Acid dipping a whole truck body before paint

[PGG]

Is there anyone still doing this anywhere especially in Texas or near North Texas?

Seems like the best way if you are going to go all the way with a restoration.
Thanks PG

[A1971Blazer]

There used to be a company that did that for automotive application....can't remember the name but there was a place here local....I had a hood done once...it turned out great...but they are long gone...I suppose the EPA regulations had a lot to do with it....?

[hemi43]

Be careful acid dipping. The acid will remove rust as well as everything else which is great, the problem is that it will be impossible to access those areas afterwards to apply primer. And yes, I've done this in the past.

[PGG]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Be careful acid dipping. The acid will remove rust as well as everything else which is great, the problem is that it will be impossible to access those areas afterwards to apply primer. And yes, I've done this in the past.

Thanks for the heads up but I was thinking if it was all totally dissembled first so you could get behind the body panels etc.

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by PGG

Thanks for the heads up but I was thinking if it was all totally dissembled first so you could get behind the body panels etc.

How do you get primer into places like the vent boxes in the cowl area, inside the windshield header and in between pinch seams etc ?
It would be great if there was a way to get the whole body dipped in some sort of primer afterwards, but never heard of that being done aftermarket.

[GM man]

I've always liked the acid dipping. Seems like the best way to start with a clean sheet, but like others have said, it does create some issues and isn't perfect. I like the Eastwood heavy duty anti rust product for the places that hemi43 was talking about. They have a 2' hose that you can run up into tiny places to spray. I'm sure it's hard to completely cover all those places, but that product is really good. There were a couple of places around Lewisville that did the dipping, but don't know if they're still in business. I'll see what I can find out.

[stangtjk]

Originally Posted by hemi43

How do you get primer into places like the vent boxes in the cowl area, inside the windshield header and in between pinch seams etc ?
It would be great if there was a way to get the whole body dipped in some sort of primer afterwards, but never heard of that being done aftermarket.

It true you probably won't access these areas to prime however in my experience the thin factory coating in these hidden areas no longer exists and it's all covered in surface rust anyway.. I'm from the salt belt though so maybe vehicles from dryer areas don't have that problem.

I recently cut the inner bedsides out of my blazer just so I could prime and coat between the quarter panel and bed. There was very little factory primer left in that area, probably 95% surface rust.

[chevyguy_72]

At one point there was a guy on here that was acid dipping and then dipping in an epoxy primer sealant... Cant really remember much about it but it had to have been 10 years ago... Always thought it would be the way to go but never had the money to do it...

[Blazer690]

Try the name Redi Strip it was in So Cal and moved east

[hemi43]

FWIW, here's a 1928 body I had done a few years ago. Amazing results. I used a syringe to inject activated epoxy into the pinch welds.

[Rods]

I have acid dipped all trucks I have restored and love the way it turns out. I also have a rust protection done after dipping. Check with who ever you decide to do your dipping and see if they offer the rust treatment. It has worked out great for me.

[D.PASSMORE]

Its good for certain parts but, to get a primer into some areas after dipping is impossible. Even with creative methods. Maybe in dryer climates it would survive, but down here it is a death sentence to these old steel vehicles.

[Bigdav160]

Those areas were not treated from the factory, were they?

I think it would be good as long as the acid can be properly neutralized.

BTW, my Z28 was primer dipped from the factory. It still rusted.

[GM man]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Those areas were not treated from the factory, were they?

I think it would be good as long as the acid can be properly neutralized.

BTW, my Z28 was primer dipped from the factory. It still rusted.

This is why I like Eastwood anti rust. It's waxy and self heals if it gets scratched. The 2 foot extension wand is good for getting it into hard to reach areas. For sure, the metal that gets a coating won't rust.