In the process of tracking down a omnipresent leak on I believe the windshield weather strip by steerin wheel. The question is, in the process of looking for this thing, I'm getting up under the dash around the steering column, and I'm finding that the insulation in there is hanging loose and needs to be torn out replaced!? I'm assuming its asbestos based, can anyone confirm that the 72 swinger would've had asbestos in there....looking for some saftey tips on removal, and if anyone knows about leak prone areas down there. thanks as always

Asbestos is most dangerous when inhaled in the form of dust. Dampness will partially prevent asbestos dust from becomming airborn. Soak the material with a spray bottle of water.

While I don't know if asbestos is present, I suggest that if you suspect it's presence that you take at least the minimum precautions listed during contact, but you should consult an asbestos professional or directly contact chrysler in regard to it's removal first.

Even if it's not likely to be asbestos:
Wear goggles,
Wear gloves,
Thoroughly moisten any questionable material which will be removed or may be disturbed.
Don't breath! (or wear an approved mask)
Take a shower to remove any material as soon as you are finished.
Encapsolate any material so that it will stay damp and not become airborn at a later time.
Don't use a vacuum cleaner to suck up suspect material because dust will be created.

The more I think about it, if I KNEW it was asbestos, I wouldn't go anywhere near it. I don't know why they would have used it, but they didn't know it was dangerous for a long time, so "why not" is the problematic reply.

That's an ugly and expensive can of worms that I've never seen mentioned relating to old cars. I hope someone can get an autoratative reply to the question of if this stuff was ever used and when.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

Interesting fear/worry/concern, but no, there's no asbestos-containing insulation in your car.

Not wishing to get too far OT, I think this asbestos is more junk science like global warming. I think to develop asbestosis, it would require you to inhale a pound per minute and then at the age of 120 they think you will die. However, minimal exposure is not a great risk (if any at all). People who develop asbestosis are those who worked day in and day out in the mine or factory without protection. And even those numbers were small. Combining junk science with ambulance chasers killed another industry. BTW, it was little reported but true that the Twin Towers were built at the time this big anti-asbestos kick was going on. As a result, the steel infrastructure was not covered in asbestos. I read some articles that some engineers claimed the towers would not have collapsed had they been in asbestos.

that I'm not gonna touch with a 10 foot pole-no twin towers for me. Anyway, many thanks for the perspectives

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72 swinger gettin better by the year....
got some muscle in the glovebox.

Too late. Could you please keep your black helicopter theories to yourself?

i remember seeing test results years ago that showed people who smoke are mostly effected, people who don't barely showed any signs of it in thier system, both were in the same work environment. the program reasoned it was the tar in the lungs gave it something to stick to, i know shop dust (masonite, plastics, etc) acts similarly. but i don't think there is any in car interior. old brake pads sometimes do and that insulation under the hood, exhaust gaskets, and anything around extreme heat might as well. if it is damp under there there might be mold which can effect some people, that can be assulted with some watered down isopropyl alcohol in a sprayer.

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anything worth doing is worth re-doing, again and again and again...........