trunk lock epoxied in and 2 orphan wires

[timspider]

Next in my long list of "help" items. salvaged a trunk lock that even has a key and functions! Unlike mine which opens with any screw driver.
So looking into trunk to do this super easy switcharoo and see a PO pile of stuff. It seems like the whole mechanism has been covered with a thick helping of epoxy. And of course it's hard to get at through the minimalist access holes.
So, first question is does anyone have any tricks or solvents that I can use to soften or loosen the goop?
I don't want to just whack away at it for fear of distorting the mounting hole or breaking the linkage, which is also covered in the stuff.
Second question, which probably belongs somewhere else, any ideas on these 2 orphaned wires I found in the same hole?
As always, thanks

[urbom]

a paint stripper based on methylene chloride will soften it up. You have to get after digging it off while it is soft though, cause when the solvent evaporates, it will get hard again. Gonna be tough on any paint it hits too. Aircraft stripper is one of the strongest I know of.

[azruss]

lots of chance to do more damage than good. with that much buildup, i would use a dremel grinder bit to remove as much of the epoxy as possible before thinking about solvent. i would also do what i could to protect the area below the lock from solvents. heavy grease, newspaper, pcv box tape, whatever.
Your 2 stray wires are probably for the license plate lights.
the question does arise on why was the lock epoxied in the first place.

[RRoller123]

How about drilling the lock out from the outside?

[timspider]

now that I've got other linkage coming, I think the drill is the way to go. thank you, I had my head in the trunk and was not seeing that simple solution. Hoping it works with all the gunk. thank you!
we just passed 100 inches of snow here this week so Im in no hurry right now. taking my time and getting at a lot of issues that needed attention

[spider2081]

If you have a dremal tool or straight die grinder you could try a carbide cutter in the tool and clean the epoxy off the back of the lock assembly. The grinding might free the epoxy bond from the metal so it can be pried off.

Just a thought

[spiderdan]

I had some epoxy on my old 69 Beaumont that some PO had slathered on. Needed to remove it to get some welding done. I used a heat gun to soften it up. Worked well enough that I was able to pull it off in gooey chunks with pliers. Might be different results with different epoxies, but it worked for me and it wasn't too messy.

[timspider]

r roller is the winner. Drilled out with a big bit and as it got through the cylinder is heated the epoxy on the inside and it just fell off in chunks. Amazingly without damaging the linkage at all. Now I have 2 good linkages. Excellent.
thanks for the ideas everyone!

[RRoller123]

Glad that worked out! I am quick with a drill bit, probably too quick.