My AAR Resto gets serious

[Topcat]

I may spend the money on the twirler and blast it myself. Anyone ever try doing this at home, or in a garage?
Greg

Ay Captain! And it was a nasty job!

Threw my lower back in pain for a few days.
If you have a good lower back, then you'll perservere.

You'll get dirt and sand in places on you that will take days to get out.

I used a pressure pot I bought at HF. They work but your compressor  may or not be able to keep up. Sand blasting requires alot of CFM and PSI to keep up. You also need a good air dryer system since line clogs will happen if not done otherwise. I used Aluminum Oxide to blast since it's aggressive cutting action and won't give you Silicosis. Actual sand breaks down into a fine dust that's very dangerous to breathe in when blasting. There really isn't a safe media to breath if exposed to. Make sure if you do, that you get a really good respiratory filtered mask system.

Since my car was pretty much a rust free body, I opted to strip the outer sheet metal by hand using scapers and paint remover. There were a few small spots of rust that I did using a hand held speed blaster.

If you plan on an entire body sand blasting, then I really recommend sending it out. Your rust percetage on the body will be what you need to decide on DIY or send out to get done.

I've been planning on selling my Harbor Freight Pressure Pot sand blaster if you're interested, send me a PM.

BTW, someplace (company?)  in Hayward has been selling powder coated rotisseries just like what I had before for about $900.00

[Topcat]

Saw this near you...

http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/4779237106.html

[AAR6BBL]

Thanks Mike,
I think the outfit in Hayward is Shop Equipment USA They sell the Direct Lift model for 995.00 and I could have one of my company trucks will call it for me so no shipping!
Might be the way to go.
Greg

[Topcat]

I bought my rotisserie at SEMA years ago from a place called www.bestbuyautoequipment  out of L.A.

It's a copy of the Auto Twirler/whirley jig models.

I suspect the Hayward place is the same unit. 

[DODGE1933]

Greg, next time you are coming to Vallejo and have time e-mail me at dodge1933@comcast.net. I am retired so most the time I have an open schedule. May be able to help you out with the motor dolly. I have my 6-pack and A833 setting on it now.

[AAR6BBL]

Evening E-Body Fans,
Well I had a few days off to spend locked in the garage with the AAR and you can check out the results below. I did break to attend my 61 B-Day party at my daughters house with family & friends Sunday evening, but other then that it was all Cuda all the time. When I rolled out of bed to go to work Tuesday morning I felt every bit 0f 61!!
Anyway good progress was made, both doors off and stripped, they look good. Pulled both front fenders rockers a little rusty but feel solid when I smack'em with a hammer. Took me 3 hours to cut the solid mass of black silicone they had pumped into the rear windshield, finally got that out and found about what I had expected. MORE RUST! :pulling hair: Right fender looks like it was replaced at one time, looks clean. Left fender has some pretty bad rust right at the bottom where it attaches to the front of the rocker.
I am getting my rotisserie next week, but haven't decided whether I am going to pull the dash next or strip the engine bay.
Decisions decisions.
Anyone out there have good experience with a media blaster in the Sacramento/SF Bay area?
I got a quote from the guy my body/paint man recommends, but it seemed high ($2000.00 to blast plus $1000.00 to epoxy primer everything.) so I want to get some comparisons.
Latest pics attached.
Further down the rabbit hole with Greg

[AAR6BBL]

More pics

[Dr. Feelgood]

Looks like great progress so far! Happy Birthday!

[chtcuda]

Hi Greg. Car is sweet. Just wanted to share my experiences with restoring my AAR from home in my garage. $2000 for media blasting is a chunk of change to some including me. If I could have afforded it there's no doubt I would've had it done but I wanted to keep my cost down so I went to HB and got a blaster. I only blasted what I could take off of car, engine compartment and then DA'd, hand sanded, wire wheeled the rest to bare metal. That blaster will need a bigger compressor than the one I saw in one of your posts so you may take that into consideration.

I only used a borrowed rotisserie to do the underside and used/using homemade Dollie stands for the rest. I just don't have the room to keep and use the rotisserie I had. It was 20' long and my garage is 24' deep so I didn't have much room to spare plus it was easier to roll it in and out of garage with the dollies.

Anyway, hope this helps you to realize that it can be done because I had my doubts as well. BTW it's FE5 as well.

[EbodyMod]

  Looking good! When it comes time for sheet metal look at a the Website GETALLPARTS.com. if you have done your research you are getting the best quality sheetmetal at bargain basement prices.  Lets Just say look for the numbers that start with GMK. Your wallet will be pleasantly surprised!

[anlauto]

Goodmark may be better in pricing, but the quality is NOT the same as AMD

[EbodyMod]

 :wavingflag:I just recived goodmark fenders normally 699 each for 280 ob this website. as far as quality everything I have ordered has fit beautifully. I however have not tried any AMD stuff. Just food for thought

[AAR6BBL]

I appreciate everyones feedback, and will research all the options available. My body man uses nothing but AMD stuff so I will probably go with his recommendation, even though I will be the one doing the metal work. Right now I just hope it doesn't come back from blasting in two 55 gal drums!
I plan on stripping the engine bay this weekend in preparation for dropping the K frame. Still need to weld up my K frame dolly, casters came in this week. Since I have a lift I plan on making it at its installed height figuring that would make working on the assembly easier. I may start working on pulling the dash out depending on my mood and ambition.
I will post progress pics after the weekend.
Greg

[AAR6BBL]

Hey chtcuda,
Thanks for the support, sure would love to see some pics of your project if you have any!
Greg

[chtcuda]

Hey chtcuda,
Thanks for the support, sure would love to see some pics of your project if you have any!
Greg

Sure thing.
Day I brought it home Jan 2012

Last pic is current.

All body prep is done except final block. It's been almost two years to get to this point. As you can see someone had already started prepping for a repaint but never got it done. Very little rust because car was taken off road in 78 and put in storage. I did have to replace the lower windshield corner and cowl patch which I got from AMD. Nice fit. The only reason I mention this is I saw what yours looked like and mine were identical.