media blasting and a good bodsy shop, good body shop in South Jersey? Options

[stevenhaas]

Hi all!!

Well this weekend I am hoping to begin the tear down on my car. After it is torn down (which will take a couple of weekends I am sure) I would like to get the car media blasted... Can you do that home?? or will it make a huge mess?? I am also wondering how much a body shop would charge but I really didint know if there is a decent one in the south Jersey area? Does anyone know of one???

[ArtechnikA]

define 'media' ...

if you mean "sand" - don't do it. you will never, ever get it all back out and your car will 'scrunch' forever. i recall the 356 guys talking about NJ body shops but i don't know them offhand. (practically, tho - NJ is a pretty small state...)

CO2 blasting has potential - check the yellow pages under 'aircraft painting.' depending on what's on there now, what kind of media, and whether you're talking about just the exterior or a complete all-access stripping, i'd guess you could have it done in the $750-$1000 range.

practically, there is no way to even begin this at home - unless you already the 10+HP multi-stage air compressor and the protective gear.

personally, i'd call Dan Petchel in NJ, or Bruce Baker in Collegeville, PA and ask for recommendations. AFAIK neither of those guys has ever been on this list, although Dan shows up on Rennlist from time to time...

[stevenhaas]

i am kind of wondering if its something I really even need to do.... I really just to end up with a really fine car in the end. I just thought that maybe this should be done because I wanted the car to be painted inside and out along with the engine bay. I would really love to have the the undercarriage also painted but I am not sure that is even the right thing... after the car is done I want to drive it! and I mean to and from work, to the shore.... I dont do any racing like a lot of the other guys do. I would also like to be able to put it in a show.... am I making any sense?? Can you tell this is my first real project car?

[ArtechnikA]

blasting is used to remove a lot of paint in a hurry which is why professionals (who know what they are doing and have all the right stuff) like it.

and it's one of the best ways of cleaning up after rust. how's your rust ?

if you have aspirations of concours you have a very difficult road ahead even if your car is perfectly straight and clean. when you talk about repainting everything - are you talking about a complete color change?

i admire your ambition - it takes most guys a month just to strip out the sound-deadening tar in the cabin. have you already finished that ?

[stevenhaas]

I am starting to pull the car apart this weekend. When it is done I envision gt flars and 916 front and back bumper. The car will maintian its orignal color (yellow). Do I have intensions of going to Pebbel Beach?... NO! I guess what I am looking for is a really nice paint job all new rubber, powdercoating the moldings black and having the car stay in nice shape for years to come. I have only had one car re-painted in my life. I was like 17 and it was Celica GT '77. The paint looked great when I got it, but 2 years later it looked like shit again and I just don't want that to happen. Know what I mean.... I'm sure it was simply because I went to Meeco (sp) and didnt have a lot of money. I just dont want to have that happen again. I have always wanted one of these cars ever since I was a kid and I just want it to be beautiful....

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (stevenhaas @ Apr 13 2005, 03:26 PM)

The paint looked great when I got it, but 2 years later it looked like shit again and I just don't want that to happen.

yes - there is no upper bound on a $200 paint job ...

good luck with everything - you have come to the right place for help, advice, and moral support.

i'd suggest you plan on coming over to the Hershey Swap Meet in a couple of weekends (Apr 23) and check out the cars and talk to the people. i haven't been here long wnough to know any of the restoration shops other than Bruce Baker (who is one of the country's top 356 guys) nor the reputable paint & body works.

good paint is expensive, and preparation is key. cheap paint is junk and will look like it fairly soon (as you have seen). go check out what a quart of Guard's Red Sikkens or Glasurit is going for...

yellows shouldn't be quite as expensive - or so i hope - i have a Canary (2910) car ...

[i love porsche]

im taking my car to a person in newark, it wont be blasted, im only getting the underbody and engine bay done, but he gave me a quote of around 750 for that....so..who knows

[TimT]

Mark Bavarro at Bodymotion.com

[stevenhaas]

Thanks for letting me know about the swap meet!!! I didnt think they really had anything like that around this area...Thanks also for everyones help.

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (stevenhaas @ Apr 13 2005, 06:42 PM)

Thanks for letting me know about the swap meet!

Central PA Region

click on the line that says "World's Biggest Swap Meet" and you'll get directions, times - all that sorta thing.

as always - arrive early for best selection, stay late for best prices ...

as you can see in my sig
(|
 V) i'll be there...