Race Car Interior Prep Advice

[SirLapsalot]

Looking to see what others have done in this situation...

I'm prepping a car for a roll cage and have become super frustrated with the amount of seam sealer used in these stupid cars. It's freaking everywhere, basically in every corner/contour/crevasse along with flat surfaces that don't even have seams….WTF!?

Scraping and grinding is simply not possible, at least not to achieve the level of cleanliness that I'd prefer. Acid dipping would be ideal, but a bit out of the scope of my project. I'm not looking to do a full frame restoration, I'd just like to have a near-perfectly clean interior surface before painting and clear coating the interior. i.e. The exterior and underbody needs no stripping or painting, just interior, so acid dipping is a bit overkill and a large amount of extra work.

When I first started stripping the interior by hand I removed the melt sheet on the mid-floor pan areas no problem, but when I continued forward to the seam sealer further up the floor panels I quickly realized that scraping and grinding is not feasible at all…

Is there anybody out there that has removed this stuff successfully via methods other than acid dip? One method I've considered is a mobile aqua/dustless blasting company. So I'm curious if anybody has experience with that method.
Of course all the mobile blasting companies say they do cars/trucks, but I'd feel more confident if I knew some had gone down this route for the interior specifically with good results. So has anybody employed this or some other method to successfully remove all seam sealer and adhesive from the interior before paint??

Pics of the mess I've made so far:

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[j1nx3d]

have you seen the dry ice method? i know its good for removing insulation, not sure how effective it would be on sealant in those areas. Just take care with it. dry ice is co2 and it pools and it displaces oxygen so use in a well ventilated area.

[SirLapsalot]

The dry ice method allegedly works on the melt sheet but I very highly doubt it will work on seam sealer. The seam sealer is like 10x more difficult to remove than the melt sheet. It’s a seriously strong bond to the metal and thicker/more rubbery.

I may still try the dry ice as a last resort before scheduling a blasting company but I don’t have much confidence in it.

[AudiSport]

I guess my question is, why does it need to come out? OCD or are you trying to weld things? Just clean the area you need to weld IMO.

[SirLapsalot]

I guess my question is, why does it need to come out? OCD or are you trying to weld things? Just clean the area you need to weld IMO.

OCD. Nothing to do with welding.

I just hate an ugly/dirty appearing interior and I suppose I’m partially spoiled from primarily GT3/TCR spec experience. Not saying I need my car to be factory race car level but I would like a clean look.

[AudiSport]

Just be ok that your 944 race car doesn’t look like this.

[Tom]

When I did my battery box, it was covered in that stuff. I used a super stiff wire wheel like the one linked below (among other things). It worked, but the battery box has a fraction of the area you are looking at, so I dunno, maybe 5 drills, 4 friends, and a lot of beer...?

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW4910-8- ... 3917088507

[SirLapsalot]

Just be ok that your 944 race car doesn’t look like this.

Omfg. Id say it’s not ok for any car to look like that.

That picture looks like it was taken at PittRace. I actually raced with that series (chump car?) at Mid Ohio about a month ago. That was quite the experience…can’t say I desire to do that ever again

[SirLapsalot]

When I did my battery box, it was covered in that stuff. I used a super stiff wire wheel like the one linked below (among other things). It worked, but the battery box has a fraction of the area you are looking at, so I dunno, maybe 5 drills, 4 friends, and a lot of beer...?

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW4910-8- ... 3917088507

Yea I have a grinder with that wheel along with some others. I used that one you have pictured there on a portion of the rear section of the floor and it’s just not going work. Not possible to get everything up in the corners and valleys. Some type of blasting or serious chemical is all I can think that will work. Hopeful to find someone that has done that and can share their experience

[AudiSport]

Just be ok that your 944 race car doesn’t look like this.

Omfg. Id say it’s not ok for any car to look like that.

That picture looks like it was taken at PittRace. I actually raced with that series (chump car?) at Mid Ohio about a month ago. That was quite the experience…can’t say I desire to do that ever again

Yeah. Champ Car. I raced at Pitt. Those cars are terrible. They’re changing the rules for ‘23 to not allow that anymore is what I heard.