Tar removal from rocker panel area

[rjkoop]

Got the tar off the floorpans and back seat area pretty easy. Just used a sledge, hit it hard and it came off in chunks. Awesome! The tar on the rocker panel area (where the door closes against) is really stuck on. If I hit with a chisel and sledge it doesn't take much off. Any other ideas? It's cold here (-15 degrees C) but hitting with a sledge just seems to dent the steel in this area. Maybe some type of liquid like paint thinner or something. I'd like to get it 100% off before POR-15... Help!

[124JOE]

ive heard that in the cold it chips off
i did mine last summer with a 1 inch putty knife
nothing too wide

[rjkoop]

Thanks for the tip. I used an old 1" chisel and it worked perfectly!

What I thought was bondo to fix the passenger foot area near firewall was probably just adhesive to hold the carpet in place.


Once I chipped it off the floor underneath was fine. Phew! I don't want anymore surprises.

[nibbes123]

Hi Richard, would you know if the car had water in it from sitting outside for a long time. The reason I ask this is because from your photo's under the dash everything seems to be rusted, the pedals, heater valve, the tunnel for the transmission, any way the car looks like a good buy, enjoy working on it and then get to drive when the weather warms up.

Nick

[rjkoop]

I really have no idea. It looks bad in the pictures and does need some new sheet metal but generally things are pretty solid. I'm hitting things hard with a sledge and the steel is solid in all the important areas. And the PO put adhesive to hold the carpets (looks like bondo) but once I removed that it was solid underneath. I'm also amazed at how lazy POs can be when fixing up a vehicle. Or maybe lack of knowledge. All I can say is thank got for these forums or I'd probably be the same!

Looking forward to figuring out how to form the steel for the pans and welding for the 1st time. Silly question... When doing flux core welding can I sit in the vehicle when I weld the floorpans? I don't think there is any issue but just wanted to be sure I'm not going to get electrocuted!

[dmwhiteoak]

Depending on how close you sit to where your welding it may get a little warm but no shock. Your good to sit and weld