Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

[John R.]

My spare tire tub has a significant amount of base coat/clear coat overspray. I want to strip the overspray without damaging or discoloring the fiberglass which looks like it is in good condition beneath the paint. Any suggestions as to what I should use to remove the paint?

[Stephen L.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

John, I just happened to have just completed removing some really OLD paint from my tire tub and cover. I used Easy Off Oven Cleaner. It worked great. I sprayed it on and let it work for about an hour and then I used a putty knife to easily scrape it off. After that I used a sotchbrite pad to get the fine stuff off. It is water soluble so you've got easy clean up with a hose...just don't do it on the lawn!!!!
I need to repaint the black angle braces on the cover so I'm going to drill out the rivets so I can do a good paint job. New rivets are available from the various suppliers but they have rings on them soooo....... I used a little 240 grit and 600 grit sandpaper to dispose of the rings and get a "correct" rivet surface back.
Did you notice any part # or date stampings on your tub or cover?

Good luck
Steve

[John R.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Thanks for the advice, Steve. The oven cleaner didn't have any affect on the fiberglass? My cover has a September 20, 1966 date stamped in white ink (paint?) on the inside surface but not any part number that I could find. The assembly date for the vehicle was October 23, 1966. I thought I would try to refinish the metal frame without removing it from the cover in a "frame on" restoration. Any recommendations?

[Stephen L.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Thanks for the information on the date. The fiberglass became somewhat "lighter" in color. This may possibly be a problem. I really didn't notice this until I looked at it after drying. I hope a coat of clear will darken it. Maybe you better wait on trying this until I have a chance to see if I can get the color correct......
Sorry if I led you astray.....
Steve

[Juliet P.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

I was able to remove overspray (Acrylic Lacquer I think it was) using lacqeur thinner on the tire tub in my '70. It did not affect the press molded dark grey fiberglass underneath, nor did it discolor it. I put the cleaner on paper towels and rubbed it off using lots of elbow grease. I washed it down really well with simple green and then soap & water afterwards. I don't know if the material on the '70 tubs is the same as your mid-year however. ~Juliet


1970 Corvette Registry

[Bill W.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

use lacqure thinner . Bill

[John R.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Thanks, Bill and Juliet. I tried a little lacquer thinner tonight and it worked on a small area of the cover. The clear coat seemed to be much more resistant than the color coat. Looks like a lot of elbow grease but will be worth it. I want to be careful with the fiberglass as I had a bad experience stripping the paint in the jack stowage area last year. It looks good now but would have been a disaster if I had not been able to paint the area.

[Duke W.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Lacquer thinner is not very effective for enamels and urethanes. Try acetone. It's a very powerful organic solvent, but it won't attack cured fiberglass.

Duke

[John R.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

The acetone and lacquer thinner both work. It doesn't appear that the acetone is faster. It is still going to take some time and elbow grease. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to post their advice.

[Joel Karam]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

John, also just went through this. Used some thinner and elbow grease followed up with soap and water (stay away from stamped date!!). No change to the fiberglass other than it looks real clean! As for the metal braces, I used paint remover on the metal, sanded where necessary, and masked the rivets. Yes, a small piece of tape on each rivet head, use a sharp pointed knife trip to trim the tape around the rivet head which you can do so when the tape is pulled off it looks like the rivet came after the paint! Carefully, using paper, slip it under the edges of each brace, masking off the whole tub, use semi-gloss paint, with very little effort your tub will look great!! Good Luck

Joel
67 Roadster L71

[John R.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Thanks for the tips, Joel. The areas I did last night look great. Did you use Krylon Semi-flat black on the metal brace? I recall that the finish on others that I have observed was more glossy than the Krylon finish.

[Joel Karam]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

John, I did not use Krylon. I searched high and low and did not find Semi-Gloss which I believe is what had been suggested. I also think the semi-flat is too flat. I used a semi-gloss; sorry I do not have the brand name with me. It was judged at the Western Regional in March along with other parts I used the same Semi-gloss on and got full credit!! I think there where some other posts last year that noted what paint others have used?

Joel 67 Roadster L71

[John R.]

Re: Overspray on C-2 Spare Tire Tub

Thanks, Joel. It will be a little while befor I am ready to paint but it looks like the project is going to turn out well. All that paint and gunk formed a protective layer for the fiberglass and as I remove the gunk, I am amazed at the original appearance of the fiberglass.