Cleaning the firewall

[CL72Stingray]

Hey all long time between efforts on this.

Question? I’ve cleaned the engine bay with degreaser, and will do that another dozen or so times to get it as clean as possible. I wondered about the built up crusty stuff around the Openings between the engine bay and the interior it looks like a sealer. What is the best way to remove this? Also is it ok to use oven cleaner to degrease the engine bay?

[CL72Stingray]

Close up photos added of the “Crusty” stuff I am asking about removing.

[MaineVette]

I dealt with the same thing on mine. Luckily, most of the "crusty stuff" is pretty brittle and doesn't stick too well. I removed most of mine using a small putty knife/scraper.

For degreasing the firewall I used a product called "purple power" available at WalMart. It's a water soluble degreaser that's cheap and works really, really well. I highly recommend it. I find the stuff in the aerosol cans to be expensive and much harsher to work with.

I would not use oven cleaner. That's exceptionally harsh and I worry it would break down the fiberglass resin. That said, I've never tried it so maybe it would be ok.

A picture of my finished firewall is below. It required lots of scraping with a putty knife, followed by a couple degreasings (let it soak for a good 15 minutes, then scrub with a stiff bristle brush), then a bunch of sanding and a bit of body filler to smooth things out.

My first write-up regarding my firewall cleanup efforts starts on my website here: http://www.corvette-restoration.com/200 ... ng-part-1/



Hope this helps.

[CL72Stingray]

Your firewall looks great. The cakes on stuff is coming off with a sander. Was it just a process of time to get it out of the nooks and crannies?

[CL72Stingray]

Current state in the process. The black undercoating thick junk, is proving to be a formidable opponent. Sanding it seems to be the only thing to remove it.

[MaineVette]

I used a sander to get the worst stuff off, too. For the nooks and crannies I scraped as much as I could out with a putty knife and a flat head screwdriver. I probably didn't get all of it out - did the best I could.

[worldonline2]

Hi Tim,

regards from Spain. You are the best "reference" to restore my new 1972.

I recognize that you are a teacher in everything you do. I follow all the tutorials because you are as perfectionist as me and that is hard to find.

I need your help with an issue. My car probably had an accident in the past because driver side looks replaced. Following your instructions I´m now with the firewall rebuilding (fron clip out) and I will need detailed pics of the driver side (before and after) to rebuild everything as origin.

I´ve download all from your post but really I´m not able to find clear pics about this driver side.

It´s possible to you share with me? it would be very helpful

Thanks in advance

[MaineVette]

Hi Tim,

regards from Spain. You are the best "reference" to restore my new 1972.

I recognize that you are a teacher in everything you do. I follow all the tutorials because you are as perfectionist as me and that is hard to find.

I need your help with an issue. My car probably had an accident in the past because driver side looks replaced. Following your instructions I´m now with the firewall rebuilding (fron clip out) and I will need detailed pics of the driver side (before and after) to rebuild everything as origin.

I´ve download all from your post but really I´m not able to find clear pics about this driver side.

It´s possible to you share with me? it would be very helpful

Thanks in advance

Hi, and first off, welcome to the forum!

It sounds like you're looking for pictures of the firewall along the drivers side edge. Below are a few photos that I pulled from my files. Do these help?

IMG_7741.JPG (114.55 KiB) Viewed 348 times

IMG_7712.JPG (120.41 KiB) Viewed 348 times

IMG_7692.JPG (137.39 KiB) Viewed 348 times

IMG_7690.JPG (135.16 KiB) Viewed 348 times

IMG_2285.JPG (82.33 KiB) Viewed 348 times

IMG_1709 (2).JPG (104.69 KiB) Viewed 348 times

HPIM3351.JPG (115.72 KiB) Viewed 348 times

HPIM2982.JPG (171.21 KiB) Viewed 348 times

HPIM2979 (2).JPG (165.11 KiB) Viewed 348 times

HPIM2957 (2).JPG (164.85 KiB) Viewed 348 times

[worldonline2]

Yes !! it´s just was I´m looking for...will totally help me to rebuild this edge. Super thanks mate and one more, thanks for share.