Thread: Best way to strip car's underside?

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I'm getting ready to strip and prep the firewall and underside of the Camaro, and I was wondering if there's any "expert" advice that might cut down on the work (elbow grease) required. What's the best way to get the baked-on-oil and road grime off before starting with the wire brush?

Thanks / Dan

Really no easy way with out the elbow grease if you want to do it right. Use some good hard brushes and some Simple Green that stuff works wonders on grease and oil. Other guys have told me about some purple stuff from Car Quest that is supposed to be better than the Simple Green.You can also rent a Heavy duty power washer. I rented one from Home Depot that took even paint off. Harbor Freight has all kinds of plastic and wire brushes on the cheap since you will be needing a FEW to complete the job. Same quality as the more expensive ones from your hardware store.

Thanks. Have you ever used Castrol Super Clean? Someone told me it was pretty good at cutting through the grime.

Drive over a curb or two, it scrapes it up real nice!!! Sorry could not resist! I have no good answer for you.

I like driving over tall grass.

scrape the heavy stuff first. Can you flip the body? Then use Kleen Strip Aircraft Remover. If not use the Permatex Gasket Remover or equivalent. These are nasty chemicals so be careful.

I've used greased lightning before,it does so so. It gets the oil off but not much of the undercoating.
Hmmm.....I wonder if some MEK would peel it off?

I've never personally used it, but have heard easy off oven cleaner works well on the grease and tar under there. Might want to try a small area?


Don

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I've never personally used it, but have heard easy off oven cleaner works well on the grease and tar under there. Might want to try a small area?

Don

May sound funny but it works with a little heat. works great on a warm chrome exhaust pipe on motorcycles

aircraft striper work good like said that is what i allways have used clean up with a red 3m scub pad and some thinner. use rubber gloves and a lot of fresh air no open flame or smoking

Pressure washer a degreaser at local car wash, or home pressure washer will be a good start before getting down on all fours and brushing or sanding. I use a cheap 3m disk attached to my drill on the truck. Does a hell of a job on the unpainted surfaces, but gunks up with paint!!

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I've never personally used it, but have heard easy off oven cleaner works well on the grease and tar under there. Might want to try a small area?


Don

If you can get the metal warm enough it works fairly good..... Spray it on, give it 2 or 3 hours to soak and get out the putty knife!!!! A note of caution, make sure you wear the long rubber gloves when scraping this stuff, it burns the hands and arms!!!!! When you get the scraping part done, rinse everything with a pressure washer, then air pressure to get the water off and go after whatever is left with your trusty putty kinife and a wire wheel. Get some primer or POR 15 on it soon, bare metal will start forming rust very quickly!!!!

Thanks guys, good advice.... except driving over the curbs

I'll probably reconsider the curb idea when I'm about half way through the job!

Curb also good way to see itf the suspension is still solid!

aircraft stripper?