[MD79TA]

Want to do body work on my 68 gto convertable. It has a few spots around the wheel on the rear quarters. I was looking into how to best strip these areas before I seek help possible from a body shop or maybe do them myself. I know that sand tends to warp,soda leaves a residue that does not like paint. Has any one heard of dustless blasting? Or should I just sand it down by hand? It has some rust and bondo and I know it is usually worst than it looks. This is a southern California car and has sat for 10 to 15 years, floor pans and trunk are original and solid. My plans are to get it running and enjoy it as I slowly fix her up. I don,t want to take it all apart and look at for the next three years as I put it back together. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestion Doug

[hpp]

Might help to post a pic if you can. Angle grinder with a 2" 36 grit roloc disc will remove paint and most rust/filler. Far as rust

that is not removed sand blasting would be ok on non large flat surfaces.

[6d7gto]

dustlessblasting.com

[GoatDr]

You shouldn't sandblast body panels, but glass bead or soda blasting is OK. I had one of my GTO's completely blasted with glass beads. It took everything off including rust and bondo. Strip the rust areas, use a rust treatment, paint with primer, either repair with new metal or bondo it again until a full repair can be made.

[hpp]

I've never had a problem with sand blasting long as the panel is not large and flat such as a hood. I had fenders and doors and 1/4 panels sand blasted with no problems. If you have small areas that need rust removal such as a 1/4 lip sand blasting would be fine.

Soda blasting,glass beading,chemical stripping are also a great way to go.

[Cammer-6]

a razor blade will make quick work of piles of paint
wont do much on rust or filler tho

[Nikwho]

Originally Posted by hpp

I've never had a problem with sand blasting long as the panel is not large and flat such as a hood. I had fenders and doors and 1/4 panels sand blasted with no problems. If you have small areas that need rust removal such as a 1/4 lip sand blasting would be fine.

Soda blasting,glass beading,chemical stripping are also a great way to go.

X2 IF the person doing the blasting knows what they are doing. If the blaster you find isn't experienced in blasting car parts/panels I wouldn't go that route. I'd strip it manaully with a DA and use phosphoric acid on the rust.

[hpp]

Originally Posted by Nikwho

X2 IF the person doing the blasting knows what they are doing. If the blaster you find isn't experienced in blasting car parts/panels I wouldn't go that route. I'd strip it manaully with a DA and use phosphoric acid on the rust.

I've been going to the same person for a long time and thats a good point. They do need to know what they are doing.

[Greg Reid]

What kind of tools for bodywork do you have on hand?
If I was just stripping a few small areas like you describe, I'd just get an electric, variable speed angle grinder. I like to use a wire cup on it. It won't damage the good metal.
You can have the paint off both sides in 15 minutes.
There are MANY ways to skin that cat.....or Goat, as the case may be.

[MD79TA]

Here are some pictures of the body. It is from california and had not been started in 15 years until this weekend. All the floor boards and trunk are solid.Just want to clean up these spots. New roof and on the road next summer for some fun.

[MD79TA]

Here you go

[Greg Reid]

Yeah, I'd use a variable speed grinder and use a combination of 40~80 grit discs and a wire cup when you get down to the metal. Get at least a 4" grinder. You've got some filler in there and the rust will be beyond what you think. You won't get an honest assessment until you get the paint and filler out of the way for a fairly large radius around the rust you can actually see.
Not saying it's in bad shape...actually looks pretty good but you have to bite the bullet and get the damage out in the open...as painful as it may be. lol
I'd take all the paint off both quarters myself...repair as needed and epoxy them....then you can drive it for a while until you get ready to dive into it fully.
That's just the way I would do it. There's plenty of ways to handle it.

[Bob Scott]

You've got a good bit of rust and old bondo in those areas, I'd use a 7" sander with a 36 grit fibre disc.

[MD79TA]

Thanks for the info. I just took a look at the rally two wheels ' I have a set of 5 and they are JA 14x6. Are they worth anything? I will most likely change to 15 wheels. This is a disc brake car.

[nytrainer]

Those wheels were used on the 68 with factory disc brakes (as opposed to JC wheels). I'd like to steal them from you and say they are worthless lol. Should get alot of interest in them. I'd be interested.
Dave

[hobi]

Originally Posted by MD79TA

Want to do body work on my 68 gto convertable. It has a few spots around the wheel on the rear quarters. I was looking into how to best strip these areas before I seek help possible from a body shop or maybe do them myself. I know that sand tends to warp,soda leaves a residue that does not like paint. Has any one heard of dustless blasting? Or should I just sand it down by hand? It has some rust and bondo and I know it is usually worst than it looks. This is a southern California car and has sat for 10 to 15 years, floor pans and trunk are original and solid. My plans are to get it running and enjoy it as I slowly fix her up. I don,t want to take it all apart and look at for the next three years as I put it back together. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestion Doug

the last 5 gtos i stripped i used aluminum oxide i would highly reccommend wont get rid of undercoating but i use walnut shells for that good luck.

[MD79TA]

Got a new National Detriot 6 inch DA sander and im ready to start stripping around those wheel wells. What grit paper should I buy. 40,60,80 thanks for the help, Don/t want to use to agressive and danage the metal if that can be done.

[455GRIN]

Try 80 grit first...should remove paint quickly...keep it moving don't burn the metal

[Greg Reid]

Why did you decide to use a DA? Just curious as I haven't had much success stripping with one. Grinder is much faster IMO. As for paper...I agree with 455GRIN. 80 is a good starting point.

[Verdoro 68]

I started with 80 but that got a little tedious since I had two paint jobs to get through. I ended up having the best results using 40 to get through the first paint job and bodywork then using 80 to take down the factory paint to bare metal.