Hope i've got this in the correct forum! I have the doghouse off my '69 SS to replace the radiator core support and wheel wells, install new heater core, and generally detail the engine bay. The engine is torn down to long block status, intake, front cover, headers, are removed. The engine will not be coming out of the car. The more I look, the more I see needs to be cleaned up, stripped, sanded, painted, etc. The previous owner evidently thought engine detailing meant several rattle cans of gloss black paint. What power tools would aid in this job? Should I buy/rent a soda blaster? How about sand blasting? I have a compressor and normal air tools . I will be detailing /painting engine, firewall, heater box, a-arms, chassis, etc. and replacing brake booster/master cylinder, wiper motor, headers, battery tray. What is the best way to strip the radiator? Keep in mind this is a finished car on the outside with excellant paint, chrome, and glass. I realize there are a lot of questions here, and you help/advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you:beers:P.S. my car is a nice driver/cruiser/ local type show car , not a 100% resto

just my opinion but I think you would be more satisfied with the job if you went ahead and pulled the motor. That way you could get all of the motor painted good, and firewall and chasis parts. If the rest of the car is nice why not take the extra time and make under the hood look just as good. Don't skip either on paints that you will use, as you don't want to have to do it again.

Bill,

If you are thinking about sand or soda blasting parts (like the block for example) while they are still in the car, forget about it. You'll do more harm than good from "overspray" damaging surrounding areas, not to mention media getting into every nook and cranny imaginable. Masking areas off would be an exercise in futility.

What you'll need is a good assortment of hand tools like wire brushes, scrapers, sand paper, etc., along with degreaser, paint stripper and what not plus the obvious like rubber gloves and eye protection. That, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm. As far as power tools go, the first thing that I would consider is a variable speed reversible corded drill and a variety of wire brush attachments. You'll want a reversible drill so that when your wire brush accessories take a "set" in one direction and efficiency falls off, you can reverse direction and get better results.

Bill,

If you are thinking about sand or soda blasting parts (like the block for example) while they are still in the car, forget about it. You'll do more harm than good from "overspray" damaging surrounding areas, not to mention media getting into every nook and cranny imaginable. Masking areas off would be an exercise in futility.

What you'll need is a good assortment of hand tools like wire brushes, scrapers, sand paper, etc., along with degreaser, paint stripper and what not plus the obvious like rubber gloves and eye protection. That, and a healthy dose of enthusiasm. As far as power tools go, the first thing that I would consider is a variable speed reversible corded drill and a variety of wire brush attachments. You'll want a reversible drill so that when your wire brush accessories take a "set" in one direction and efficiency falls off, you can reverse direction and get better results.

I highly agree with Rich. This is the way I did my first restoration, exactly. The only comment I would add to it is to buy a few wire brush wheels. Even with reversing the drill, they will get to a point where they won't work efficiently and will need to be replaced. Buy several. Degrease the area first, then sand and wire brush. Do yourself a favor as Rich said and make sure to use a corded drill. You'll run the batteries down in short time without a doubt. He means it when he says a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Don't expect to get this done in a week. The more you do, the more you're going to notice that needs refinishing. Follow his paragraph word for word.

Sam

After staring at my car for while and reading the comments on this forum, I've decided I will feel a lot better about this task if I do it right. The rat is coming out this saturday! Thanks for your input everyone!