Road tar and stone removal from body

[Daniel S.]

Hi

I am getting ready to have body work done on my 60 (body is off the frame) and found under the car several places that have heavy road tar and stone - 1/2 inch thick - I removed the headlight assembly and tried using a screw driver to remove some of it but no luck. Its in the fender wells and quarter panels - any suggestions how to remove it?

Thanks
Dan

[Stephen L.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Place the body in a well ventilated area and drench the tar areas with kerosene to soften it. Gasoline will also soften it but don't be smoking......

[Daniel S.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Hi Stephen,

Will this hurt the fiberglass or weaken it? The body is stripped down to the bare fiberglass.

Thanks

Dan

[Stephen L.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Possibly. Do a test first in a small area........ I'm assuming the areas in question are not readily exposed, but in "nooks and crannies"..........

[Phillip M.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

I have always had good results using VM&P Naptha for removing tar - eats right through it in no time - and de-greasing the body prior to paint. Relatively inexpensive and available everywhere paint is sold. I have not experienced any issues with bare fiberglass panels.

[Daniel S.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Thank you I will try that.

[Daniel S.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Actually they are in the wheel wells which since the body is off the frame and on a cart I can get access by crawling underneath.

[Mark E.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Try wax and tar (also called was and grease) remover along with judicious and careful use of a heat gun to soften the undercoating.

[Paul D.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Mark's method is what I used. A heat gun and plastic scrape blade followed by a solvent for final clean up. The solvent I used is called "Rapid Remover" (www.rapidtac.com). I got it off Amazon. I understand it is used to remove adhesive residue from decals and vinyl graphics. Works great for tar removal. Read about it on one of the detailing sites.

[Daniel S.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Mark's method is what I used. A heat gun and plastic scrape blade followed by a solvent for final clean up. The solvent I used is called "Rapid Remover" (www.rapidtac.com). I got it off Amazon. I understand it is used to remove adhesive residue from decals and vinyl graphics. Works great for tar removal. Read about it on one of the detailing sites.

Hi Paul, I first used heat from my wife's blow dryer to see if it worked - it took too long to heat up but did soften the tar and I started to scrap with a plastic scrapper. I bought a heat gun with various heat settings and that worked alot better. I did buy the rapid remover and also the V&MP Naptha and did a little experiment on the rear wheel well. Both worked about the same once I got the chunks off. Thanks for the input. If I was a little more tech savy I would post the pictures of what I did

[Daniel S.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Hi Phillip, I don't know if you are notified when I respond to others on this thread but here is what I did. Thanks for the help.
I first used heat from my wife's blow dryer to see if it worked - it took too long to heat up but did soften the tar and I started to scrap with a plastic scrapper. I bought a heat gun with various heat settings and that worked alot better. I did buy the rapid remover and also the V&MP Naptha and did a little experiment on the rear wheel well. Both worked about the same once I got the chunks off. Thanks for the input. If I was a little more tech savy I would post the pictures of what I did

[Paul D.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Glad it worked for you! you will find lots of uses for that Rapid Remover. I use it when washing vehicles. It does remove wax, but is harmless on paint. Used with the heat gun as you described, it will make short work of removing wheel weight adhesive. I am probably a little (or a lot) anal, but I usually remove the weights and clean the barrels on my wheels before getting new tires. I'm sure the guys at the Chevy store get a good laugh at my expense.

[Duke W.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Place the body in a well ventilated area and drench the tar areas with kerosene to soften it. Gasoline will also soften it but don't be smoking......

Kerosene leaves an oily film and gasoline is highly flammable. The best general purpose petroleum solvent is mineral spirits, othewise known as paint thinner. It won't harm fiberglass or any kind of paint inlcuding lacquer if you don't get overzealous.

Unfortunately you cannot buy real mineral spirits in California anymore. What is sold as "mineral spirits" is mostly acetone, which is a very powerful organic solvent that will attack just about all organic materials . Do not buy or use this stuff.

I think most other states sell real traditional mineral spirits. Keep that in mind if you live in CA and take a road trip to an adjoining state.

Duke

[Phillip M.]

Re: Road tar and stone removal from body

Hi Phillip, I don't know if you are notified when I respond to others on this thread but here is what I did. Thanks for the help.
I first used heat from my wife's blow dryer to see if it worked - it took too long to heat up but did soften the tar and I started to scrap with a plastic scrapper. I bought a heat gun with various heat settings and that worked alot better. I did buy the rapid remover and also the V&MP Naptha and did a little experiment on the rear wheel well. Both worked about the same once I got the chunks off. Thanks for the input. If I was a little more tech savy I would post the pictures of what I did

Dan,
Your'e welcome!
Phil