What is the best way of stripping out the boot and engine bay of paint, crud, etc to bring it back to bare metal before prime and painting. Some guys use paint stripper, soda blasting, wire wheel, whatever. Would appreciate some advice from past experiences and success stories.

Degrease and pressure wash the engine bay to get rid of the crud. I think the easiest is to bead blast. You cant get in to all the little areas with wire wheels. Paint stripper and soda blasting, you have to get rid of absolutly every last little bit of it or will bugger the new paint.

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

I would use all of the options you listed.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

Kaka.

Once all the removeable bits are gone, Wipe it down with a wet (thinners) rag, to get it clean.
I have done a couple boot n engine bays. I bought a cheap (Bunnings) sander. The one's that take the triangle velcro disks. This is small enough for 90% of most areas.

Alex.

Restarting an old thread but what is the best way to remove the bituminised rubber stuff?

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67 Deluxe under going full resto

Heat gun and scraper and a wire wheel on a grinder l believe

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SPO41 Mk2 Cooper S very original
1993 R32 Nissan Skyline GTR

+1
Thats what I used. No easy way though

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

I've used paint stripper on this stuff before with good results. You will need to let it sit for a while and use lots of it though. I think this will all depend on how thick it is too...

We aren't allowed to bead blast ourselves, though, are we? (Other than cabinets of course).

Cheers,
Tony.

Thanks i like the heat gun and scraper and will do as much as i can then get the remainder blasted.

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67 Deluxe under going full resto

remember to wear gauntlet leather gloves when heat gun and scrapping. I'm about to start this on a project of mine 15yrs after I last had to do it, so the timing of your question is excellent.

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Why? You can't use sand for sand blasting because of the silica content, but apart from the mess I didn't think there were restrictions on abrasive blasting in general? As always, you'd want the right PPE though.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

I'm a little vague on the detail now, but about five years ago I was renting an engine crane and asked about hiring sand blasting gear. The response was that they weren't allowed to hire them out (and maybe that non pro's weren't allowed to do it either). I may have been basing a lot on one quick question here...

You need proper PPE for sand blasting or you get Silicosis. Nasty stuff. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

I have been getting quotes for blasting and its ranging from $1500 TO $2800 soda and bead blasting and they reckon they can remove the bitumenisd stuff.

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67 Deluxe under going full resto

The sand blaster near me told me that dry ice & a couple of gentle hits with a hammer works good because sand blasting just moves it around.

Cheers Brad

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During the day I work on English designed cars & on my own time I work on English designed cars....