Shell Blasting Or Dipping, Help And Advice Needed.

[BT]

Afternoon Retro Rides.

I thought I would ask on here because i am sure a few of you have had experience with this in one way or another.

I currently have a 1967 MK2 Morris Cooper, I have owned it since 2012 and have been up and down with ideas of what I want to do and have been a bit back and forth. There are no two ways about it, it is very rusty and it needs a lot of welding. I am a fabricator by trade, so I am eager to get started.

A few weeks ago I went over the car to make a list of areas that I need to attend to, well the list was very long and there is alot of areas which have been patched over by someone at some point to a very poor standard. It seems to me as though the best option would be to strip everything off of the vehicle and send it away for blasting or dipping.

I have had a brief look on google, and have read a few things but could do with some help.

I've read that having a shell dipped isn't the best idea in the world because the acid can build up in cavities in the car and remove protective coatings allowing rust to build up in closed sections of the car causing it to rust from the inside out. I can imagine that this is true, but is it something that should be of concern?

With having the car blasted there are some areas (like the roof) that I would like shot around the outside, but the middle can be left alone. Is blasting a feasible idea?

The car, like i said, is a classic mini, it has no front end. How much should i be expecting to pay for blasting or for dipping? What is considered Reasonable, Fair and then expensive?

I am based in Kent, I am willing to travel a reasonable distance so if anyone can make any recommendations please let me know.

Thanks

[eurogranada]

As I'm in The Netherlands commenting on price etc. I'll leave for others. As for dipping vs. blasting.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Blasting needs done by someone who knows how to prevent panels from warping (due to heat build up and or overly high pressure, too little distance from surface etc.). So If you go this route, find a good one. A couple of problems with blasting are that media gets everywhere and you will be finding it for many months during restoration. Also blasting will not be effective/possible inside hollow beams etc.

Dipping is easy, no harm needs to come to the panels as is a risc with blasting. Two points are often made, one you mentioned and the other is paint damage from acid that wasn't properly rinsed away making it's way to a surface. Acid can't be fully rinsed off I'm convinced. And acid will work on for a long time. Your own point I don't see as too relevant. If need be a hole can be drilled and wax injected in those areas.

I went with blasting and am glad I did. But I had proof of the amount of hidden media when painting the car. We chose to do the scuttle vents seperatly as media could be thrown up from there. Glad i did, cause that actually did happen when we painted them later. But a spec in a smal area is easlily fixed, a car full of specs is not. And remember, glass media is not polishable...

[at200]

As it is such a small car, and there are big areas like the roof that don't need doing, had you thought of stripping it yourself with a quality paint stripper like Starchem?

I would think soda blasting would give the best result, certainly cleaner and quicker than doing it yourself, but would imagine you would be looking at £500 plus.

I just did a quick Google and saw a company quoting £500-700 plus vat for a mini shell.

Have you joined The Mini Forum? Excellent site with some inspiring rebuilds of cars that are so rusty you would swear they are only fit for scrap.