I am in the process of building an original Bullitt car. Has any one had much experiance stripping paint? I understand that blasting the sheet metal produces warping and distortion. What products work best and what methods were used? Thank you.

 

Welcome to the Forums Bullitt Bob!!!
I am stripping my paint right now on my '65 convertable. I bought an air orbital sander but my compressor could not keep up with it. I ended up with a Mikita grinder. I am using 80 grit sand paper. I try not to stay in one spot to long to build up to much heat. I was able to to a rear quarter panel in 1 hr. I am doing a panel at a time. So I don't get any rust untill I get it painted I am treating it with Picklex metal treatment. It prevents rust and you can paint over it.
Ck it out at Picklex.com. Also ck out Hotrodders.com. That is where I found out about the Picklex. This site has been around a long time and there is a Exterior section. Lots of guys on there that are painters. I got a lot of info. there before I started.
Good Luck!
Walt

 

Bob,
Having the body of your car media blasted is the way to go. Just make sure you bring it to a reputable place that knows you will freak out if the panels get warped. Most places have the capability to use something other then sand, like walnut shells or baking soda, which will not warp the panels because they do not generate as much friction. As soon as it is back from blasting, get something on it or it will rust immediately. If you use a quality epoxy primer like PPG's DP primer, you will stop the rusting process and you can do bodywork over it. I work in the autobody field and this is the best way I know to do a quality resto. If you do not want to have it blasted, the next best way is to strip it with a grinder, or D/A sander. If you are stripping one panel at a time, prime each panel with epoxy as soon as you are done, and then move on to the next panel. Good Luck, Mike

 

quick question sorta off topic--wouldn't you want to use etch then epoxy? That's what i've been doing and i think its slight overkill, but etch isnt that expensive anyhoot.

 

Picklex is an etch.

 

I actually work for a PPG distributor as a tech rep, and yes, etch then epoxy is overkill, especially for our classics that will never see the bad weather much anyway. DP epoxy from PPG if used with the right hardener will give you all the corrosion protection you could ever need.

 

how long does it take to sand a stang?? my brother has donesome but he doesn't do it but offnon so i don't know how long it is to do itcan someone tell me how long i willb snading my stang?? thanks!!

 

R u steve mccquen?
LOLOLOLoloLOLOL

 

It will take exactly 3.75 hours. No more; no less.

 

If you are just going to sand the finish thats on the car and prime and paint over it, it would take probably about 8-10 hrs. If you are sripping it to bare matal, your looking at about 2-4 hours per panel depending on how much paint is on it.