weld points and ... tar?

[absintheisfun]

I'm currently stripping my interior in my 67 Camaro. right now my focust is on tear down, and I'm finding that on all the main interior weld points (floor pan), there is a tar-like substance. This is a royal pain to remove, and I can't for the life of me imagine what purpose it serves...

Is there a justifiable reason for this crap to be there? And, WHAT TAKES IT OFF? This is not seam sealer. THis is a comletely different animal. Much, Much worse! I can get rid of seam sealer...This stuff is NOT coming off...

I wore out (broke) my clutch in my drill trying to take it out with a steel wire stripping wheel.

Any advise, help and / or guidance is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

[hotroddr]

use a torch to burn it out(propane or other). Just make sure you have a spray bottle, a fire extinguisher and make sure the fuel lines are out of the way.

[toxicz28]

A good solvent (laquer thinner) will work too. A little stinky, but it works.

[79_EFI_Z]

You need to get that wire wheel on an angle grinder, that's what I did. The drill wont do anything for you.

[absintheisfun]

well....I figured out why the previous owner tarred over everything. Instead of replacing full floor pans, he created patches, and did a horrible job welding them. I got about 6 hours into the massive clean up and found tons of holes between patches. To top that off, the firewall/footboard area has to be replaced because of rust hidden by tar!

So discouraged right now. I was so excited that the interior was going to be the "easy part."

Now I really have to learn how to weld, and fast!