912 project underway. Sanblasting?

[rwh1000]

Hi
My 912 project is well underway. Ive just taken off the suspension and now its just a tub.

My first query is.......To Sandblast or not to sandblast that is the question?

Ive been told it will warp the roof, someone else told me it will twist every panel, someone else told me its the only option to see what we're dealing with in terms of rust.

I've just tried a sand and strip pad with some jenolite on the bumper and it seems ok but the underside and inside of the car is cacked in schultz making me think sand/soda blasting is my only option.

Can anyone shed any light on whats best to do?

(wanted to add photos but its beyond me!)

[Nick Moss]

I don't know where you are, you should put your location in your profile. If you are in the south, take the car to Cleaning Consultants in Loxwood near Billingshurst, they have done dozens of 356s and 911, and do not distort panels.

[rwh1000]

Unfortunately im in Cheshire.

Thanks anyway.

[Nick Moss]

It's worth the trip.

[911-356 dave]

Hi ,
Where in Cheshire are you?
I am in Alderley Edge. I have used both chemical stripping and media blasting they both have pro's and cons. Eco strip that advertise on here are based in the Midlands the blasting company I used is based in Halifax. They bake the shell at 300 degrees for a number of hours and then soda blast the shell and then spray the whole shell with an oxide based weld through primer. The costs are about the same £1200-£1500. I have got a 356 shell that has been done if you would like to inspect it.
Thanks Dave

[Parkview911]

General rule re: sandblasting is to stay away from any flat panels: i.e the door skins, roof, front wings and rear quarters, engine lid and hood included.
The frictional heat from the media can warp the steel.
But these are not that hard to strip by hand: stripper, scrapper, face-off wheel. A hugely rewarding process when you get a shiny steel rear quarter!

The real benefits of sandblasting (be it using crouched walnut shells, fine sand, glass or shot) is that you can get the bitumen coating off the underside, the inner wheel wells and the floor pan (a bugger of a job to do by hand).

Getting the sand out afterwards is a job!

BUT if you can get access to e-stripping / coating, take that option. Clean shell with no warping, rust and a weld-thru primer to boot!