Morris Minor Owners Club

I have been thinking of getting gladys re sprayed, what is the best method of completely stripping the paint away?

That's a huge/expensive task........ Most folks just flat down as long as there is no damage, reprime and then coat over with colour.

Hello mate, yes for sure it is a huge task, but my last 2 restos i have stripped down to bare metal, mainly the panels and engine compartment, dash, a and b posts, it does take alot of time, but for example i can completely strip the engine compartment in a day, with everything removed of course, i use paramose paint stripper, which is cheaper than nitromorse is a similar product and not as messy, at least you can properly prep the panels, and do any neccessary repairs etc, and be fairly confident that you have done a good job which normally leads to a good end product.
I normally put on the stripper a small section at a time, leave 10 minutes if it doesn't remove all give it abit more and use plenty and don't brush it out too much, start to remove it when it looks like it has got of as much as possible, then start on another section whilst putting some on the first section, as it is working you can start using coarse wire wool on the first bit as you finish start on the second bit and so on, this way you waste no time and are constantly working.
It is relentless but if you properly get stuck in you can rip through it, and i have just painted my engine compartment, are seamsealing the joints etc and it looks amazing, for me it is well worth doing i have also done the same on the wood frames and it brings it up like new.
If you just put the paint on and got bad reactions, finish etc you would be gutted and out of pocket and have a load more work, most of these cars are well old and its what they really need.
As for the underside this is a mission, luckily i have a ramp, but this requires scrapping and relentless anglegrinding with wire wheels but again you do get a better end result, its all reflected in the value of the car at the end.
This is just my opinion by the way, hope it helps.
p.s don't forget the washing up gloves!

Great advice. thanks mustard

Hello SVminor,

there is a far better paint remover than a wire brush, which is a strip and clean disc. Here is a picture of both drill and angle grinder versions (I use the angle grinder one and my local agricultural merchant sells them for about a fiver each)
http://www.frost.co.uk/automotive-clean ... -disc.html.
They leave a better finish than a wire brush (Which tends to polish the steel, eventually)The downside is they don't last that long but are so much quicker. i wouldn't consider chemical stripping on areas where I can get these discs to.

Alec

I have used these before but i found they don't last very long, i don't wire brush the top or the panels only the underside even though the only real good way to get it of is with a good chisel and elbow grease for underseal, then i wire wheel the underside but each to there own.
But for the top use a scraper then wire wool, the panel will look like new and have no damage just don't dig to hard into the bodywork with the scraper, two bags of wire wool, two cans of decent paint stripper (don't buy cheap stuff it just doesn't work!), approx £100, and i have done every panel on my traveller, engine compartment, roof, dash, a b posts and it does bring it up really well.
This works out alot cheaper than getting it dipped!
The paint stripper i use is brilliant on the wood aswell.
all the best!