Firewall clean up - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

KP1972 · 05-01-2003, 02:15 PM

First, if you have any firewall pics either before, during and after I would love to see them.
Second, What helpful hints can you give about "cleaning up" the firewall.
I started scraping this globby stuff off mine yesterday and then found drilled holes underneath some of them.
Do you have any ideas on how to clean it up without dismantling all the "parts" off of it???
THANKS!!!

BigRed · 05-01-2003, 02:20 PM

Hey Ken,

Good question! I look forward to reading some responses. My guess is that you should probably uncover all the holes and if they are in a location where they could be spot welded, do so. If not, then you could also use an adehsive and some spot metal and actually glue a piece of metal from the inside of the cab (if you can reach it) Then, you could just fill with bondo or something like that and then paint over it. I have thought about this as I am in the SLOW process of trying to get my cab prepped. Hopefully some will have some good thoughts and ideas. If you haven't already, you might want to post this on the Paint & Body forum.

**old Rusty C10** · 05-02-2003, 12:37 PM

ive read posts where people have used paint stripper or aircraft cleaner to strip the body clean of paint andundercoating. i would either spot weld those holes or do as KP1972 said and glue something uderneath it and then bondo it in. I would make sure though that i replaced any seam sealer with new seam sealer so that it doesnt cause rot problems in the truck in the future

79BIG10 · 05-02-2003, 12:38 PM

Hey Ken I think Bigblock73 has gotten his firewall smoothed or is going to since he won't have ac or a heater needed. Hopefully he'll jump in here.

BaggedC10 · 05-02-2003, 02:22 PM

I'm going to shave/smooth the firewall soon and had the same questions.

bigblock73 · 05-03-2003, 10:04 AM

Hey folks, here is a current pic of my firewall. KP1972, if you want to smooth all the holes without removing your heater/AC components, it might be a difficult task. Depending on the size of the holes, if they are small enough you should be able to weld them shut very easily. If they are larger then say the diameter of a pencil, you will then need to make metal pieces the same size to weld in. In order to do all of this you will need to gut the inside of your firewall and move all wiring out of the way both inside and out. Also, if you have your engine still in place it will be that much more difficult.

Another thing you could do is make a template of the firewall out of cardboard, then buy a piece of SS and cut it to fit. Once yo have it cut and driled, polish it up real good and rivet it to your firewall. I did this a few years back when I removed my AC/heater and was cleaning up my firewall (while I was still driving the truck). It looked pretty good IMO.

Hope this helps some.

-Jeff

**Captkaos** · 05-05-2003, 06:18 PM

Here is a comparison for a stock one....

75stepside · 05-05-2003, 07:31 PM

ya'll knew that i just had to get my firewall in here too!

but, i used tal strip (liquid paint stripper) to get that black goo off of the firewall... pretty labor intensive project... but, worth it.... instead of putting that stuff back in, i used a restorer's seam sealer on all my seams...

hope this helps:

brad2 · 05-05-2003, 10:23 PM

Man no wonder we don't see to many shaved firewalls on these years. Pretty nasty looking from the start.

**Captkaos** · 05-06-2003, 11:11 AM

Yeah Brad, they are HELL from the beginning. It is almost worth it to cut the whole thing off and make what you want....

05-01-2003, 02:15 PM	#1
KP1972 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Mansfield Texas Posts: 645	Firewall clean up First, if you have any firewall pics either before, during and after I would love to see them. Second, What helpful hints can you give about "cleaning up" the firewall. I started scraping this globby stuff off mine yesterday and then found drilled holes underneath some of them. Do you have any ideas on how to clean it up without dismantling all the "parts" off of it??? THANKS!!! __________________ 1972 Chevy Custom/10 www.PictureTrail.com/KP1972 Metroplex Muscle Car Club www.PictureTrail.com/DreamCarArt

05-01-2003, 02:20 PM	#2
BigRed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,680	Hey Ken, Good question! I look forward to reading some responses. My guess is that you should probably uncover all the holes and if they are in a location where they could be spot welded, do so. If not, then you could also use an adehsive and some spot metal and actually glue a piece of metal from the inside of the cab (if you can reach it) Then, you could just fill with bondo or something like that and then paint over it. I have thought about this as I am in the SLOW process of trying to get my cab prepped. Hopefully some will have some good thoughts and ideas. If you haven't already, you might want to post this on the Paint & Body forum. __________________ Scott Shelbourne

05-02-2003, 12:37 PM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,313	ive read posts where people have used paint stripper or aircraft cleaner to strip the body clean of paint andundercoating. i would either spot weld those holes or do as KP1972 said and glue something uderneath it and then bondo it in. I would make sure though that i replaced any seam sealer with new seam sealer so that it doesnt cause rot problems in the truck in the future __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

05-02-2003, 12:38 PM	#4
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	Hey Ken I think Bigblock73 has gotten his firewall smoothed or is going to since he won't have ac or a heater needed. Hopefully he'll jump in here. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

05-02-2003, 02:22 PM	#5
BaggedC10 Under construction! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,065	I'm going to shave/smooth the firewall soon and had the same questions. __________________ 2001 Silverado bagged on 22's. Sold

05-03-2003, 10:04 AM	#6
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Hey folks, here is a current pic of my firewall. KP1972, if you want to smooth all the holes without removing your heater/AC components, it might be a difficult task. Depending on the size of the holes, if they are small enough you should be able to weld them shut very easily. If they are larger then say the diameter of a pencil, you will then need to make metal pieces the same size to weld in. In order to do all of this you will need to gut the inside of your firewall and move all wiring out of the way both inside and out. Also, if you have your engine still in place it will be that much more difficult. Another thing you could do is make a template of the firewall out of cardboard, then buy a piece of SS and cut it to fit. Once yo have it cut and driled, polish it up real good and rivet it to your firewall. I did this a few years back when I removed my AC/heater and was cleaning up my firewall (while I was still driving the truck). It looked pretty good IMO. Hope this helps some. -Jeff Attached Images

05-05-2003, 06:18 PM	#7
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Here is a comparison for a stock one.... __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

05-05-2003, 07:31 PM	#8
75stepside Proud Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 741	ya'll knew that i just had to get my firewall in here too! but, i used tal strip (liquid paint stripper) to get that black goo off of the firewall... pretty labor intensive project... but, worth it.... instead of putting that stuff back in, i used a restorer's seam sealer on all my seams... hope this helps: Attached Images

05-05-2003, 10:23 PM	#9
brad2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: edmond, ok Posts: 1,056	Man no wonder we don't see to many shaved firewalls on these years. Pretty nasty looking from the start. __________________ 74 swb 71 2wd Jimmy 82 2wd Blazer

05-06-2003, 11:11 AM	#10
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Yeah Brad, they are HELL from the beginning. It is almost worth it to cut the whole thing off and make what you want.... __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com



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