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would you guys ever buy a car that had been sandblasted?

Neal Zimmerman

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Ok , this 72 charger I have been looking at buying , it turns out it was sandblasted. Not the underside, engine bay or interior, just the outside. But you know it had to
get into the cowl, doors, rockers ,quarters , etc. Frame rails are probably ok. But , yes, upon closer inspection the other day , I started looking around and yep its in the cowl. Turned out the guy did it and didn't even tape off the cowl vents.
I am very experienced at releasing spot welds so , I COULD unbutton the quarters and rockers all along the bottom to get it out, and the cowl is going to have to come off anyway, so I can clean that out, but geez what a bunch of work. Should I just forget about it and move on in my 71-72 search? It's a shame because it is all there, minimal rust, the title and VIN numbers are all in order, it doesnt look like its ever been hit, and the metal feels smooth and not wavy, but man I know that sand has to get out or the car will just rot away.
AARGH!!!
 
Personally Im not buying a car to do all that, is it your dream car? Is it a factory BB 4 speed car? Does the car need total restoration? Killer deal? Plain a simple is the car worth it.
 
Ultimately it's your call, but I've done a few cars complete and they were blasted. I agree sand gets in everywhere, but if the car is tore down completely, you're more than likely going to put it on a rotisserie and many revolutions will release most of the sand with the aid of air pressure.
I had my last car done with dustless blasting and will not do that again! the wet sand or glass really is a bitch to get out! It dries in those hard to reach places and you really have to work to get it out.
So, if it were just dry sand blasted, I would go for it.
ruffcut
 
I seen a guy plasti blast a hood and a vw van with big panels in my area. It was expensive but man it did a nice job no warped panels and what ever was left blew out easily. I’m going to do my fenders and hood with this process. Pricy but it does a good job
 
I'd be more concerned about the body panels being warped from high pressure blasting than worrying about the sand.

I know a guy that sand blasted his aluminum bodied E type Jaguar... I hope he has the budget for the body work!
 
Ok , this 72 charger I have been looking at buying , it turns out it was sandblasted. Not the underside, engine bay or interior, just the outside. But you know it had to
get into the cowl, doors, rockers ,quarters , etc. Frame rails are probably ok. But , yes, upon closer inspection the other day , I started looking around and yep its in the cowl. Turned out the guy did it and didn't even tape off the cowl vents.
I am very experienced at releasing spot welds so , I COULD unbutton the quarters and rockers all along the bottom to get it out, and the cowl is going to have to come off anyway, so I can clean that out, but geez what a bunch of work. Should I just forget about it and move on in my 71-72 search? It's a shame because it is all there, minimal rust, the title and VIN numbers are all in order, it doesnt look like its ever been hit, and the metal feels smooth and not wavy, but man I know that sand has to get out or the car will just rot away.
AARGH!!!

It appears you're in Oregon. We're lucky enough to have one of the few acid dipping facilities in the US in our backyard.

If you're going to go through the trouble of restoring a vehicle, and you 100% want to ensure it's rust free, dip it. It costs more but it does the job and you'll never have to worry if you got it all.
 
I blast all my cars, not the flat body panels of course. Then on to the rotisserie and many hours twirling the body and blowing air in every nook and cranny. It's amazing how much time it takes to get it all out.
 
Who did the sandblasting and what were their qualifications? Prudent use can be beneficial, but I've seen a few cars almost totaled by an amateur.
 
Ok , this 72 charger I have been looking at buying , it turns out it was sandblasted. Not the underside, engine bay or interior, just the outside. But you know it had to
get into the cowl, doors, rockers ,quarters , etc. Frame rails are probably ok. But , yes, upon closer inspection the other day , I started looking around and yep its in the cowl. Turned out the guy did it and didn't even tape off the cowl vents.
I am very experienced at releasing spot welds so , I COULD unbutton the quarters and rockers all along the bottom to get it out, and the cowl is going to have to come off anyway, so I can clean that out, but geez what a bunch of work. Should I just forget about it and move on in my 71-72 search? It's a shame because it is all there, minimal rust, the title and VIN numbers are all in order, it doesnt look like its ever been hit, and the metal feels smooth and not wavy, but man I know that sand has to get out or the car will just rot away.
AARGH!!!
I did it to mine and yes work to get out out for me a blow nozzle fix and driving with vents open and safety glasses not to get blinded but eventually it all got out
 
Put it on a rotisserie and roll it upside down, that or send it down to @kiwigtx and that will happen on the way there.
I had my A100 sand-blasted - but not the bigger flat panelwork. Used traditional elbow grease to get that paint off. Sand-blasting is fine when the operator knows what he is doing, and cleaning is not that bad to do when the veehickle is all parted down to a bare shell.

I had the removable panels all dipped - doors, doghouse, lids & battery box, plus radiator shroud etc. Worked out really well....the doors were absolutely mint - almost like NOS panels when I got them back.

:xscuseless:


DSC04593.JPGDSC04600.JPGDSC04869.JPGDSC05058.JPGDSC05070.JPGDSC05112.JPGDSCF0007.JPG

Check out all that Arkansas mud built-up over the decades.....hidden inside the outer panels....

DSCF0013.JPG
DSCF0025.JPG
 
Sandblasted the living crap out of my first restoration in my garage, hours and HOURS. This was the under carriage, not body panels laying on my back. Well, installed new quarters and fenders, body/interior was an empty shell at that point. Thought I’d blast the frame to nothing. Shower tub was black-silt to the joy of my wife. Did lots of vacuuming and using the air nozzle getting tons of sand out, likely not near all. Drove it for maybe two summers, not much hassle as I recall finding black-beauty before selling it.

Swore I’d never do a rusty-bucket again. NEXT restoration was a CA car, unlike the first, a WI car my mother bought being driven for years, loaned out to the family as free transport…salty winters included..
 
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As to my prior post - before and after...

Cutlass B4 (2).jpg


Cutlass Done (2).jpg
 
The car I own was plastic media blasted by previous owner.

Spent some time on a rotisserie with a long air wand to clean it out.

That was early 2000s ish
 
I had my A100 sand-blasted - but not the bigger flat panelwork. Used traditional elbow grease to get that paint off. Sand-blasting is fine when the operator knows what he is doing, and cleaning is not that bad to do when the veehickle is all parted down to a bare shell.

I had the removable panels all dipped - doors, doghouse, lids & battery box, plus radiator shroud etc. Worked out really well....the doors were absolutely mint - almost like NOS panels when I got them back.

:xscuseless:


View attachment 1716193View attachment 1716194View attachment 1716195View attachment 1716196View attachment 1716198View attachment 1716200View attachment 1716201

Check out all that Arkansas mud built-up over the decades.....hidden inside the outer panels....

View attachment 1716203
View attachment 1716204
Tend to only use the sandblaster on reinforced panels and not flat also
 
I had my A100 sand-blasted - but not the bigger flat panelwork. Used traditional elbow grease to get that paint off. Sand-blasting is fine when the operator knows what he is doing, and cleaning is not that bad to do when the veehickle is all parted down to a bare shell.

I had the removable panels all dipped - doors, doghouse, lids & battery box, plus radiator shroud etc. Worked out really well....the doors were absolutely mint - almost like NOS panels when I got them back.

:xscuseless:


View attachment 1716193View attachment 1716194View attachment 1716195View attachment 1716196View attachment 1716198View attachment 1716200View attachment 1716201

Check out all that Arkansas mud built-up over the decades.....hidden inside the outer panels....

View attachment 1716203
View attachment 1716204
ugh, that cavity is scary. Makes me wonder what my van looks like in there
 
ugh, that cavity is scary. Makes me wonder what my van looks like in there
That front floor was very perforated....all new sheet metal now. Panel guy is a real whizz and made it all look factory with correct swages and edges.
 
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