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Triumph TR6 - How to remove underseal in engine bay


I've recently bought a 1976 TR6 after much sorrow over having sold my previous '75. Anyhow, the '76 is in really nice condition (Carmine/Black) but one thing that is seriously keeping the car from being perfect, IMHO is that someone undercoated the engine compartment years back. Fortunately they made neat work of it but I would prefer to strip it and repaint the engine bay in the proper finish. So what's the best way to get this underseal off? With the weather becoming cold here in the midwest, I am planning on taking the car out of commission for winter, at least by the end of October.

Rgds,
Aaron
'76 TR6
Aaron

Aaron,

My car was coated with some kind of brush on undercoat that came off with an aerosol degreaser, actually 4 cans, and I did it in the gravel out back. Sprayed it on, let it soak, got after it with a parts cleaning brush, and rinsed with water. No weeds have grown out there since last fall, great side benefit! I followed that up with brake cleaner and rags, getting down in the nooks and crannies. Since then, I found the detail shop at the dealership I work at has some great degreaser that they buy in bulk, and even acid for those really tough jobs! You might want to check with a local detail shop or supplier to see what they might be able to recommend for your particular dilemna! My experience has been the pros get the really good stuff, better than you might buy off the shelf at a parts store....

happy moToRing, and welcome back!

Rod
Rod Nichols

Hey Aaron,

A heat gun, gloves, and a putty knife works well.

Failing that, of course, gasoline. but that's flammable as you know.

Mineral spirits works too. As does kerosene.

I've done it a few times but my best luck was the heat gun and a putty knife.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

If its the rubberized stuff likley.

I use Xylene softens and loosens the rubberized undercoat enough to remove with a scraper.

You will need chemical resistant rubber gloves/rags lots/plastic to cover cars paint/ lots of ventilation no flames and an "Automotive type approved spray painting mask". Last is very important or you will get a complete understanding of the comment "Are you on Glue".

Swab it on in 1 foot areas with rags. Let soak for a bit and scrape. Best done outside on gravel away from your well. You won't be pouring it on and it flashes fast but you need to apply enough to soften. The junk can be cleaned up so not real environmental. Solvent used in many auto paints.

Not a fun job? Old coveralls ready for trash or painters throw aways suggested. Been there.
Bill Brayford


Thanks all for the replies. I'm going to have a go at it with the heat gun and a scraper first and see if that takes care of the problem. I am thinking this will be one helluva tedious job in trying to get in all the nooks and crannies. But if I decide to yank the engine out this winter for some modification, that will be a perfect opportunity!
Aaron

Hi Aaron,
Best trick i've used was Avon Skin So Soft spray it on let it sit a day Power wash it off. Stubborn spots may require a little brushing with paint brush, (stiff bristles) but no putty knives or harsh chems. '76 TR6 undercoated 27 years ago when new at dealer, removed with SSS in 1995
Good Luck!
Brian's TR6
B.R. Horne

I know this is going to sound strange, but is there anything wrong with leaving it on. My engine bay is covered with it and it looks like a daunting task to remove it....so I solve the problem by rarely opening the hood for passers by.

Ted
T. Grant

That's amazing Brian.

In the deep south SSS is used for mosquito repellant and it works just dandy.

Yet another use.

Ted, not at all. In fact if it was done properly it will protect your steel. Problem is, it will take a while to show up if it WASN'T done properly and by then you've got rust.
It's a vicious circle.

Jim
Jim Deatsch

Ted - Undercoating in the engine compartment is not the best when you open your hood (bonnet in Britain) at a car show. Personally at a participants choice voting, I don't even bother if the hood is closed.

BTW, undercoating under the hood makes it easier to remove the goose crap that gets left behind when you have a goose under the hood like they all do down in the good old U - S of A.

I understand that in many places that the Canada Geese stay all year long in certain States that the US Customs and Immigration have passed a law to send them back up north or they can be executed.

Maybe the geese can be used in USA in late November to help those conservationists down there who are pushing to "save the turkey".

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

That's it. I'm going to go hide before I'm tarred and .... errr. feathered.

Jim (shoo gosling, shoo)
Jim Deatsch

So, uh, that's not necessarily oil under Jim's car?
Brent B

Yep Goose leavings Grease right up there with WD-40 and Emu oil...:)
As an entreprenurial type mispelled but you know hustler. Jim should have something on the market real quick to resolve the age old question of what should I use in my Trunions and steering rack. Won't leak easy and is as slippery as (****)

Gotcha thinking there Jim..:)
Bill Brayford

Serious side the stuff used 30 years ago was creasote based and goes very flat grey black. Actually designed to be re-oiled and would soak up. If it was in good shape you might have left it on Brian. Soaking up good with oil worked well to protect every few years. The newer not better unless perfectly applied rubberised stuff oil won't touch. But rust will get underneath.
Bill Brayford

The only underside protection against rust on my TR3A is paint. It's been on there for 14 summers. It's still as good and as shiny as new. Who needs undercoat these days ? Not many TR owners drive their TR's in the rain and no-one would ever drive his (hers) in the snow and slush ! Some TR owners I know won't take their car out on the weekend if the weather forecast says it might rain on the following Tuesday.

Mine has been driven over 78,000 mile during the last 14 summers and the painted underside is still like new. During that 14 years, TRusty has only been in the rain about 5,000 where I had to put the top up.

In fact, at VTR in July, the Concours judges at the VTR National Meet gave me full points (didn't dock me any) for the underside.

But I have to spend a couple of hours with rags and white spirits (Varsol) to get the goose crap and oil mix all off the underside. A 1,500 psi high pressure spray at a "do-it-yourself" car wash does a great job before that.

Don Elliott, 1958 TR3A
Don Elliott

I'll have you all know that my TR6 does not leak a DROP.

Nothing.

Nada.

Dry as a bone, a drumstick.

So there.

Jim (well, there is that ONE spot)
Jim Deatsch

Jim
Have you checked your dip stick level lately:)


You lucky guy.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

dip stick?

whassat?

Jim Deatsch

This thread was discussed between 10/10/2003 and 30/10/2003

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