Advice on removing bodykit - chemicals used for removing sealant etc?

[funkydelicdubber]

Hi,
It's quite possibly been asked before but I want to remove the bodykit on my mk2. I hear that it is bonded on with some pretty tough sealant which will leave a residue. I plan to have the car re-sprayed in about a year but until then I could do with it looking presentable.
Any tips first up on the removal itself? Is it a case of undo any fixings and then just pull like a Trojan until the kit is off? I thought perhaps after the fixings were removed I could slide a soft edged ice scraper under the kit to get it off?
Also, any advice on removing the residue of glue from the body? I have read various ways to do similar stuff online but I thought I would be best to ask here as it relates directly to the rocco. My initial thoughts are either rubbing alcohol or a weak solution of thinners, maybe bring the ice scraped back for teasing the edges away from the body once lubricated with something mildly corrosive?
Any thoughts/tips/advice greatly appreciated.
Oh one other thing I could do with the rear arches being rolled as I have 9j wheels for the back, I'm based in Notts, East mids... Any recommendations as to where I get it done?
Cheers

[wassell]

As you say, the kit is mounted with screws and a sealant like tiger seal. just pull hard enough and it peels back.

i used a razor blade to cut most of the remaining sealant off, then sanded it all back. but i was re-spraying the arches there and then so it wasn't such an issue for me. i'm not sure if theres any solvents you can use to remove the remaining sealant. be interesting to find out though.

[mark1gls]

Is there not a couple of holes which have a plastic clip in what holds the body kit on here the rear arch? If not using the body kit will these have to be filled in?

I might be wrong on this.

[funkydelicdubber]

I guess the best thing is for me to just get it off and go from there. Might end up giving it a blow over in that area just so it's presentable prior to a full spray then... as for the holes I dont have a clue but if they are there then yes, I guess I'll have to sort em out!

[wassell]

Is there not a couple of holes which have a plastic clip in what holds the body kit on here the rear arch? If not using the body kit will these have to be filled in?

I might be wrong on this.

yes, there are square holes in the sills and the rear/front valances which plastic clips pop into. if you want a clean look, youlll have to weld these up. these holes are also present in the arches, but as they are underneath and not visible they don't really matter.

i just left mine though, will sort them at a later date as they don't do any harm.

[snathe]

What you require sir is an eraser wheel (available from any good motor factors that stock bodyshop consumables).
They're also known as toffee wheels / caramel wheels... They're used with a normal drill, and swiftly remove double sided tape / pinstripes / sign writing / etc without marking the paint underneath.



The TEX "DCA-49" is the best one imo (i own a bodyshop, lol) although cheaper ones are out there, but i don't trust them!

[beekeeper]

as above, toffee wheels will get most of it off without marking the paint but be careful not to burn it as they work on friction.

there will be some residue left but i'd use paint pre-clean (mild solvent) and t-cut to remove the rest.

its time consuming but always worked for me.

[snathe]

as above, toffee wheels will get most of it off without marking the paint but be careful not to burn it as they work on friction.

The cheaper wheels do burn through paint, this is true... But the good quality ones like the one pictured will be fine.
I get through a couple of these a month, and only ever had a problem when i had to use a cheaper one due to the ones above (that i normally use) being out of stock.
I wouldn't advise using any kind of solvent on the paintwork, as if it has been painted in anything other than 2k it will soften the paint and fetch it off... Panel wipe is ok as a wipe over product prior to painting, but for rubbing away at the bodywork