best way to clean up a cowl tag

[rtcat]

I bought my '69 camaro back in the mid 80's.  At that time I pulled the motor to clean it up and give it some fresh paint.  While I had it out I also cleaned up the engine compartment and gave that some fresh black paint out of a rattle can.   I sprayed right over the cowl tag.

Now, 20 years later I realize this tag is very important.  I can make out most of the bigger letters and numbers, but the small print on the bottom of the tag is not legible, through all the paint I put on it. 

What is the best way to clean a cowl tag so in it can be read, yet not damage it so whenever I restore the car and paint the firewall that the tag retains it's original appearance.

Thanks,
David

[lakeholme]

Post a picture before you do anything else! It would also be great if you could tell what sort of paint was in that rattle can...

[rtcat]

Post a picture before you do anything else! It would also be great if you could tell what sort of paint was in that rattle can...

It was black paint!

I'll try and snap a pic and get it posted.  I'm guessing it was enammel.  Remember the ad "no runs, no drips, no errors" 

[RamAirDave]

Try some lacquer thinner, may need to let it soak a bit if the paint is that thick.  Can also try some chemical paint stripper, but be careful with it so it doesnt get all over the areas you dont want to remove the paint on.


dave

[lakeholme]

Chemical paint stripper, sanding or scraping will take it down to metal unless you are awfully careful... or at least look like you tired to clean it up, which looks suspicious.  That's why I asked about the type of paint...  Try thinner or better yet, alcohol --first.  If it was some enamel out of a can, those two may work.  By the way, some body shops use vodka to clean light overspray.
Of course, if you use the chemical stripper, you can start from scratch...

[firstgenaddict]

Use enamel reducer.... it will only take off the enamel paint not the original laquer finish!!!