Refresh Undercoating 57 Beetle

[2067Bug]

The original floor pans and underside of my 57 beetle is rust free. The car was undercoated years ago and I think that is what saved it from rust. I’m considering having the underside professionally undercoated again and wanted to run their process through the experts on this forum. The company first thoroughly cleans the underside, scrapes and grinds to remove any rust, applies a rust eliminator (a tannic acid-based chemical), and finally undercoats frame rails, floor pans, rocker panels. They basically treat everything that does not move or get hot with a thick undercoating.

The current state of the 57 bug: the body has never been separated from the chassis and is show quality with and excellent paint job. My main concern is proactively protecting the car for years to come.

Please share your thoughts/opinions

Thanks you

[finster]

by undercoat do you mean underseal? if it is rust free now and the underseal is intact and I assume you're not going to drive on salty roads then I would be tempted to leave it or just give it a coating of waxoyl or lanolin...
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[RandyV]

My $.02 depends on where you live now and where you’re driving. Dry, mild climate I’d be less concerned about.

I’m sure the company would do a great job based on what you’re saying. However if it’s really in that good shape I’d probably just do it myself.

Now….what to do it with is my question. Rust oleum??? Por 15??

Not to hijack, but that is my question as I’m in a similar boat and about to pull stuff and start doing this myself as I pull.

[ZENVWDRIVER]

… looked in your gallery and saw a near-perfect black-oval - it is my understanding that undercoating was a dealer installed option - i'd do nothing under there - just keep it clean - z
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5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON

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[Terry Gaudet]

I have refreshed a few cars that had tar/rubber undercoating sprayed on by dealerships back in the 50's and 60's. What I do is use a dull and narrow metal putty knife and a heat gun set on low, and carefully remove as much as I can. Then I use an old bath towel and soak on area on it with paint thinner and wash off the remainder of the tar. It comes out very nice and looks great. Only drawback is you will hear rocks kick up and make noise under there every once in a while.
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Terry Gaudet

1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab

[2067Bug]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

ZENVWDRIVER - thanks for checking out the car. Like most of us, I'm overly protective of the bug and hate the thought of something happening during the under-sealing process. It does have some of the old undercoating but the pans are solid without any signs of rust. Maybe it best just to have it coated with waxoyl or lanolin as finster suggested.