Undercoating
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
A complete undercoating was not applied to any of these cars on the assembly line, only the partial coating that you see under the rocker panels and inside the rear wheel wells.
Many dealers offered an undercoating service (at extra cost) when these cars were new, so you may have seen some relatively new, low mileage examples with complete coating for this reason - but it was not applied on the assembly line.
Many dealers offered an undercoating service (at extra cost) when these cars were new, so you may have seen some relatively new, low mileage examples with complete coating for this reason - but it was not applied on the assembly line.
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 103
Likes: 18
A complete undercoating was not applied to any of these cars on the assembly line, only the partial coating that you see under the rocker panels and inside the rear wheel wells.
Many dealers offered an undercoating service (at extra cost) when these cars were new, so you may have seen some relatively new, low mileage examples with complete coating for this reason - but it was not applied on the assembly line.
Many dealers offered an undercoating service (at extra cost) when these cars were new, so you may have seen some relatively new, low mileage examples with complete coating for this reason - but it was not applied on the assembly line.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
do you have any idea how one would go about removing that 4-5 inch wide strip of undercoating along the rocker panel, without damaging any paint that may be under it? That's some knarly looking stuff, and I was wanting to strip it and redo it with something a little cleaner and less "prehistoric tar pit" looking. Maybe something like lizard skin, or raptor truck bedliner. Both have a finer, more consistent and modern look to them.
The aftermarket undercoating is usually much easier to remove, I've stripped it off of cars decades after it was applied using various medium-grade chemicals (such as kerosene, mineral spirits, etc.), but the factory stuff seems a bit more bonded/firm.
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 103
Likes: 18
I've stripped what I assume to be aftermarket type undercoating from my 2wd k5 with a scraper, a torch, and some brake clean. Tedious, but not difficult. Once it gets hot and gooey it scrapes off fairly easy. I just didn't want to use the torch under the formula and start messing up whatever is under the coating. Thanks for the tip on the brake clean, I'll try that will some gentle persuasion from a plastic scraper over this winter and see how it goes.
I used an electric heat gun and plastic scraper with good results when I removed all the underneath undercoating on my 68 camaro. I wiped it down with mineral spirits and the bottom looked like a new car.
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 20
Undercoating is random chemical composition, could be tar or plastic based.
kerosene, diesel, mineral spirits, acetone, will cut the tar based. GM uses a tar based spray on truck frames, could be the same stuff.
test kerosene and mineral sprits on an area of paint, make sure it wont eat the paint, use a heat gun on the undercoating and plastic scraper, egen the plastic razor blades.
Heat, scrape, solvent that doesnt harm the paint.
I like all the UPOL products, gravitex and lizard skin. Been using them for years. Have a 12 year old lizard skin bedliner in my truck, has not faded or broken down.
kerosene, diesel, mineral spirits, acetone, will cut the tar based. GM uses a tar based spray on truck frames, could be the same stuff.
test kerosene and mineral sprits on an area of paint, make sure it wont eat the paint, use a heat gun on the undercoating and plastic scraper, egen the plastic razor blades.
Heat, scrape, solvent that doesnt harm the paint.
I like all the UPOL products, gravitex and lizard skin. Been using them for years. Have a 12 year old lizard skin bedliner in my truck, has not faded or broken down.
