So I am in the middle of my first real modification to my Blazer. I am planning to apply bedliner to the floor of the interior of my vehicle. No prblems removing the seats, seat belts, or trim pannels. Once everything was out, I pulled the rear half of the interior carpet and ran into my first problem...

There is a factory adhesive used under the carpet padding on the metal. It is black and very hard, but brittle if bent (think old shingle). it is a tar-like substance and it has been a nightmare to remove.

So far I have tried: scraping at it with a screwdriver (flakes but leaves more than it removes)
Hitting it with a solid dose of heat gun and repeating scrapping (no real change0
Acetone (it smells different but sticks the same)
Harsh language (makes me feel a little better but no real help there)
Grinder-mounted wire brush (YAY! tar dust!)

Seriously, this stuff is like the crabs of adhesives.

I assume that someone here (more than one probably) is reading this right now going "Dude, just..." and I am hoping that you are typing the ... part instead of casually dismissing me

Any help at all would be appreciated. My last resort will be to pull the rest of my interior, soak the floor in gas and let fire erase all evidence of this crud.

P.S. I tried the search option with a couple words and phrases, but nothing helpful popped up. if i missed it, a link will work just as well as another full blown walk through.

 

You might check with an automotive paint supplier near you. They probably have some kind chemical that would work.

Mostly though all I've heard is using an orbital sander or a grinder like you said with plenty of ventilation and a mask.

Have fun.

 

well i guess this is why we have weekends right? I've been scratching away with my brush. Slow going, but going. thanks oisnirish.

**EDIT**
Update incase anyone else comes across a problem like this:
I called a body shop to see what magic they use to send this godless mutant tar back to the depths of GM's layer of hell. (I know, I am a fool for not thinking of this last night at 1220 am). The body shop said heat and grind, heat and grind OR heat the underside of the floor board and scrape (avoiding fuel lines and gas tanks...) not much help but hey it shaved 20 minutes off the project.

 

spray some simple green on there and let it set
let me tell you, we used it when taking up old wood flooring that was attached to the floor with tar, and we also took up some laminate flooring adhesive
it works wonders

 

Well after pouring 4.5 hours of love (read as scraping) into the floor boards, I have just 2 squares left to go! Sadly one is 2' x 3'... At this point I'll try anything. I will let the SG cook on it tonight and then give it a fresh dose in the am before going at it again.
*crosses fingers* Thanks stevo

In remberance of the one putty knife (broken) and 1 Drop Top ale (tipped) that gave their lives so that this project could live on.