had more time to penetrate the undercoating.
The lacquer thinner doesn't soak into the fiberglass.
Regards,
Alan
I had good results using lacquer thinner and a plastic scraper on the original undercoating on my 71's underbody.
I bought some 'slow' thinner so it had more time to penetrate the undercoating.
The lacquer thinner doesn't soak into the fiberglass.
Regards,
Alan
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
Okay.
Tried thinner and/or simple green steel wool which is great for cleanup but doesn't cut through the stuff very well.
Tried the heat gun and razor which does well except can't get into very tight or curved spaces which there seems to be a lot of in these areas.
I'm pretty sure i'll order another gallon of captain lee's, hose it on with my undercoating gun, then just watch the stuff melt away hopefully.
Tried thinner and/or simple green steel wool which is great for cleanup but doesn't cut through the stuff very well.
Tried the heat gun and razor which does well except can't get into very tight or curved spaces which there seems to be a lot of in these areas.
I'm pretty sure i'll order another gallon of captain lee's, hose it on with my undercoating gun, then just watch the stuff melt away hopefully.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
Eureka!
Gasoline seems to work pretty well. Hopefully it's not too damaging to the fiberglass... because i'm going to use it anyway!
Shouldn't be any more damaging than nicking it with a razor or heating the crap out of it.
Gasoline seems to work pretty well. Hopefully it's not too damaging to the fiberglass... because i'm going to use it anyway!
Shouldn't be any more damaging than nicking it with a razor or heating the crap out of it.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
Did this in about 5min of rubbing with a scotchbrite pad and a cup of gas.
May not look like much but in reality this is amazing! lol.
Just needs to be cleaned up and it will look even better.
May not look like much but in reality this is amazing! lol.
Just needs to be cleaned up and it will look even better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 3,555
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Try Goof Off- at Lowes/ Home Depot. The professional strength- in the metal gallon can (about $20)-not the wimpy stuff in the plastic spray bottle. Also while you are there, spring about $10 for some of the terry cloths and some real rubber gloves-not the latex ones.
Soak the rags and aggressively wipe off- AND doing this outside is highly recommended.
Soak the rags and aggressively wipe off- AND doing this outside is highly recommended.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,875
Likes: 3,555
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 11
From: Fisher, IL
I have PB blaster and Mineral spirits and neither one comes close to doing anything. Same with brake cleaner, acetone, lacquer thinner, scrubbing bubbles stuff, ...
Only thing I don't have on hand to try here is the Goof Off...
But the Gas seems to be working well... It's just very messy and seems to smear the stuff around..mostly due to the spong being dirty from all the undercoating it's removing at once.
Only thing I don't have on hand to try here is the Goof Off...
But the Gas seems to be working well... It's just very messy and seems to smear the stuff around..mostly due to the spong being dirty from all the undercoating it's removing at once.
Last edited by PUNISHER VETTE; May 26, 2014 at 04:45 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
I have PB blaster and Mineral spirits and neither one comes close to doing anything. Same with brake cleaner, acetone, lacquer thinner, scrubbing bubbles stuff, ...
Only thing I don't have on hand to try here is the Goof Off...
But the Gas seems to be working well... It's just very messy and seems to smear the stuff around..mostly due to the spong being dirty from all the undercoating it's removing at once.
Only thing I don't have on hand to try here is the Goof Off...
But the Gas seems to be working well... It's just very messy and seems to smear the stuff around..mostly due to the spong being dirty from all the undercoating it's removing at once.