Seam Sealant: Remove, Replace, Leave Intact?

[62Migit]

Greetings everyone (this is my first post!),

I've started the restoration of a '62 Midget and have run into an unexpected problem underneath my interior paint (note: the rust was expected!). The seam sealant underneath the paint (and very thick carpet glue, ick!) somewhat resembles black tar: you can scratch it with your fingernail, but scraping/sanding/stripper/heat doesn’t seem to easily remove it. Then it occurred to me: where the sealant is still present, rust is nowhere to be found.

Should I leave the original sealant in place and prime/paint over it? What sealant should I apply in the areas where it has worn off? Is all sealant safe to paint over?

Thanks for the help! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

-Mark

 

[dklawson]

I'd say if the seam sealer that's there is still pliable you should be fine leaving it in place, repairing and cleaning the floor pans, and priming over the old stuff. However, if there's any indication that the sealer is rock hard or brittle I'd replace it.