Slow progress on my 2000TC

[georgecook]

Have just about finished repairing/ replacing the inner and outer sills after four months ownership. My welding has improved, which is pleasing, however I still struggle with the upside down welds these are not pretty but still strong.This seems to me to be slow progress but nevertheless it is progress.
I had always planned to remove as much as possible of the original bitumastic underseal and replace it with epoxy. While spending what seems like many hours lying underneath planning the next weld, I have been having a bash at the original underseal with an old half inch wood chisel which is slow but seems to work ok. I have also tried a heat gun which just seems to make everything sticky. I intend concentrating on removing the underseal from the base frame, especially the suspension mounting points and the inner and outer wheel arches. The transmission tunnel I would leave alone as it seems to be well lubricated as it is.
I have a couple of questions.... What type of tool or method is best for removing the bitumastic?........ Is it possible to prepare and rust proof the suspension mounts without any dismantling ... my third question is, how many YEARS will this take......georgecook

 

[Dave3066]

Hi George

Many of us here know exactly how you feel and share your pain. I've found that a sturdy (not cheap) wallpaper or paint scraper is an ideal tool for removing old underseal. The original underseal on my project is hard and comes away in big chunks if I catch it right. You can either attack it at a steep angle to start then once in scrape away as best you can, or I've removed a fair bit by using a soft hammer and almost chiselling it off with the scraper (hence why it needs to be sturdy). For what's left I use something like Autosmart Tardis (tar remover), spray it on and leave it for 10 minutes then the residue wipes off. It's very potent so use in a well ventilated area and wear a mask.



This is the area underneath the driver's side front on my car. It's an odd angle because it's on a chassis spinner. What remains is epoxy-mastic I applied during a refresh of the car's underseal several years ago. That stuff is rock hard and will probably have to be attacked with a cup brush on an angle grinder.

When you say "suspension mounts" which bits are you referring too? The spring mounts or the link struts etc? Realistically, for best access you need to remove the relevant components because you'll never get in behind them 100% to clean and treat the metal.

As for how many years? Well that depends how far you end up going I guess only you can answer that.

Dave

 

[roverp5Bcoupe]

i agree with Dave. I used for my P5B coupe wall paper knives, old chisel used for wood and paint scrapers. Like Dave, i also have a chassis rotater which makes the work more comfortable and improves weld quality considerably. Time frame is difficult as you don't know what you will find. I am glad i finally finished welding and scraping.

Peter