Just spent a LOT of time hand sanding/stripping the firewall and front frame section on a '55 Chevy 210. Fenders, radiator support, power brake booster and master cylinder have been removed.
This was a running/driving car that just had the engine removed so all the brake hard lines are still in place and studs, nuts and sheetmetal screws extend through the firewall from parts
attached in the interior (heater assembly, etc.). All the power steering parts are in place (fluid housing, hoses, rack assembly-aftermarket). Media blasting was not an option on this one and
stripping the paint off was not in the initial plan. The firewall had been painted twice before (3 if you count original paint) and the first repaint was the problem. It could be scratched off with
a fingernail. The framerails, crossmember, A-arms, radiator support and inner fenders all had the classic 'black spray can' paint job. Inner fenders and radiator support are getting blasted.
I have a garbage can full of little pieces of 80 grit that I used to strip all the nooks and crannies and my fingers are cut and torn from the sharp edges, factory welding splatter and
sheetmetal screw tips I encountered. Before sanding I soaked everything with a heavy duty degreaser (Purple Power/Simple Green type) and pressure washed twice. It was very clean then
but is now covered with the results of sanding and stripping paint. After stripping a panel to bare metal it usually takes me about 3 to 6 laps with w/g remover to end up with a clean panel.
I do not want to subject myself to that punishment of wiping by hand, 3 to 6 times, every nook and cranny of the firewall/ frame section. It will shred towels to pieces within seconds and
take FOREVER to clean thoroughly. Except for the center 10-12 square inches of the firewall, there is not any area that does not have something sticking through it or attached to it.
No nice flat smooth surfaces anywhere, especially on the frame. -------- Any ideas on how to clean this efficiently and effectively so that the epoxy primer will adhere ? ------------
If it must be hand wiped, so be it. No problem. Spent many hours wiping/cleaning cars and parts before and after bodywork, priming and painting in the past 25 years. I am just looking for
a 'better, quicker' way for the benefit of my customer and my bottom line. Thanks
This was a running/driving car that just had the engine removed so all the brake hard lines are still in place and studs, nuts and sheetmetal screws extend through the firewall from parts
attached in the interior (heater assembly, etc.). All the power steering parts are in place (fluid housing, hoses, rack assembly-aftermarket). Media blasting was not an option on this one and
stripping the paint off was not in the initial plan. The firewall had been painted twice before (3 if you count original paint) and the first repaint was the problem. It could be scratched off with
a fingernail. The framerails, crossmember, A-arms, radiator support and inner fenders all had the classic 'black spray can' paint job. Inner fenders and radiator support are getting blasted.
I have a garbage can full of little pieces of 80 grit that I used to strip all the nooks and crannies and my fingers are cut and torn from the sharp edges, factory welding splatter and
sheetmetal screw tips I encountered. Before sanding I soaked everything with a heavy duty degreaser (Purple Power/Simple Green type) and pressure washed twice. It was very clean then
but is now covered with the results of sanding and stripping paint. After stripping a panel to bare metal it usually takes me about 3 to 6 laps with w/g remover to end up with a clean panel.
I do not want to subject myself to that punishment of wiping by hand, 3 to 6 times, every nook and cranny of the firewall/ frame section. It will shred towels to pieces within seconds and
take FOREVER to clean thoroughly. Except for the center 10-12 square inches of the firewall, there is not any area that does not have something sticking through it or attached to it.
No nice flat smooth surfaces anywhere, especially on the frame. -------- Any ideas on how to clean this efficiently and effectively so that the epoxy primer will adhere ? ------------
If it must be hand wiped, so be it. No problem. Spent many hours wiping/cleaning cars and parts before and after bodywork, priming and painting in the past 25 years. I am just looking for
a 'better, quicker' way for the benefit of my customer and my bottom line. Thanks