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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Acid Dipping my car, is it worth it?

RFQ: I'm looking for a company that does acid dipping in New England. I live in Connecticut and I'm presently restoring a 1967 Corvette. I'm looking to get the frame, suspension and bumpers acid stripped.

Jerry Coia
hobbyist - Connecticut
December 28, 2021

Ed. note: Sorry, this RFQ is old & outdated, so contact info is no longer available. However, if you feel that something technical should be said in reply, please post it; no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?)

⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩

Q. Hello,

I recently purchased a 1948 Chevy Fleetline to restore. I have taken everything off and out of the car, but now I need to strip away years of rust and old paint. I have recently been looking into acid dipping as a solution to get to a easy starting point to start prep work for priming and painting but I don't know if this is a good idea?

Roughly what is the average cost to get this done for the WHOLE car? Is it safe for the body of the vehicle (Will it weaken the metal too much or make more holes then is already present in the body? Does it really get the car to the "everything bad is gone, now its time to prep, prime, sand and paint" point? And most important what does the dipping do exactly to the car (technically speaking)? Please respond.

Thank you,

Ryan Davenport
hobbyist - Montgomery, Alabama
2004

"How to Paint Your Show Car"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

A. Ryan:

Actually the term "acid dipping" is an incorrect term. The primary ingredients in this particular process are of a caustic nature. Cost would depend on extent of corrosion, size of the vehicle and transportation costs to and from the stripper. Find a reliable jobber that will furnish references. Hemmings Motor News has many listings for such operations. A cautionary note: Having your car "dipped" will more than likely uncover a much larger number of holes and bad areas in the sheet metal than you ever imagined because you are getting rid of all the bad material. Also, make sure that the jobber uses appropriate rinses and lots of them to insure that all the solution is neutralized. Nothing worse than having this caustic "weep" back through your finished paint job (and it will)if not properly cleaned. The jobber should also apply a rinse coat of an anti oxidizer before you transport home--remember you have nothing but bare steel (and holes) when you leave the jobbers shop so you need some interim protection from the elements. Hope this helps.

Bill Miller
- Shinnston, West Virginia
2004

A. Don't do it!! I dipped my 48 Chevy Sedan Delivery and wish I hadn't, I have heard the same thing from others I have talked to who have said the same thing. Try to find a good sandblaster in you area who deals with classic cars. that is your best bet!!

Robert Leftwich
- Wildomar, California, USA
April 1, 2011

Q. Hello,

I'm suppose to pick up my car this week from being dipped in Allentown, PA. I'm expecting swiss cheese for lunch later in the week. Actually the body isn't as badly rusted as some cars I've seen. My father is the original owner and he let it sit for about ten-twelve years after mom died in 87. So I took the car in about 2000 and ended up in a lawsuit with a body shop that screwed it up. Actually it was left to sit out back of their shop after being sand blasted and 85% primered.

After winning the suit I found another shop not far from my house that offered me an excellent deal to restore it. He's had it now for a year and the car went in to be dipped a couple, three months ago. I was afraid to have it blasted again, and considering the rust that had acquired since getting it back from the other shop we decided it would be better to dip it. My only concern is making sure it is properly neutralized. As someone here mentioned earlier, I don't want it eating through my paint later down the road (no pun!). I was also told that media blasting doesn't permanently remove rust. Acid dipped or caustic dipping will remove everything not of solid metal. Bondo ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , rust, plastic etc. Be sure to remove your VIN plate. It may eat through that as well. Any soft metals. We put new rivets in certain areas prior to sending it out. I prefer this method because we'll know exactly where we stand when we get it back. Like I said, the most important post dip thing to do will be to seal the car. I'll be sure to let you know the results. Thanks for listening. $1100.00 shell, doors, deck lid, hood.

Brett Michaels
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2005

2003

RFQ: Good afternoon,

I am a New Jersey Police Officer, who as a hobbyist is attempting to restore my 1932 Ford Tudor Sedan. The body has light surface rust both on the inside and outside. I suspect that the very best way to insure that the body is prepared properly prior to paint is to have it submerged in an acid bath. My question is, could you tell me where is the closest shop to New Jersey, (Name address and phone number) that I could take my car's body and have it acid dipped.

Thank you for your time,

Jim N [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- New Jersey

I am looking for a company that does acid dipping on the east coast. I live on Long Island and have 2 Novas and a 55 Chevy that I want to have the body and parts acid stripped. Thank for any info.
John B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
auto tech - Coram, New York

I'm looking for a company that does acid dipping in New England. I live in Connecticut and I'm presently restoring a 1958 Willys 4WD pickup. I'm looking to get the cab, hood and fenders acid stripped.
Ken D [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Engineering Technician - East Hampton, Connecticut, USA

I am doing a body off restoration on a 1967 Chevelle. I am looking for a place to acid dip the body in the surrounding states of Kansas.
Mark T [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Topeka, Kansas, US

2004

RFQ: I have a 68 Camaro. I am looking for a place to have the frame and body acid dipped.

1968 Camaro parts 1968 Camaro parts 2 1968 Camaro parts 3 1968 Camaro parts 4

Thank you,

Mark G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Westminster, Maryland

Need to find acid dipping shop in CA that will strip complete body
steve f [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Auto Restoration - San Marcos, California, USA

I was hoping to find someone who does acid dip stripping for my 28 Model A Sports Coupe body. I realize I may have to travel, but would hope a shop might be near Hibbing, Minnesota. I live close to 200 miles north of Minneapolis, MN. I could travel and get this done as soon as possible.
Steven H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Iron, Minnesota, U.S.

I live in Raleigh/Durham, NC and am looking for someone close to me to have my entire 1935 Ford two door body completed cleaned and primed. Body has no rust, car sat in garage for 50 years. I am in the process of restoring to originality.
Thanks,
Dick M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Homeowner - Cary, North Carolina, USA

2005

Q. I am restoring a 1930s fire truck and want to prep all body panels for paint (lot of rust and such) is acid dipping the way to go? Who can do something like this?

John Papasergia
hobby - Tehachapi, California, USA

A. Hi John. As you will read on this thread and related linked threads, some people swear by dipping (it's actually an alkaline de-ruster, not acid), while others swear by media blasting. Some people also swear by Chevy trucks and others by Ford. All you can do is keep an open mind, read both sides, and decide which path you'll try. Sorry, but agreement isn't going to happen :-)

We don't print recommendations for particular shops here because experience has shown that it often leads to fictitious postings by salespeople posing as satisfied customers, and a race to the bottom. It just hasn't worked here. Please try to get a copy of Hemmings Motor News .
and judge who the reputable shops are who advertise there. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

2005

RFQ: I need to have an auto body acid dipped. I would like to have the entire body dipped and cleaned.I would like to have this done somewhere near the northern Indiana area.

Bernie c [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
hobbyist - Trail creek, Indiana, USA

I'm looking for a place that can acid-dip my car body in Houston, Texas?
David C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Car restorer - Houston, Texas

I have a car that I have stripped down to a shell I live in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and would like to know if there is any shops in the area that do acid baths for vehicles.
Jonathan H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
auto mechanic - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

"How to Paint Your Car"

on AbeBooks

or Amazon

(affil links)

2007

Q. I have started to re-build a 67 Mustang, and have heard of having the whole car "ACID DIPPED". From the information that I have read it is the best way to get rust out of every part of your car's metal parts.

RFQ: Can anyone point me in the right direction (a company that can do this,in New Jersey), has anyone ever done this or heard of someone that has?
Thank You for any HELP.

Humphrey A [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Homeowner - Jackson, New Jersey, USA

A. Humphrey, it has been said that some race cars have been acid dipped to thin the sheet metal and reduce the weight -- but this may be apocryphal, I don't know. What you are looking for, though, is actually alkaline de-rusting (you don't want acid because getting all vestiges of this corrosive material out is a problem). I'm not aware of any shops in NJ that offer this but in addition to Hemmings Motor News, you might look at Letter 40982, which is also related to dipping of auto bodies, and you get some some additional leads. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

March 27, 2008

Need to find a place that I can have my 1967 Chevy frame dipped .. As well the cab later on in Las Vegas

Tom V [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Hobby - Las Vegas, Nevada

September 27, 2008

Yes I have a 1964 Chevy Impala am looking for an acid car dipping service Atlanta GA. Can some one please help me.

Lenny L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
airline service - Douglasville, Georgia, USA

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