• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Undercoat or no undercoat?

QOTHL

Well-Known Member
Local time
1:49 PM
Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Messages
7,085
Reaction score
8,254
Location
Planet Mopar
I am hoping that after two years of having my car in painters prison, it will be painted this year. I'd like to get opinions on wether or not to do factory undercoat or paint the bottom of the car. It's nearly all original one owner car. I like the painted surface because it's easier to keep clean and shows nicely. My thinking is that someone can always put undercoat on if they want.
 
My first Charger was not undercoated except in the wheelwells. My second one is slathered in the stuff from the firewall to the rear bumper. Both are California cars. I love the look of the painted underbody.

23.JPG
24 AA.JPG
25 AA.JPG


My second car will likely be stripped of all the undercoating and painted ...

F C 4.jpg
F C 18.jpg
 
My first Charger was not undercoated except in the wheelwells. My second one is slathered in the stuff from the firewall to the rear bumper. Both are California cars. I love the look of the painted underbody.

View attachment 918211 View attachment 918212 View attachment 918213

My second car will likely be stripped of all the undercoating and painted ...

View attachment 918214 View attachment 918215

Thanks! I have had some people familiar with the originality of this car question doing non factory paint rather than undercoat. This is the previous car. I also like the look.
DSC_2293.jpg
image.jpg
 
If you were going for OEM correct, the paint fades from the rockers to the middle. These cars were not fully painted underneath. I didn't care. I wanted my car to be how I wanted.
I suggest that you do what pleases you, not what pleases others!
Painted undersides look so nice to me.
 
I'd go painted every time. It's much easier to see any rust developing - the undercoat can crack and rust can start to form underneath but it's hidden away so you don't know.
 
I am hoping that after two years of having my car in painters prison, it will be painted this year. I'd like to get opinions on wether or not to do factory undercoat or paint the bottom of the car. It's nearly all original one owner car. I like the painted surface because it's easier to keep clean and shows nicely. My thinking is that someone can always put undercoat on if they want.
Depends on how you want to use the car. If you're going to trailer it and show it, yes paint it. It's your opinion that it would be easier to clean. If you're going to drive it on a regular basis with it painted you will spend more time under it cleaning than on top. I have never regretted touching up the undercoating on my Superbird. About once a year I put it on a lift and pressure wash the bottom and that's it. I love driving my 62, but it's painted underneath and if there is a hint of anything weather related, it stays home. I got it dirty in a mist of rain one time and it took me 12-14 hours to detail the bottom and another 8-10 on the engine bay. All I'm saying is think it over good.
 
If you were going for OEM correct, the paint fades from the rockers to the middle. These cars were not fully painted underneath. I didn't care. I wanted my car to be how I wanted.
I suggest that you do what pleases you, not what pleases others!
Painted undersides look so nice to me.

No, I like factory but not interested in the, in my humble opinion, insanity of OEM.
Thanks for the encouraging words.
 
I'd go painted every time. It's much easier to see any rust developing - the undercoat can crack and rust can start to form underneath but it's hidden away so you don't know.

Good point, that helps the decision and what I say to someone who questions it. Thanks.
 
Depends on how you want to use the car. If you're going to trailer it and show it, yes paint it. It's your opinion that it would be easier to clean. If you're going to drive it on a regular basis with it painted you will spend more time under it cleaning than on top. I have never regretted touching up the undercoating on my Superbird. About once a year I put it on a lift and pressure wash the bottom and that's it. I love driving my 62, but it's painted underneath and if there is a hint of anything weather related, it stays home. I got it dirty in a mist of rain one time and it took me 12-14 hours to detail the bottom and another 8-10 on the engine bay. All I'm saying is think it over good.

Yep, we have stupid weather here and that has happened even with very careful planning. Even trailering it and taking it out to the show field, it gets dirty. It may not look dirty but I can run a finger across the bottom of the floor pan and it will show dirt. The wheel wells are particularly bad for getting dirty even when it's dry. Some of the show fields here are just that, mowed hay fields. This car drives great but as you say, it gets dirty.

Think I used the word "dirty" a dozen times...
 
I'm with you KD. Do what ever you want to do QOTHL. I'm going to give mine the big paint job under there and put sprayable seam sealer in the wheel wells. I'm have questions about the front wheel wells thought. Spray all of the inside of the front fenders then install painted up splash shields??
I'm sorry but I drive around the weather. Even in my 80 Roadrunner. She never gets wet.
 
I would undercoat all my fender wells and leave the bottom in a painted condition if I didn't live on a gravel road. Since I do, I'm leaning toward pick up truck bed liner. Either black or tintable.
Any experience with the bed liner????????????
Mike
 
I should have mention paintable seam sealer. And you can apply reasonably thick. Not cheap, but no time to penny pinch and that's all it is pennies. The wheel wells will be painted body color front and back.
 
493 Mike , We did rattle can truck bed liner on several projects. Did the 65 with it. Also did it "Inside''on the floor boards before installing the interior.
 
Some inspiration for you.
I’m painting this for a local mopar guy. B3 base / clear.
DuPont chromabase with SPI clear.

1696251B-0322-408C-BA1A-A63BE4F6D752.jpeg 912D0A5B-3C66-433F-8041-8351FB771DDA.jpeg 08B74B48-7E34-4C56-BE1E-25924268F3B7.jpeg
 
My customer wanted the full painted bottom deal, so that’s what he got.
We are going to do the wheel wells in the “blackout” / undercoating.
 
I've stripped the undercoating off of several cars over the years and have found rust hiding under it. Once it cracks off or gets a small crack, it can trap moisture and cause rust that is hard to see until it's bad enough to be able to see and then it's usually pretty bad. I always go for no undercoating.
 
To each there own. If you paint the bottom of the car it will compel you to keep it clean which is a pita or at the very least make you feel guilty because it needs cleaning and you don’t fell like doing it.

My Q5 car- it’s primer’d underneath with over spray from the out side working it’s way towards the middle of the car, OE correct I guess, with the wheel wells painted body colour. I undercoated in the wheel well areas so rocks from the bottom side couldn’t fling up and spider crack the paint on the top of the fenders from underneath, and because the factory had under coat there too. With the primer finish underneath it’s way easier to do spot touch ups on rock chips with small paint brush. Painted gloss surfaces look not so good after a year or 2 from chips and such and are much harder to touch up

My yellow car- More of a driver, undercoated all the way.....
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top