Removing front trunk sound deadening mat

[Brian Ingles]

Hi All,

I'm looking for advice on how to best remove the fibrous mat material surrounding the fuel tank. It will not clean up despite many efforts and methods - I believe it is just too far gone (tar paper cleaned up real nice). Any advice regarding its removal and or clean up?

Additionally, I'm curious about folk's opinions on the Front Trunk Sound Deadening Kit from Stoddard: https://www.stoddard.com/64455630000-nla.html.html. Any experience and/ or pictures would be greatly appreciated - haven't seen what it looks like installed. Thank you in advance!

[Martin Benade]

Nobody likes that mat much, it doesn't resemble the original. I have it in my car, it doesn't look bad, just not original.

[Ron LaDow]

That's the original, 55YO mat and you're griping it isn't cleaning up?!
Pretty sure you could win shows with mat in that condition, but help yourself.

[WilliamVaughan]

I agree with Ron. That is the nicest looking mat I have seen. It is not loaded with paint chips. It is not torn. It is not shreaded or fluffed up. It looks quite original. It probably even smells original. No doubt it will leave little tar smudges and fibers and seeds on the knees of your pants like original. What have you got against it?

[Brian Ingles]

Haha thanks fellas, that is exactly the advice I'm looking for...I'm ok with leaving it as is in the end, just wasn't sure what direction to go.

Robert - you are correct it does smell and its glorious. Send address and I'll bottle ya some.

[Martin Benade]

A light mist of trim black spray paint would freshen it a bit.

[Ron LaDow]

A light mist of trim black spray paint would freshen it a bit.

I've never tried that on the mat in question, but every time I've done it other places, the masking never quite keeps the 'misting' where I want it, and it ends up over here, or perhaps over there.
How do you mask such a complex form?

[Mike Wilson]

Maybe use a brush-on paint?

Mike

[Sean M Rooks]

Maybe use a brush-on paint?

Mike

Rustoleum black brushed out of the can looked pretty good underneath my dash and my rear engine compartment.

[Martin Benade]

Ron you are right about that, but if you take an hour doing that ten-minute job it can turn out pretty good.

[Ron LaDow]

...but if you take an hour doing that ten-minute job it can turn out pretty good.

I keep forgetting about the extra 50 minutes for each one of those 'ten minute' jobs...

[Brian Ingles]

Thanks gents, I think I'll try to get it as clean as possible then try the brush-on paint method.

[Trevor Gates]

A light mist of trim black spray paint would freshen it a bit.

I've never tried that on the mat in question, but every time I've done it other places, the masking never quite keeps the 'misting' where I want it, and it ends up over here, or perhaps over there.
How do you mask such a complex form?

Ron - I’ve had good success using aluminum foil to mask odd shapes/contours.

[Jay Darlington]

^^^ah a little tin foil and some masking tap, its an easy job. spray can would work and look better than a brush unless the paint was real thin, so it didn't gob up and look like it was painted with a brush. you might try this or some other spray upholstery color https://www.detailking.com/ see their carpet dyes
Jay D.