Kato Kids 71' 240Z

[PZG302]

I eventually got the OK to take the car to the blaster last Thursday. The panel shop had told me that the blaster was very particular and requested that all sound deadening be removed beforehand so it doesn't contaminate their media and doesn't end up getting re deposited on the surface of my own car or any other jobs so I had spent ages removing the sound deadening inside and underneath.

Because the blaster was so particular I had the panel shop guys come and look at the job I had done on removing the deadening back in late October and they had said it was fine......but when I delivered the shell to the blaster last Thursday they said it wasn't good enough (underneath was OK just the really thick stuff inside needed more work)! I had used a heat gun and scrapper to remove the deadening inside but not all of it comes off cleanly, he said I could leave it as it was but they wouldn't get it all off with the blaster so I decide to take it home again and spent another 6 -7 hours over the weekend with a scrapper and kero and rags cleaning the remainder off. It was kinda worthwhile as it revealed beautiful shiny virgin steel underneath!

So you haven't heard of the dry ice and hammer method? A lot easier than the heat gun and scraper method.

Basically cover the deadener in dry ice and let the dry ice melt away, when it's gone you can then use a hammer to shatter the deadener off, or use a screw driver to get under a corner and lift off the deadener in relatively big pieces. It comes off nice and clean leaving only shiny metal underneath.

[KatoKid]

Yeah, I have Matt.....and in hind sight, knowing now how clean the blaster wanted it I should have gone that way!

[luvemfast]

Just wondering recently about how you were going with Bavarian #1 and John with #2.
You've both dropped off the planet or been too busy 
The shell looks pretty good in the floor.

[NZeder]

Keen to make another one of  those bonnet brackets? The new 260z that I got has the same issue as the engine has been installed a long way back so the original bracket has been cut off.

Cheers
Mike

[handsandwhich]

It was kinda worthwhile as it revealed beautiful shiny virgin steel underneath!

The blaster is very particular and only does a few cars a year for the restoration and hot rod shops , we had a good chat and the more I spoke with him the more I think Ive made the right choice...but the proof will be in the finished product.

You're not kidding there, the inside probably doesn't need blasting now it looks like it just rolled out of the factory. I had good results removing the interior deadening using an air chisel. managed to rip the deadener up in big chunks.

It's good to be so busy in business that the blaster can pick and choose what work they take on. But what do they do if they go quiet I wonder.

[KatoKid]

Well ....its done.

Woke up this morning with a feeling of great trepidation..... excited to see the shell in all its blasted glory but also lothing to see the "surprises" that I'm sure the blasting will have revealed. In the end there were a few surprises but it could have been much worse.

I had to take it from the blasters to the panel shop so they can shoot the etch primer straight away so I only got a few photos and when it is safely in primer I will catalogue all the repairs that need to be done.

I'm absolutely stoked with the job the blasters have done, very very thorough and no damage to any panels. It was well worth the wait.

By the end of today it will be in primer so I will go and take another peek when that's done.

[KatoKid]

Couple more....

[mossy]

Wow, looks very clean

[Lynton]

Man it has come along way!! 8)Lynton

[jamo240]

Looking great Dave...you'll be ready to TIG the exhaust soon...!

I get the final plated parts back and my new radiator on Friday, so I'll post a few more picks of mine then. Doing the wiring now, and then it's time to kick it in the guts!

Jamo