72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

[Patricia Brown]

I'm cleaning up a cowl-back body which is rather oil-soaked and torn in areas. I've been told to *never* use solvent in an area you will be applying adhesive, as the adhesive will not stick (This was stated in reference to front clip glueing strips). How can I degrease and clean up these oil-soaked torn areas (floor, firewall) which will need resin, glue, etc. to be able to stick to them subsequently? Are epoxies as sensitive as polyester-based materials when it comes to bonding to an area that once had solvent on it?

Thank you, Patricia

[Scott Marzahl]

Re: 72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

Patricia, I'll take a stab at this, the only thing I know of that may work to clean up your mess is Acetone, just keep wiping your area off with a solvent soaked rag. I would think that any lack of bonding issues will be the result of oil in the glass and not the acetone. Hopefully some more folks chime in on this one with more experience than me.

[Terry F.]

Re: 72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

Scrape off as much of the grease as possible. Whatever works for you. I use putty knife, cut off kitchen knife (looks like little putty knife , utility knife blade works good. Sometimes I use soap (simple green) and garden hose water (rinse real good). Then I start to wipe with laquer thinner. You are trying to remove the grease and brake fluid from the fiber glass. If that section is bejond repair (unable to glass and rebond) consider cutting a section out of a good car of same year. It is easier in many cases and the results are nicer and stronger. Use a high quality adhesive and cross your fingers. It can be done. Trust your instinks, if it doesn't look like it will work, it probably won't. Everything must be bone dry and sturdy to glue back together. Good luck, Terry

[Patricia Brown]

Re: 72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

Okay, I'll just dive in. I've spent about 60 hours already just scraping the interior with a wood chisel to remove all the original orange-colored carpet glue, grease, dirt, etc. A 34 year old car can collect a lot of grime! Man, does that carpet glue stick! I know I didn't really have to take it all off, but it looked so gross. And spending that much time on the interior has shown me several rips and small cracks I could have missed otherwise. Alright, I'll admit I've left a bit of that nasty glue in the way back extreme corners of the cargo compartment where I can't reach! I'll go at it with Simple Green or maybe Tide or Dawn and hope when I get to the repairs the resin and glue will stick. Thanks for the encouragement.

Patricia

[Terry F.]

Re: 72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

You might try a pressure washer but don't get the tip real close to the fiberglass. I had a situation like this once and I washed it and washed it with hot soapy water then I soaked/wiped it with laqure thinner. I pulled all the grease out of it. Let it dry real well. Use lots of ventilation and buy a good respirator to protect your brains. Wear some gloves too. They make some toxic chemical gloves now that will hold up to the solvent for a fare amount of time.

Terry

[Patricia Brown]

Re: 72: How to Degrease Oil-soaked fiberglass

Thank you, Terry. I just spent all day yesterday degreasing (with Dawn and Simple Green) the whole car-floor and underside. It made a huge difference, but there are still some spots that are retaining oil. I'll try lacquer thinner next.

Patricia