Tail light gunk

[twodko]

My last resto chore is cleaning/polishing the tail light assemblies for my 69. I separated the lens from the housing last night (slowly) and found it was sealed with some nasty queetzel, smegma type grawdew that defies removal. What is this stuff and how do I clean it off. Thanks gang.

Tom

[69*F5*SE]

I'm not sure what it is but, I love your description.  Would a stripping wheel on a die grinder help?  Can you post a pic? 

[twodko]

This is the nasty stuff its own self. Its thick heavy adhesive, not body putty either.......some sorta' sealer they must've used back in the day. Removal ideas?

Tom

[HOTROD]

Looks like tar  people use anything --lacquer thinner?

[69*F5*SE]

Tom, the bulk of it will have to be scraped off with careful hands and "careful tools" .  The residual left behind may be softened or removed with some wax & grease remover which does a number on tar removal too.  Mineral spirits may have the same effect on it and it's cheaper too. Hope this helps.   Ted

[no40jm]

The lens I used a razor blade first to remove the big stuff then lacquer thinner for the smaller stuff. For the housings I used paint stripper. Paint stripper works the best over all but if you use it on the lens it will start to eat the plastic. This is why I would only use paint stripper on the housings. Good luck

[superbirdtom]

I believe someone along the way used butyl tape to stop a leak.   just keep using  wax and grease remover. it will eventually dissolve the butyl.  I believe the factory just used gaskets but those leak after time.  wear rubber gloves and scrape with a bondo spreader.  yeah its messy and time consuming but you don't want to touch those lenses with lacquer thinner.

[twodko]

Thanks gang!

I was concerned about lacquer thinner on the lens so the head's-up on that is appreciated superbirdtom.  69*F5*SE  I tried some 3M adhesive remover and it will work slowly but wax/tar remover may be a cheaper faster alternative along with some mineral spirits I already have. It figures the last thing I have to do would be something like this. Oh well. Cheers.

Tom

A little side thread.......the car is at the upholstery shop and its finished. To expedite getting the car back to the body shop by this weekend I'm going to have to drive it back myself. No front/rear glass, no hood/trunk lid, no mirrors and no doors. I have another set of tail lights I'll have to mount with just a couple nuts to hold them in place. It's about a 25 minute drive and I can't find my goggles! This'll be fun.

[HOTROD]

Yep I used Lacquer thinner medium drying it cleans the black shit off -just drys it out a little I don't soak in the stuff works for me !

[six-tee-nine]

Since back in the days these products were'nt sinthethical (based on oil destillated products) I used gasoline.

It was the best removing product I tried. however, it goes slow (I mean very VERY slow). Do not use scrapers or knives since they will scratch the lenses to bad to fix by polishing them.
I just dipped my towl in the gas and rubbed it of bit by bit. Dont get smart and soak the lenses in fuel or any product for the night (no i did'nt try that). But will you risk deformation or worse?
Oh and wear gloves ventilate the working area and no smoking please

After that I polished them with a plastic polishing product, I used the dremel angle tool for the insides/ribbled area.

BTW I removed the goop on the metal housings with the wire wheel, one shot of base coat, fine sanding and and two layers of silver and they're brand new.

[twodko]

Hello Koen,

I bought a can of tar/grease remover last night. It didn't seem to work that well but perhaps there will be more progress this weekend. Some members warn against using lacquer thinner, some have used it with good results. I'll try a little lacquer thinner on the housing using an acid brush working a small area at a time.
The majority of it will simply have to carefully scraped off before any cleaning can begin. I think I will try a little lacquer thinner on the lens some place it won't show. I do know that using MEK will melt the lens material. I'll keep you all posted on what works for me. Thanks!

Tom

[superbirdtom]

there are different strengths of w&g remover  I have one that takes off tar like nobodys business. then I go over that with the weaker keleanz ez by napa.   same goes with lacquer thinner.  I use the klean strip lacquer thinner it is 100% virgin  and at wal mart it beats the pants off any paint jobber. the whole thing is tedious.   but the 3m adhesive remover is pretty good stuff ,and even the bug an tar remover in the little roun can works good.  Unles Im there to look at it in person its hard to tell sometimes  what the gunk is and how to remove it.  you just don't want to use anything that will craze or ruin the lenses.   good luck

[six-tee-nine]

Yeah this must be one of the shittyiest parts of the 69 year but.....SSSSssssssttt don't tell that to the 68 guys.

[Arigmaster]

Try mineral spirits and/or charcoal starter. If the material is petroleum base the starter will work to break it up without damage to the lense. Both evaporate quickly so it's best to use a old rag soaked with either/or...

Dish soap and water followed by windex will remove residue from both.