Easy way to remove undercoating? (Or, which method is best?)
#1
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Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Easy way to remove undercoating? (Or, which method is best?)
So looks like I need to do some emergency welding on my 1/4 panel... the lower section between the rear of the door and rear tire is cracked all the way through, and the crack in the inner wheel well- which looks like it's part of the frame integrity- has moved a LOT. I'm going to weld that crack shut by drilling a hole at the narrow end of the crack, and bracing the big end (the rust hole that the crack started from) with a short piece of 1/8" steel.
But is there a good way to remove undercoating that I can buy locally? I know Eastwood Company sells a chemical that melts the undercoating away, then you use a scraper to remove the undercoating. But is there something that the local Pep Boys would sell? Or should I just hit the area with a grinder or wire brush? I think I'd use brake cleaner to remove the rest of the residue. I'd rather not use gas, since I'll be welding
And I can't decide on a way to weld that half a car onto my Firebird. I'd like to take the whole thing, but I keep running into stumbling blocks (the roof has multiple metal braces, how would I get into the "inner" areas to weld, when I cut the car I lose my rear subframe = nothing to put a jackstand under, how will I weld the floorpan underneath the rear seat because the guy's very neat cut turned "sloppy" in that area, etc). So before I get to welding the full half of car on, I need to patch my car so I can still drive it.
Thanks! I plan to do this welding Saturday...
But is there a good way to remove undercoating that I can buy locally? I know Eastwood Company sells a chemical that melts the undercoating away, then you use a scraper to remove the undercoating. But is there something that the local Pep Boys would sell? Or should I just hit the area with a grinder or wire brush? I think I'd use brake cleaner to remove the rest of the residue. I'd rather not use gas, since I'll be welding
And I can't decide on a way to weld that half a car onto my Firebird. I'd like to take the whole thing, but I keep running into stumbling blocks (the roof has multiple metal braces, how would I get into the "inner" areas to weld, when I cut the car I lose my rear subframe = nothing to put a jackstand under, how will I weld the floorpan underneath the rear seat because the guy's very neat cut turned "sloppy" in that area, etc). So before I get to welding the full half of car on, I need to patch my car so I can still drive it.
Thanks! I plan to do this welding Saturday...
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
I am not really sure about which undercoating your car has, If your talking about the Factory stuff... I have NO Idea, but there was some crap that a previous owner put on my formula, I used some Kerosene and a brush, wiped it off. I also oused some Quick & Kleen (Citrus Extract) that removed it as well..
either way it was kind of messy... Good luck
John
either way it was kind of messy... Good luck
John
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Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Yuck, so I'm screwed no matter how I look at it, eh? Darn. I'm pretty sure it's the factory stuff... it's pretty hard, feels like a rock... can't even dent it with my thumbnail. Hey how "required" is undercoating anyway? Could we just spray an epoxy paint? Or is undercoating still the best?
#5
I'd use undercoating.. It has to be slightly flexible so it doesnt chip away from driving etc... POR-15 would be my choice. Whatever chemical you decide to use, use protective gear!
#6
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Car: 1986 Firebird
Engine: 2.8 V6
Transmission: 700R4
Yeah, that por-15 is great stuff; used it on my 3.73/posi/disc axle... and it has no chips in it for the 5 months I used it (before the posi blew). Maybe I'll give it a shot; but that'd be a LOT of por-15 for the wheel wells. I just hate how the wheel well undercoating always turns gray from dirt and salt and dust. I've painted those wheel wells (with regular flat black spray paint) three times already.
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#8
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
heh...
I keep a can of semigloss Black paint handy for painting my wheel wells before shows...
John
I keep a can of semigloss Black paint handy for painting my wheel wells before shows...
John
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Car: 87 Formula/ 00 Xtreme
Engine: TPI 305/ v6
Transmission: struggling t-5/ 4l60E
Axle/Gears: 3.08/ 3.23
If you're looking to remove the rock hard factory crap, warming it with a torch (don't use the pencil tip unless your feel like wasting alot of time) and then using a small metal putty knife or chisel (around the 2" width range) to scrape it off (while still warm/hat)works semi-well although still time consuming. The 'residue' then wipes off fairly easily the rest of the way with laquer thinner or similar product.
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