I'm thinking about taking the "chicken's" way out and having the bed in my El Camino sandblasted. I'm worried about the sand getting into the engine compartment, brake parts, etc... I had started to sand the bed but I've got the remains of 5 coats of paint plus primers plus a cheap top coat of inferior bed lining material-I'm sure there's some bondo in there somewhere as well.

Anyone have any ill effects after doing this? The sand blasting place wants $50-60 to do it so it is sure tempting.

Thank you for any and all comments!

Dan Latta

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1970 El Camino
Student, Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
ACES #5204
SCCC #416
Watch the "progress" at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElCaminosandChevelles/lst

$50-$60 sounds damn cheap compared to the labor required to sand it down yourself by hand. Just make sure they will completely cover the rest of the car with dropcloths or something to avoid getting sand everwhere you don't want it. You will still have to clean sand out of the smuggler's compartment though. I would remove that panel and have them blast inside there too. After its clean, paint the entire inside of the smuggler's compartment with Por-15 and you'll be good to go!

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Rob F.
TC #312
68' SS396 6-spd Elky
"If it doesn't fit, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyhow."

Why not just chemicaly strip it? I just did the bed of my '68 and it took less than a day and cost less than $25.

Dont sand blast it,you will warp the metal badly.Media blasting is the way to go.It will not harm glass or trim either.

Interesting idea about the chemical stripping idea. What I've been used to using is something called "Aircraft Remover" by Klean-Strip. Awesome stuff. I could apply a thick coat with an ordinary paint brush, scrape the stubborn areas with a putty knife, and then hose it down with water. Stuff works like a charm.

My only hesitation would be if I'm not able to clean off the stripper adequately, then anything painted on top of it won't do so well.

Thanks guys for the great suggestions!

Dan Latta

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1970 El Camino
Student, Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
ACES #5204
SCCC #416
Watch the "progress" at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElCaminosandChevelles/lst

Dan,

I sandblasted the bed of my 72 and didn't have any problems. You may warp a hood or quarter panel if you tried to blast them, but not the bed. Media blasting would be the perfered method, but IMHO, sandblasting is the the next best option. Just make sure to cover the the front half of the Elky.

Whichever way you go, prime the bare metal quickly.

Good Luck,
Jim Endrud
http://www.endrud.net/elcamino/afteraccident.jpg

I've never experienced any problems sandblasting body parts. Having said that, I am VERY careful not to let them heat up while sandblasting. I use copper slag for media, & I turn the pressure down until I barely get media flow. Works well.

Beadblasting is the way to go, however, it won't remove rust like sandblasting will.

Members are right that it will warp the mental unless you go slowly and keep the metal from heating up.

The sandblasting company you got the quote from isn't going to "Sit there while the metal cools off".

We cut our bed completely out and installed aluminum panels/braces. Not Cheap!

Hope this helps.




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Team Members Forever #341

Richard, Judy, MAXX2

'69 Elke (Frame Off); GM HO 350/330-Mildly Ported Vortec Heads-Manley Severe Duty SS 2.02/1.60 Valves, Comp Cams Full Roller Package (Magnum)-Custom Grind CS 3315/3316 HR112-.510/.520 Lift, Edelbrock Air-Gap W/750 Performer Manual Choke-Performer 100 HP NOS, March Pulleys, 4L60 (Non Computer) W/Lokar Shifter, 12 Bolt Posi.

I used a water based stripper on my Elky bed,worked great.Applied it with a paint brush and removed it with a rubber spatula,then just rinsed with water to remove the last of the stripper.Sand blasting may not remove the bed lining material if it feels rubbery.It will just absorb the shock of the sand and the sand will not cut it well.Jerry

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66 El Camino 350 4 speed
68 Nova 454 4speedhttp://community.webshots.com/user/11011954

Hey jdanlatta, I would like to get my bed sandblasted also, whats the name of your guy because thats a good deal. Im in the san fernando valley. Thanks

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1965 El Camino
350-turbo 350
"someday it will be finished"

As far as chemical stripper goes, I've been using Jasco Premium ($25 gal at Home Depo). It neutralizes in water and does the job well. In fact, I don't even use a spatula/putty knife. Just lay it on thick with a non-vinyl paint brush, let it work for about 2 or three minutes and wipe it off with a rag. This will remove all but the primer. The primer can be scrubbed off with steel wool. It also works great at removing bondo. After I get it down to bare metal, I clean the metal with Methyl Ethyl Ketone. I don't know what the body guy would say but I have used MEK alot and never had any trouble with it. (except for seeing colors every now and then). Stripped the entire car this way. All I have left is the engine compartment. Incidentally, I am switching the color of my 68 Camino from Butternut "Puke" Yellow to Ice Green Metallic with ghost flames.

I don't know what the body guys would say either but I know what an industrial hygenist would say... DON'T use MEK (or any chemical solvent for that matter) with out the proper respirator AND only in a well ventilated are AWAY from any ignition source.

I'm not saying don't use it, but MEK is espscially bad stuff, so use with CAUTION.


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Rod

67 396
SS clone

Daddy's Red Car (http://www.geocities.com/rthlc/index)

Mine was done back in 1987, way before I had the car and it looks like it'll do the trick. There appears to be no warpage and it did a nice job getting three layers of paint off. The lid at the front of the bed was done separately, probably off the car. Like everyone said, cover the rest of the car and the storage box hole back there or it'll get inside and under your carpet.

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino (http://www.dreamelectric.com)
Originally was & will be Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top (now black/black)
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Dual Exhaust
TH-350 - 2.73 Posi Rear - Factory PS, PDB, PW, Tilt, A/C & More
My El Camino Home Page (http://www.dreamelectric.com/index.html)
Other Restorations -1969 Snowco Trailer (http://www.dreamelectric.com/Snowco.html) & 1967 Sears Custom 600 Tractor (http://www.dreamelectric.com/1967Sears.html)
Team Chevelle Member #995

BIGMOE65-I can get the name and phone number on Monday. It's a referral from the owner of the '68 El Camino that I'm working on in school. It's on Slauson in Culver City if that rings any bells-lots of industry down there.

Dan Latta

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1970 El Camino
Student, Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA
ACES #5204
SCCC #416
Watch the "progress" at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElCaminosandChevelles/lst

Thanks jdanlatta, I used to live in culver city. When you get the # just email me. Thanks again.

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1965 El Camino
350-turbo 350
"someday it will be finished"

i have never had any problems sand blasting with regular white play sand. and 125 psi. however i would not use it on hoods, roofs etc... but, i would use a chemical stripper followed by sand blasting to clean it up.

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Only in America do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering and people leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage. www.EINSTYN.com (http://www.EINSTYN.com) TC#1460, VCEA#2
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1970 Chevelle 454 Wagons