Project FD RX7 Restomod: Part 5 – Dry Ice Blasting Restoration

Decades of dirt and grime are literally blasted away by the dry ice particles.

Using dry ice to restore surfaces is not a new concept.  Boeing first started using dry ice to clean components without disassembling them over 20 years ago.

A decade ago, I saw a documentary where dry ice was being used to lift decades of buildup caused by air pollution, cigarette smoke, and grime from priceless paintings at the Louvre.  This process is so effective and gentle, that it is used by conservationists around the world to bring back historical artifacts to paintings, books, statues, antiques, and wood surfaces.  By comparison, for a car; ensuring there is no damage to plastic connectors, gaskets, labels, and electrical tape-covered OEM harnesses is easy.

However, not all places that offer dry ice blasting services are the same.  The final result will come down to the experience of the operator and their blend of pressure and technique, which can either be too gentle, ineffective, and take longer to clean, or it can be too aggressive and remove protective undercoatings, engine bay labels, and even paint!

The transformation of our FD RX-7’s air conditioning compressor was drastic.  Every nook and cranny is perfectly clean, and the plastic wires and connectors look brand new.