Hi guys,

I am in the middle of converting a 70 Roundnose Panel van into a ute with a 4EFTE conversion as well. All the parts have arrived from the UK and now need to get the car blasted. Does anyone know of any good Soda Blasters around the Brisbane area?

Will upload picks over weekend.

Cheers

I got mine done, he did a good job on it. Ill find his details.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Cheers

His name is Steve the No. Is 0407650713. i think his business is called "S.A.K.S. sodablasting." Tell him that tim told youto call him. He used to own a panel shop and i used towork for him.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

The issue with soda blasting is its to soft.... I was going to do it, but the panel beater refused to have anythign to do with the car, unless it was sandblasted....... As Soda blasting leaves a fine film on can cause issues with the paint sticking to the body, and it doesnt remove the rust


Metal Prep in logan area... will cost about $1200 but he does a brilliant job, and doesnt warp the panels!

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You need to wash it properly once its soda blasted, thats the trick. Otherwise, like you say, it will not stick.
I had no problem with mine, because i washed it down well prior to spraying it with primer.

The Guy who i know, who did mine is a qualified Panel beater, so i trust him.

The advantage of Soda blasting over Sand Blasting is exactly what you said... It is soft..... It dosn't heat up the panels like sand blasting does, so its alot less brutal on the panels. It won't rip out old bog like sand blasting does, but its the compromise i guess.

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Tim
Dusk Blue
1964 850

Global powder coatings, Archerfield has done alot of stuff for mocq club members, he knows minis and does good. Sand blasting that is, not sure if he does soda.

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Dog Food! Most kids like it more than Broccoli.

Obviously there are two schools of thought on this matter and i'm just about to get my shell stripped back to bare metal.

Which option do I choose?

Sand or soda?

I rang a soda bloke today and he suggested sand as it leaves a rougher surface for the paint to stick to. He was adamant that he wouldn't warp the panels.

I sand blasted part of my car. I am now for ever getting sand out of odd places. It gets every where. Check ot the latest street machine they havea write up on war 440 have a look at how much sand is coming out of the sills. The next car im doin is going to be soda

I'm talking from a llittle bit of experience (and I mean little!) I have had my van shell blasted 3 times first wasn't sand it was that bead blasting which works great. It gets rid of all the bog/ rust and what ever, now this is also a lot more work as you have to fix a lot more.
Sand blasting does basically the same as bead blasting but they say it's hotter and more abrasive, if I had my time over I (from all reports) would get it soda blasted, if it dosnt tear out the bog then it's not going to be as much work. It will surely still remove any loose rust and boggy areas??
Rust is going to come through eventually either way, keep it in a dry shed and never get it wet...

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If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746

Thanks guys, appreciate all the advice.

I had a quick look into the regs/ rules about converting a mini van into a mini ute a few years ago when I was deciding on what I was going to build...
I spoke to an engineer here in QLD and was told this - if converting a mini van into a ute, because there is an actual mini ute model it would have to be pretty much an exact replica. With the same panels/ parts and what not.
They're not like converting a Nissan patrol wagon into a ite because they have a chassis and follow different rules...

I know there have been utes made from vans but rules have changed and you have to find the right person that will pass it. I'm doing suicide doors on my van and that has to be specifically passed by QLD transport them selves.

Just check before you cut! And don't just check with one person, pick a few. One engineer can shut up shop and then you'll be stuck with something you cannot pass... Make sense?

It might even be worth doing one major thing at a time, do the ute conversion with a standard motor then once that's passed and engineered do the engine conversion...

_________________
If you want more inches, stroke it
Life's a garden.... Dig It!
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20746