Soda Blasting

[Christopher R.]

The underside of my '62 was painted black when the body was painted on the frame in the early 1980s. The painter shot the underside of the car in black with no or minimal preparation. He painted the rust, grime, grease, and road crud. He painted the frame, body underside, and suspension. The paint has stuck pretty good in most places, but has peeled off in some. This looks terrible if you stick your head under the car. The car is a driver, but I'd like to clean this up. Both for judging and for my own personal satisfaction. Doesn't have to be perfect. I do not have access to a lift. I do not have the stamina to crawl under the car and clean it myself with scrapers and paint remover. That won't happen.

I've seen ads for guys who soda blast boat bottoms. They come out to your location and construct a temporary tent around the underside of the boat to do their work. When they leave, they take the tent, soda, and crud with them. The going rate seems to be about $50/foot.

Before I call these guys, I'd like some advice. Any thoughts on this? I've also seen dry ice (CO2) blasting.

[Bob R.]

Re: Soda Blasting

If you don't have a lift how are they going to get at the bottom of your car? I think I would pass on the soda blasting that dust will get into everything including your engine, transmission, and rear diff. probably your gauges also. You'll never finish cleaning it up. If you don't have a lift use jack stands and a rag with lacquer thinner and some elbow grease. It's not a fun job but I don't know of a better way.

[Mike M.]

Re: Soda Blasting

agree with bob in that the dust will haunt you for years. i had a 57 body that was stripped of all attachments, took it for soda blasting, then set body on frame and finished the full resto on the FI vet. when it got its duntov a year later,in the early 2000's, it left dust on the judging floor at concord raceway. it still leaves its dust sitting in our garage. i put body only on the lift , then grin and bear the dirty overhead job. mike

[Robert D.]

Re: Soda Blasting

If its laquer paint try laquer thinner if its still difficult to get off put the thinner on a fine scotchbrite pad and it should scrub off just make sure you where a mask and are well vetillated. it will take a while but should work.

[Scott P.]

Re: Soda Blasting

Christopher, we took a 66 that was greasy, dirty and with lots of paint job overspray on the underside and frame to a guy who did steam cleaning. He put it up on tall jack stands, crawled under and went after it. It didn't come out perfect but sure beat how I was going to get it clean. $150 well spent. And that included the engine compartment which was ugly too, its still ugly but not greasy. Scott