I'm currently removing all of the stainless and bumpers from the 67 getting ready to have it painted. Wheel well mouldings off, bumpers off, all moulding off, grill and RS headlight assembly out. Car looks nekkid. Now the hard part.

Some jerk filled the rear window channels underneath the stainless trim FULL of clear silicone sealant. I just totally destroyed all of my rear window trim trying to get it to let go and get the trim off.

Luckily there wasn't much rust underneath the silicone.

I have pulled and cleaned up most of the silicone, must have been a pound or so of the goop.

Anybody got any ideas on how to remove or clean up the rest of the silicone prior to painting? Some kind of a chemical stripper or something?

Thanks in advance,

Randy

I'm thinking a 2.5" brass wire wheel on your drill. I've not delt with anything to strip silicone. Just be gentle and dont heat up the metal. Goggles and long sleeve shirt highly recommended. When done go over with some wet dry sand paper to remove any scratches left over.

I think laquer thinner or aviation stripper should remove the silicone. They should put a warning on every tube of silicone "DO NOT USE ON AUTOMOTIVE WINDOWS"

I know WD-40 removes thin spots easy. Spray a little on a rag and wipe a couple times and its gone.

Thanks loads guys.

I first used some bug and tar remover and it got some of it. I then went to Prep-Sol and got the rest of it out with a lot of scraping and lots of rags. Now to wire brush it with a brass wire brush mounted on my drill.

Randy

"Luckily there wasn't much rust underneath the silicone."

Hmmm...looks like it WORKS! :D

May be a good idea to have a glass shop pull the rear window. Have the car painted and then re seal the window again. That window may not have been sealed good from the getgo?

3M's general purpouse adhesive remover softens it up a bit... There's also a product called Anti-Bond that you can get at marine stores that works very well.

Originally posted by Steve W:
"Luckily there wasn't much rust underneath the silicone."

Hmmm...looks like it WORKS! :D I just got my trim removed from my rear window and silicone was used, a lot of it!!! Appears there was a leak and they use it to try to stop it. It caused the window channel to rust out badly. :(