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Part Two: Mr. Sandman, clean up our Dream
They say rust never sleeps. If it does, then Winnipeg Sandblasting is the ultimate wake-up call. It was also the first port of call for the Wheels of Dreams project car.
The sound is deafening, and the ear plugs mandatory in the outdoor shelter where Eric Thomas renews the Chevrolet's foundation. He's been finding the metal under the rust for 20 years. "It's a combination of pressure, distance, sand, and what kind of material that's being blasted," said Thomas. The frame rails of the Chevy are fully boxed, a feature that is normally found today under the floor-boards of heavy-duty pickup trucks. This type of material allows Thomas to get fairly close with the sand, as he takes multiple passes. Body panels are a much different story. "For panels, you increase the distance as much as four to five feet away," said Rogowski. "Otherwise, it could get as warped as a crushed Pepsi can." For this reason, only seasoned veterans are given the task of blasting cars such as the Ford, and the coming-soon shell of the Chevy. The Master 85 will need to be completely stripped of all trim, glass, and interior parts before it can be sandblasted.
After about 20 minutes, the job is pretty much done. During the dismantling of the car, there were a few minor spots where the ravages of time, mud and road salt had made larger cavities of factory holes. Luckily, the sandblasting didn't aggravate these areas, which will keep any needed patches down to a minimal size. As long as the frame is kept away from moisture and humidity, it can remain uncoated for a week or two without fear of the rust returning. Don Park, Head Mechanic at the Hillbilly Garage, will commence with the attachment of the MacGyvers front crossmember and the independent front suspension, as well as the addition of the newer generation rear axle. Jamie Johnston will be spraying the frame in one of the silver tones that will be the dominant theme, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Rainbow Society. It will be as pretty underneath as on top.
After about 20 minutes, the job is pretty much done. During the dismantling of the car, there were a few minor spots where the ravages of time, mud and road salt had made larger cavities of factory holes. Luckily, the sandblasting didn't aggravate these areas, which will keep any needed patches down to a minimal size. As long as the frame is kept away from moisture and humidity, it can remain uncoated for a week or two without fear of the rust returning. Don Park, Head Mechanic at the Hillbilly Garage, will commence with the attachment of the MacGyvers front crossmember and the independent front suspension, as well as the addition of the newer generation rear axle. Jamie Johnston will be spraying the frame in one of the silver tones that will be the dominant theme, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Rainbow Society. It will be as pretty underneath as on top.
Find out how you can get involved with the next 'Wheel of Dreams' project. Email Michael Clark today!
michaelclark@mts.net.
michaelclark@mts.net.
Well, part of it anyway. The first piece to be sandblasted on our 1940 Chevrolet Master 85 is the frame, in preparation for welding repairs, paint and the attachment of the major mechanicals. In addition to large=scale work and heavy equipment refurbishing. Winnipeg Sandblasting is a name with plenty of miles in the car restoration community. All you have to do is look at one of Ron Lambert's 1956 Fords for a ringing endorsement. Lambert agreed to donate the sandblasting services from his company for Wheels of Dreams cause.
When it comes to restoring a vintage auto, sandblasting can be the ultimate truth serum. "There is always going to be rust holes," said Shop Foreman Dale Rogowski. "Some people are quite shocked when they see the results." Even California-born cars hide secrets, like the shell of a 1951 Ford Custom Victorias hardtop that has just undergone the abrasive bath. It's the best way to determine if a car has lived a life free of fender-benders. The Cali Ford flanks reveal old-school lead repairs, as well as later generation body fillers. You might not think twice about a dried-out weather-strip around your window. What could a little bit of rain do? This Ford remembers every drop, with a Swiss-cheese relief map on the passenger floor pan after the sandblasting treatment. The use of baking soda for blasting is reserved strictly for paint removal, with no effect on rust.
The sand is anything but playground. The company uses silica sand for the majority of its work. "Playground sand is very coarse and dirty," said Rogowski. "Silica sand is round, about the size of a grain of sugar." The favoured blasting media goes through a washing and drying process before it is shipped for use. It then gets placed into a hopper-fed system fed by an immense air compressor. The sand that hits the metal from the hose has a 65 PSI charge. That's plenty to erase the brown and the crusty.
When it comes to restoring a vintage auto, sandblasting can be the ultimate truth serum. "There is always going to be rust holes," said Shop Foreman Dale Rogowski. "Some people are quite shocked when they see the results." Even California-born cars hide secrets, like the shell of a 1951 Ford Custom Victorias hardtop that has just undergone the abrasive bath. It's the best way to determine if a car has lived a life free of fender-benders. The Cali Ford flanks reveal old-school lead repairs, as well as later generation body fillers. You might not think twice about a dried-out weather-strip around your window. What could a little bit of rain do? This Ford remembers every drop, with a Swiss-cheese relief map on the passenger floor pan after the sandblasting treatment. The use of baking soda for blasting is reserved strictly for paint removal, with no effect on rust.
The sand is anything but playground. The company uses silica sand for the majority of its work. "Playground sand is very coarse and dirty," said Rogowski. "Silica sand is round, about the size of a grain of sugar." The favoured blasting media goes through a washing and drying process before it is shipped for use. It then gets placed into a hopper-fed system fed by an immense air compressor. The sand that hits the metal from the hose has a 65 PSI charge. That's plenty to erase the brown and the crusty.
Speaking of pretty, some of the panels on the Master have seen better days. If any of our readers know of the existence of body parts, or complete 1940 Chevrolet cars, we would love to hear from you. Many of these items were interchangeable with four-door sedans. (We'll even come and pick it up.) As with all of the parts and services associated with the Wheels of Dreams build, we request that any such items be donated outright. Your efforts will be rewarded; in these pages, and in the hearts of the children who will receive the ultimate benefit.
