Dry Ice Blasting Car Underseal Removal Case Study: 1979 Aston Martin V8

Background

This 1979 Aston Martin V8 was brought to us by a classic car restoration company for an American customer preparing to ship the vehicle to the United States. Having spent much of its life on UK roads, the customer was concerned about the condition of the underbody and whether there was any rust or rot hidden beneath the underseal. Their goal was to uncover and address potential issues before protecting the car for the long haul.

Does Dry Ice Blasting Remove Underseal on a Car?

Ice Blasting does a brilliant job at removing certain car underseals, especially aftermarket versions, but only if the ice blasting equipment is set in a particular way and is capable of high pressures. Though, it’s worth noting that not all underseals come off easily with ice blasting—thicker, factory-applied black or beige underseals require far more effort, ice, and blasting pressure. In cases like this, we don't always recommend dry ice blasting as the most efficient method, as it could be cost-prohibitive without guaranteeing complete removal. Fortunately, after a quick review of your vehicle, we can quickly advise you if removing underseal using ice blasting is the right method for your vehicle.

If you are looking at getting your underbody dry ice blasted and you’re wondering whether ice blasting will remove underseal, or perhaps your are concerned that ice blasting may even damage your perfectly good classic car underseal, then we can most definitely help and advise you. As Automotive specialists with restoration and recommission expertise, we understand how to approach rare and vintage classic cars, ensuring the right blasting levels, ice and technique is applied throughout the process.  A simple conversation around your classic car project and desired outcomes will help us deliver to your expectations.

Aston Martin V8 Initial Condition

Upon inspection, it was clear that the underseal had been poorly applied over the years. The thin black non-factory coating covered the undercarriage, masking the true condition of the metal underneath. Unlike thicker factory-applied underseals, this one didn't provide much protection and required thorough removal to assess the situation beneath.

The Process: Dry Ice Blasting for Underseal Removal

We approached the job with our dry ice-blasting equipment, starting with the vehicle's front end. This area had the underpans replaced at some point in it's life, and the underseal came off relatively easy. However, as we moved towards the car's rear, we found some original factory underseal that hadn’t been removed correctly before the new underseal was applied.  The left over factory underseal, applied decades ago, was very stubborn and required higher pressure, various nozzles, more ice, and of course a lot more time to remove it. However, we of course completed the removal as we’d set out without the need to dismantle the car or use other underseal removal methods.

The Results

Once the underseal was removed, the customer could see the full condition of the underbody via photos and video that we’d captured for review. Unfortunately, there was more corrosion than they had hoped. Still, the early discovery allowed us to recommend further rust treatments before then applying any rust protective coatings such as Lanoguard to ensure the car's longevity.

By revealing the rust early on, the customer could address the issues and ensure the car was in top shape before shipping it to the United States.

What Is The Best Way to Remove Underseal From a Car?

For classic vehicles, such as this Aston Martin V8, preserving originality is key. Other methods of underseal removal, such as heating or chemical stripping, could potentially damage the car's delicate underbody components or compromise its originality. Additionally, dismantling the car for more traditional cleaning methods could have caused more harm and of course, cost more time and money, especially on an older vehicle.

Dry ice blasting was the perfect solution for this classic car underseal. It allowed us to remove the coating without damaging the underlying metal or components. In cases like this, dry ice blasting offers a fast, effective, and non-abrasive way to expose the car's true condition.

Expertise Matters

Working on a classic car like the Aston Martin requires a deep understanding of how different areas of the vehicle should be handled. Misjudging the pressure or technique on such delicate underbody components could result in significant damage and expensive repairs. With our experience in building and restoring classic cars and specialised equipment, we ensured that every part of the undercarriage was treated with the care it deserves.

Conclusion

For this 1979 Aston Martin V8, dry ice blasting was the best solution for underseal removal and rust discovery. While the underseal removal revealed more corrosion than the customer had hoped, it allowed them to take preventive measures and apply protective treatments before shipping the car to the States.

Check out our before and after video on TikTok or Instagram to see how we transformed this classic Aston Martin and prepared it for many more years of driving.

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