Screwed, Glued and Tattooed!! Who would do this?!?!

[Vicente Aceves]

I just bought this 1974 GMC pickup and I need some help with getting the glue off of it.

Someone screwed and glued carpet to the dash, glovebox, kick-panels etc. The carpet left a lot of glue after I started peeling it off.

The dash cover has some cracks and the glovebox has some black spray paint on it but I’d still rather have that than the glued carpet.

It also looks like the previous owner sprayed some black paint (undercoating maybe)?? in the engine compartment and in the process masked off the fenders and grill. It doesn’t look like he was intentionally trying to hide any big rotted areas. But he did leave the masking tape all over the top of the fenders.

It looks like it was repainted at some point so I’m not really afraid of messing up anything original when I eventually try to scrub the masking tape glue off. But the paint job is good enough for who it’s for (Me) and so I wanted to know if anyone here has a method or spray that works good on getting glue off paint...if there is such a thing.

Any help is very much appreciated!!

Thanks, Vinnie

[Vicente Aceves]

Here’s the interior stuff.

[Vicente Aceves]

This is the tattooed part...

Red spray paint and black marker

If anyone has a trick for getting permanent marker off paint let me know.

Thanks again!!

[chrismoore701]

googone

[Peter S]

WD-40 does a pretty good job of dissolving glue. It should also work on the magic marker.

[Redneck Rydes]

WD40 works great you could also try a pinstripe removel tool attachs to your drill and slowly will remove glue and gick

[Vicente Aceves]

I have WD-40. I’ll give that a try first. Thanks guys!

[Dead Parrot]

Rubbing alcohol sometimes works well on carpet glue and tape.

A trick that sometimes works with markers is to get a fresh marker and go over the old marks then wipe everything off before it dries. A last resort as there is the obvious risk of making the problem worse if the new marks dry too fast.

[dagnabbitt]

I was gonna suggest googone, but someone already did.

I prefer pure mineral spirits to WD40, the smell goes away faster and leaves no residue.

[71gmcC15]

Carb cleaner will take the marker right off. Not shure on the glue though. I'd pull the dash pad so a guy could work on it easyer

[Vicente Aceves]

Thanks again. I’m going to try a small spot out of sight on the kick panel and a small spot on the ashtray lid and see what happens.


**This is a paint question but somewhat related**

What is the process to brighten up the paint on the truck? I’ve never done it and I don’t know if it’s rubbing compound or wax or something else?

It has overspray on the fender emblems so I don’t think it’s the original paint. I’d still like to preserve the paint that’s there. Thanks!

[Vicente Aceves]

Better pictures of the paint right now.

[Vicente Aceves]

And overspray on the emblem.

[72c20customcamper]

I use a clay bar for overspray works great .

[Vicente Aceves]

Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.

[Vicente Aceves]

If a clay bar would work on this I’ll give it a shot. This black paint seems a little thicker than spray paint. Almost like the stuff you’d spray in the trunk of a car..if that makes sense.

[Vicente Aceves]

The smear marks wasn’t me. It looks like someone wiped some of the hood while the black paint was still wet.

[Vicente Aceves]

I started the thread because I thought the big issue would just be getting the glue off the paint.

I just tried peeling the tape and it pulled some of the paint off. I wouldn’t have pulled on the tape if I thought that would happen. Pissed me off. The paint isn’t perfect at all, but if I can avoid peeling it I will.

The truck has been garaged for 15 years so now I’m thinking about letting the sun dry the tape out before I mess with it. If that sounds like a mistake please let me know. Thanks

[72c20customcamper]

I would soak it with WD40 and then heat it with a blow dryer .

[Vicente Aceves]

Sounds like you’ve done that before

If so, did it work?

[AJC]

MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) works for most permanent markers. Xylene works really well for glues and markers, but I'm not sure how the paint would hold up. I know modern automotive paints are unaffected by it not sure about the older ones tho.

[TKCR]

AJC is correct, MEK. I worked in the auto factory in the Repair Dept. We used MEK for a lot of cleanups, almost anything. With that paint not looking like it has a clear coat, I would try it on a spot where your not going to care if it does something to the paint. It never did, but the cars had clear coat. I do know Home Depot carries it. I have a can of it myself.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Vicente Aceves

Sounds like you’ve done that before

If so, did it work?

The tape and adhesive is dried out that's why its adhered so well. Happens a lot in body work specially if cheap tape has been used. Yes it does work but getting it off without damage with questionable base paint its anyone's guess.

[Vicente Aceves]

Thanks for all the good info guys.

Now I just need a day off work to try some of this out.

[Vicente Aceves]

A friend let me borrow some of this stuff. It worked really well and didn’t seem to take any of the orange (bronze) paint off.

It did take the red paint off but it seemed like pretty harsh stuff. It dissolved the black marker easily. I may use it to try and take the red paint off but I’m probably going to wait for a day off from work to try that. I want to take my time so I don’t mess up the paint underneath.

I just got a sample of this graffiti remover, so I don’t know what it’s comprised of. For all I know it may be the same stuff as MEK.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice.