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50 years of dirt, or undercoating?
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:56 pm    Post subject: 50 years of dirt, or undercoating? Reply with quote

Hey guys,

I know this is a bad picture, but in your opinions, is this 50 years of dirt buildup, or is it an undercoating that was done at some point?

My car is in pretty good shape, I drive it around on the weekends, and I am enjoying fixing little things here and there as I go. I just figured it might be nice too even clean up he under side really well.

With that being said, should I work on stripping all of this off, or leave it be? I know this may sound strange but, my concern is that, the the dirt or undercoating may be preserving and or adding to the structural integrity of the car, and if I strip it away, I may open up pandora's box.

Opinions please.

Thanks,

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DHMaher
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Have you tried scratching or chipping off a small piece to inspect?
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have scraped some off, and some is definitely dirt, but other thicker sections are hard to tell.

I am soaking a few large chunks in water overnight to see if it dissolves.
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VDubTech
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's undercoating. Covered in dirt.
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pdivizzle0112
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

VDubTech wrote:
It's undercoating. Covered in dirt.

i second this.

best removed with a needle scaler
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gheezerghia
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you want to remove the undercoating, get yourself a plastic scraper and a heat gun and your in business. Heat it up and scrape it off. No need to set it on fire, just warm it up and it will practically fall off. I did it on my 69 Ghia, worked beautifully.
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puremanb
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My car looks just like this underneath, Most of it just flakes off in big pieces like the undercoating never fully adhered to the pan. A wire wheel will make quick work of out of most of it.
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the input guys. Am I crazy in wanting to remove it, or should this be the last of my concerns?
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63beryl
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Undercoating can be good or bad. If properly done it will protect your car from rust. However, once it gets old and starts to crack it will trap water between it and the metal and cause rust. Since you only drive the car on the weekends and I'll assume nice weather, I wouldn't worry about it right now.
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bedebtfree,

Thanks for the advice. I was thinking this might be a better concern down the road, if/when I get around to attempting a pan off.
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WesleyGarrard
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I recently parted out a very beat up and very rusty 1963 beetle. The areas that had the undercoating had no rust on it at all. Even the underside of the pan had no rust. It just got attacked from the topsides. I know some people hate undercoating but I have never owned a car newer than 1981 and the ones that were undercoated very well were always in much better shape. If the undercoating is in good shape I would leave it. Especially if you are in an Area with a lot of moisture.
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gwol
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why don’t you just leave it alone and let it look like a good solid 50 year old car. Wink
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gwol & Wesley,

While removing some undercoating today, I have found a spot of surface rust that was being protected from the undercoating (I think). So needless to say I am definitely going to stop messing with the undercoating until the point in time when I can do a complete pan off.

Now, what should I do or apply to that area of surface rust?

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Basketcase
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 4:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

looks excatly like the dirt covered undercoating on my plymouth.
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DHMaher
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yup.
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drscope
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

firesurfer22 wrote:
Gwol & Wesley,

While removing some undercoating today, I have found a spot of surface rust that was being protected from the undercoating (I think). So needless to say I am definitely going to stop messing with the undercoating until the point in time when I can do a complete pan off.

Now, what should I do or apply to that area of surface rust?

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In a LOT of cases under coated cars rusted away faster and worse then non under coated cars. This is because the under coat would get compromised and moisture would get under it and then not be able to dry.

So a lot of under coated cars just rusted away from under the undercoating.

On that section you are showing, clean it with a wire brush to get the loose stuff off and then paint over it with Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer. That will keep it from getting worse.
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KTPhil Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

drscope wrote:
On that section you are showing, clean it with a wire brush to get the loose stuff off and then paint over it with Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer. That will keep it from getting worse.


I used the rusty metal primer before and it lasted. Has fish oil or something like that in it that penetrates and then neutralizes the rust. I usually follow up with a light coat of clean metal primer, then a color top coat. Primers can be porous.
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firesurfer
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dr & KTP,

Thanks for the info. I followed your guy's advice. I put on the 2 coats of Rustoleum Rusty metal primer, then I covered it with Rustoleum Black rust prevention enamel.

Thanks again for the help.
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