GTV-S2000 (warning not for the Alfa purist)

[Keven]

Gents,

Here's their contact info:

L&M Stripping
14232 Aetna St
Van Nuys, CA 91401
phone: 818-983-1200

Ask for Jim, he is very friendly and helpful. He faxed me a quote
for my job. I'm sure the price depends on the car. To dip my GTV,
hood, trunk, and doors is around $1400. Not sure if this is a good
deal, but where else can I go? I looked into sand blasting, and got
quote's for around $1000, and this did not include doing the underside.
I heard that sandblasting can be quite damaging to the metal if not done
correctly, and uhh the guys I got quotes from did not inspire confidence
that they would take the appropriate care.

Jim told me that they use a solution of muriatic acid, which is essentially
pool cleaner. Not sure in what concentration, but according to Jim, it
will not harm the metal at all. Also they dip the car in a bath of neutralizer
to stop the acid's process. The reason I didn't worry to much about the
process is that Anthony had posted that they had done several cars
using this method, with no problems.

As far as getting the car into the U-Haul, let's just say that it was a real
biotch!! I think that the whole thing weighs around 500 pounds, and
my brother in law and I lifted it into the truck one end at a time. You really
need three people for this, if you don't want to torque a nut

[olycarguy]

Thanks for the info. One thing I would ask is.....MORE photo's of your project!! I worked for honda some years ago and was always awed by their power to cc ratio. You'll have a real hotrod to gun down those unsuspecting 5.0's! I did a rotary converson into a 67 gt jr back in the mid-90's and was amazed at how easy the project went together (I converted it back to alfa power a few years later when vintage racing took off). It was very fast and pulled hard to 8500rpm. Good luck and keep us posted. T.H.

[benjoys02]

olycarguy, i sent you a pm.

[MALDI]

I had never heard of muriatic acid. It turns out to be hydrochloric acid (HCl).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid

[vintage prep]

Bead or walnut blasting is another way to go. Naturally these methods would not clean the inside boxed in sections.

For those in Orange County Ca. there is Strip Clean on 1st st. in Santa Ana.

One thing dipping does is reduce the metal thickness. I had the Felix car stripped during the build process, and when I sold the car, the buyer insisted on weighing it before paying what he considered "a kings ransom". He brought his calibrated scales and we found that Felix (67 GTV) weighed 1570 lbs with half a tank of fuel!! We were all very suprised, and needless to say, the full ransom in cash was immediately tendered.

I found that some of the Phosphate Neutralizer was trapped in the rockers and elsewhere even after a couple of weeks, and was quite slow to dry. I used a torch to carefully heat up the boxed in areas and the phosphate would bubble up and ooze out.

[turbolarespider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by UngaWunga How will you prevent rust on the inside, between panels, where you can't reach with a spray gun? Interesting process. Suprised they're still allowed to operate in CA, since CA made it almost impossible for that surfboard core manufacturer to operate due to emmision laws. Drove them out of business last year, and surfboard prices went through the roof. I think chroming companies are facing the same close scrutany out in CA.

[SFoggy]

Does anyone know of a vendor to do dipped primer? Ford does that, no? Others? Our GTVs are full of crevices.

[vintage prep]

I have yet to hear of anyone that will dip prime a car. It's something that only a manufacturer can do on new (read spotlessly clean) metal. There are dip galvinizers that could do a whole car body in Los Angeles, but I've never heard of anybody going to such lengths.

BTW, I forgot to add on my previous post, "two thumbs up" for Kevin. The amount of fabrication and engineering you have done is amazing. I'm sure every Alfisti here in So Cal is looking forward to seeing your car completed. I hope it will be done in time for next years Dyno Shootout at Magnaflow.

[PSk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vintage prep I have yet to hear of anyone that will dip prime a car. It's something that only a manufacturer can do on new (read spotlessly clean) metal.

[Grant]

Anyone have more info/pics of that 75 with the SR20 in it? You can PM if you wish.

[GTV-GR]

Kevin i'd definately like to have your car in my garage next to my Gtv, i'd have the car look like **** though on the outside , i'd paint it to match rust and look crap , only reason i'd do this would be just to look at the face of the rivals at the stop light when i would kick the living **** out of them

[Keven]

Went down to L&M to see the progress of the stripping. Got to meet
Jim in person, and must say he is a really nice and great guy!!
He and his workers have done a really great job on the car, it's
really weird to see the car down to the bare metal, almost looks
like it's fresh off the assembly line, uhhh except for the bondo here
and there. There really is not much damage, or serious structural
rust to speak of. Next step is etching primer.

Here's a few pics for your enjoyment.

[Keven]

More pics...

[Keven]

Got the car back form L&M with primer shot on the body and all the panels.
It really came out great, and am very happy with the work that Jim and his
crew did at L&M. Next step is to do the undercoating and then install the
suspension. Here's a few pics...

[silverspider]

Kevin: You are evidently from the "if its worth doing, its worth doing right" school. Looks great so far.