I just took my old rusted out gas tank of my roadrunner. I decided before I put another gas tank on I should clean the trunk floor up and try to keep it from rusting out. (it has no holes now) My question is after I wire brush it, should I paint it or undercoat it? I might also do the frame in that area while I'm at it. Thanks for any help.

koondawg
MOPAR OR NO CAR!

 

Well buddy, its up to you. Some folks like original, but I dont think we are building concours correct cars here [you and I]. Let me start with my 'Bird. It is a mostly rust-free car. What the previous owner did was fix the visible stuff, and *** off the invisible. I got some pinholes in the trunk and the floorpans. But! What the guy did was Rhino-coat the bottom of the car and sub-frames! I've chipped them away, and they are rock-solid. I also live 2 miles from the nearest paved road and I like to drive. So my honest opinion is that though it adds weight, to rhino-coat the bottonm of a car like ours is the best solution. BTW, Rhino-coat is the chip-proof stuff for the bed of your pick-up truck for those that are unfamiliar. I say why not? if its not a show car or special vehicle. That way us country boys can do our "dukes" drivin and not worry about the underside.

 

haha yeah true scotty, I just want to make sure I preserve it so it will last a few more years. Its gonna be my daily driver and have some fun with it but I'd like to have something left to fix up again after I get out of highschool....
Is that stuff very expensive? Does it come in a rattle can or do you have to have someone do it? Id like to do the hole underside of my bird but the floor pans have been undercoated and I'm guessin it would be a ***** to get off! Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

 

Also scotty if you wouldn't mind tellin me how, I would take some pictures of the bottom side and upload some other pictures of er. Since you asked me along time ago lol

 

Check the "sticky"at the top of the page. If I post a pic, its only cause of an accident and got it right!

 

Eastwood makes a spray paint that exactly matches the galvanized finish on the gas tank and it will preserve it GREAT! The factory got undercoating on the sides of the tank but not the bottom. Remember the silver finish reflects heat, dark colors absorb heat. think about how hot the asphalt is during the summer that you are driving over, plus the silver tank just looks better from the back.

 

well I was talking about the bottom of the trunk pan but thats a really good idea to spray the tank, since mine did rust out. Thanks!

 

The rhino liner would probably work pretty well to preserve it, but if you don't go that route, paint and undercoat. The paint acts as a sealant, the undercoating acts as a sealer and buffer. If you have the paint on there, and there is a scratch in the undercoating, it'll still be protected, but if you just put undercoating on bare or just primed metal, you're asking for moisture to build up and start rust. even paint alone would be much better than just undercoat alone. Make sure you spray some stuff inside the frame rails in every hole you can get too as well. The rust convertor in those holes would be good, but for the inside of the rails, hit a flea market, grab anything you can cheap and in rattle cans, especially rustoleum, and then spray that inside the rails before you paint the underside the body color. If you use the rust convertor, be sure to have good ventelation or supplied air, that stuff is nasty to your lungs