All - Well, add me to the list of suckers launching into a total restoration.
I was half way into an expensive paint job when I had this epiphany (probably
over too many beers one night) that I would be spending a lot of money on
really nice paint, only to have a not-as-good body and frame, and engine bay,
and everything else. My friends all agreed: "ya! do it! it's the best way to
go!" So with that, I told my wife, who looked at me like I am nuts, and then
I told my paint guy, who told me I am nuts - to pause (for a year, or 2, or
.....?) with all of the body panels and the cowls removed, and I now have the
car back in my garage ready to be further and completely disassembled (all of
the recent list talk on nuts and bolts has got me a bit nervous). I am
seeking opinions on how to best(?) treat the body/frame on my BN7. Is media
blasting good and sufficient, or should I consider going the acid dip/e-coat
route? Acid dipping and e-coating is certainly the most expensive option. I
have a local place that does it. But, I have noticed that a lot of
restoration pics that I see of Healey's show the bodies having been media
blasted. If the body structure doesn't have a lot of compartments and hidden
recesses then perhaps media blasting is adequate and certainly can be more
"gentle". The inside of the frame is a concern. The acid will get in and
clean out the inside of the frame, where media blasting won't. Then the
e-coat process will get in and treat all of the "hidden" spots. And - yes, I
know that acid dipping a body can result in swiss cheese when it comes out the
other side. Media blasting can do that to a certain extent also I suppose. I
guess I'm comfortable that my car body/frame is ok, as near as I have been
able to get in there and check it out. Plus, that's why we have Kilmartin -
if needed. Am I missing something, or is the choice of treatments more a
matter of money, and/or what's available in your local area? Thanks for any
thoughts.
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Dave M.
61 BN7
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