I need to dress up the fenders on my 55 Tbird as part of my restoration project.  I wanted to avoid having to strip the old undercoat and if possible touch up the few spots where it has flaked off.  How have others tackeled this project?  If I have to strip and start over, any advice on best way to tackle that process?

Thanks

There are some pretty good rattle can undercoats out there, I think Eastwood has one. I would scrap any loose or flaking old materal off and just spray the affected area's. I have used it in the wheelwells of the Falcon because the old stuff looked so bad and I did not want to take the time to strip it good enough for paint. I'll be back in the shop this afternoon and will try to get a picture.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

I use a product called Westley's Rubberized Under Coating that seems to work pretty good. Sez right there on the can "New-flexible water displacing" and "can be used for Rust Prevention, Sound Deadening and Dressing Tree Wounds", among other uses. What more can you ask for. Comes in a 20 oz. aerosol can. I got it at Pep Boys.

BOB

I use one of these to remove undercoat as well as rust. I brought one along from Germany a few years ago, but they are available in the US now in pneumatic and electric. I have bought a couple more of them on eBay.



http://www.monti-tools.com/e_video.php

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

I used some of this stuff, was really happy with it. I would suggest cleaning up areas and priming before applying.

Ol'ford nutCentral Iowa

56 Vic w/292 & 4 spd.

Be careful to ensure that there isn't further rust under the edges of loose undercoat. It's notorious for trapping moisture,dirt, salt etc. Another re coat product that might be available is Pro Form pf 715 which is sprayable with a siphon style gun. It's also paintable. Available in 28.7 oz screw attachment cans.

Paul

Years ago when I restored my Bird, CTCI ruled that Birds were not undercoated at the factory.  Dealers undercoated them if the customer wanted it.  I don't know the rule now.  If you are restoring to CTCI standards, and the rule hasn't been changed, then removing the undercoat completely is the plan.  If you are not going for a perfect CTCI score, repair the undercoat and enjoy the car.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

ive used spray on bed liner with great success.goes on clean , you wont trap moisture and its super durable . moreso than undercoating 

John, my experince with undercoating thru the years of buying and selling old cars from the 50's was the ones that were undercoated from the dealership actually had ALOT!!!!!!! more rust than the ones without the undercoating. When it cracked it could hold water and there you go!!!!!!!!!!! the rust cancer started. Don't want it on mine but the products being used today seem to be alot better than in yesteryears.

-Gary Burnette-

I agree that cars were not undercoated at the factories. I was born in the Texas Hill country and grew up there. I started dismantling cars in the late 50's. I had never even seen undercoating until I bought some wrecked vehicles out of the Midwest in the late 60's.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas