Do I or don't I ???.

[mick131]

Yesterday I spent almost four hours in the garage removing the old paint from the drivers door aperture and sill etc before priming it with Zinc spray  .

If I where to carry on in the same way around the whole car, it will take months to complete, and cost a couple of hundred quid in paint etc. So I was thinking about having the car dipped and then zinc primed similar to the process in the link below..

http://www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk/for-cars.html

This would cost approx a grand or so from my restoration budget ( something that I had not bargained for ). But would this would mean that all the little nooks and crannies where treated and hopefully would not require any further attention ?.

Bearing in mind the shell in it's current state ie with only the wiring, dash, engine and suspension currently fitted it would be a reasonably easy job to remove the above prior to transporting.

So bearing in mind I want this restoration project to be done properly, the question is this - do I commit a sizeable amount of the budget in order to protect the shell for years to come, more effectively than I could and speeding up the project as a whole ??.

I think I already know the answer but what would you guy's do ?? and has anyone any experience with this ie how long would it take for me to get the shell back, any problems down the line etc etc

Thanks in advance for any input 

[Thotos]

The quality of the end result will only be as good as the preparation work before the final painting. There's no point putting nice shiny paint on badly prepared metal so it looks great for six months and then starts to deteriorate; not unless you are preparing the car just to sell it on. So I'd say you should definitely spend the money and get the shell properly prepared and primed prior to painting it.

[maxi.man]

you must definately have it dipped gets rid of all the  sealents etc finds all the rust you didnt know was there and stops it its the best thing ever start as you mean to go on 

[mick131]

Cheers guy's,

Like I said above I pretty much new the answer as I was writing the post. Will have to look into it a little deeper me thinks. Just have to sort out transport etc.

Will email the company now and see what they say re cost etc.

[Tristan]

I asked them before mick ,I'll dig out the mail and post it up...

[Tristan]

here we go..
Surface Processing Ltd <sales@surfaceprocessing.co.uk>    
to me
   
show details
    29 May

Many thanks for your enquiry.   Our costs to process the vehicles listed in your email would be as follows:

 

To chemically clean a Mini bodyshell and panelwork                                                ?595.00 + VAT

To chemically clean a Mk I Golf. Escort or Datsun                                                       ?695.00 + VAT

 

 

We can also offer a priming service as follows:

 

To zinc phosphate and electrophoretic coat (immersion primer) ? Recommended    ?775.00 + VAT

 

 

We are now fully booked until mid July and the turnaround at present is generally around 21/28 days from receipt.

 

Your can find further information in the downloadable pdf files on our website.

 

All prices are subject to VAT.

 

All prices are quoted ex-works.

 

We can offer a transport service at an extra cost but it is generally cheaper to hire a van and/or trailer for the day. If you require a price for transport please enquire around the time the shell is ready for process

Quotation will be valid for 30 days.

 

Customers must ensure that all non-ferrous items are removed from the shell prior to process.

Any sealed box sections / tubes must be free draining and adequately vented (this can be done simply with a 6mm drill) to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the process. If you are at all unsure we are happy to offer advice on this.

 

Kind regards

 

Georgina

 

[eugene]

Does anyone know of a company in Eire which carries out this process?

[mick131]

Excellent Tristan many thanks.. .

So the cost was roughly what I thought.

If there booked until mid July that means that I can get a move on with the IRS setup, book time off work to take it down there and any welding that needs doing.

[maxi.man]

spoke to SPL begining of january about dipping one of my shells (not fiat) said the waiting list is till september 

[mick131]

Damn...I had better get a move on then.... .

[mirafioriman]

If they have such a backlog of work stacked up it sounds like a great business opportunity for someone. They should sell some franchises around the country.

[maxi.man]

got a shell going for dipping in a couple of weeks not fiat though keep you posted on the results 

[eugene]

Would be very intrested to hear how you got on.Thanks Maxi Man. Eugene

[mick131]

I'd be interested to hear how you got on as well.

Have recently been thinking about setting up a business transporting cars. So yesterday bought a 4 litre Jeep which runs on LPG. Next step is to buy the trailer !!!.

Only problem now is the dipping budget has gone 

[maxi.man]

i was planning on repairing my body shell have the panels but bodyshop too busy why do i leave everything to the last minute.so its going there as is and will have to  be repaired afterwards