Fiberglass removal

[Mark McCombs]

Moving on to the body assembly of TC8126, I need to get my gas tank setting in position to help With the alignment of my rear fenders.

I pulled the tank out of storage, the 1st time I've seen it in quite a few years. It actually looks pretty good But apparently in 1964, the previous other used the new fangled media called 'fiberglass' For the base of the tank and feet..... From what I'm seeing it looks like he did it as a type of exterior base coating because I'm not seeing any rust (so far) And it looks like he had the whole thing boiled out before he applied for fiberglass and resin of the bottom.

I guess I could use A cup wire wheel In an angle grinder at slow speed to grind all that off of there But that's gonna be a dusty mess. Any thoughts on what will remove fiberglass resin? Acetone perhaps?

[stephen stierman]

Assuming the fumes are long gone, a propane torch with low heat will will easily get it warm enough to come off.

[Mark McCombs]

Thanks, Steve

A $20 trip to harbor freight for a heat gun and sharp putty knife was the ticket.

Once the edge was heated up. I was able to get the putty knife underneath, working it along with the heat gun ahead of it and it scrapped off like wallpaper
(Well, it took two hours but its off!)

Underneath the fiberglass was clean bare metal, so I guess it was a heavy duty undercoat. On to setting it in place and offering up the rear fenders.

Question for the OP: was the fender welting notched for the attachment screws or were they holes at the screw points?

Thanks

[stephen stierman]

Heat gun was a good idea too!
I don't notch fender welting on my cars, just run the screws through it. There really is no reason to risk damage and it is held tightly in place with a screw hole.