Undercoating
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2016
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Undercoating
Hi guys, I am a new Ford F100 owner. I recently bought my truck from Arizona. It has been repainted in its life, and is extremely clean. The undercarriage has only surface rust. I live in the North East and I want the best rust protection money can buy for my undercarriage. There are companies that sell undercoating in a spray can, besides needing a ton of these to get the job done on a full size pickup how is their quality compare to professional applications? I am not afraid to do It myself but I know what a professional can do and I know what I can do. I want total protection for the truck and quality that will last and not having me do it again every year like painting the bottom of a boat. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Paul
Paul
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,553
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Undercoating protects clean metal best. If you have surface rust, what I suggest (and did on mine) is 1) get it completely clean of dirt and grease. Treat heavy grease with solvent and a brush then detergent like Simple Green and pressure wash until it is spotless. 2) Sand or wire brush any loose rust or paint. 3) Prime. I like red Rustoleum or Eastwood Rust Encapsulator. Brush works fine 4) Paint. I like semi gloss or satin black Rustoelum 5) Apply undercoat in areas subject to rock chips... wheel wheels for example. Not needed elsewhere.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 917
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I wouldnt put under coating on anything PERIOD. Lived in rusty metal Michigan my whole life and never had anything rust, i have bought them that way. A cheap paint gun from harbor freight and used motor oil, spray it inside every panel heavy, very heavy. Let it drip and repeat every fall and your truck will never rust, been doing it almost 40 yrs now.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,034
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From: NY and VA
Best protection is not to drive it in NY during the salt season....
The 75,79 and 86 of mine are proof of that...
I've got a "grease" type undercoating that I think has been outlawed by the NY DEC so it must be good.
The 75,79 and 86 of mine are proof of that...
I've got a "grease" type undercoating that I think has been outlawed by the NY DEC so it must be good.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,034
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From: NY and VA
Welcome to the site. Where are you in NY?? (I'm N of Ithaca) You are invited to join the NY Chapter and join in the chat thread.
Very nice truck. I wouldn't drive it in the snow.
Very nice truck. I wouldn't drive it in the snow.
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Freshman User
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I'm on Long Island. I don't want to drive in the snow but I did buy it to be a daily driver. I'm done with computers, sensors, and BS. I want simplicity. I am an engineer by trade and I wanted a truck I could work on myself. I couldn't afford or justify spending 30-50k on a new or newer pickup truck. It's just insanse. I love all things vintage. There are also no shortage of available parts for these trucks, which was a major reason I decided to buy one.
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Joe Kucinski
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: NY and VA
They are nice trucks. Used to live on LI (Baldwin). Once upon a time, they were not using salt down there, just sand.
I drove my 79 SCab into the ground, had to replace the bed,and that started rusting, then the floor let go, followed by the fenders. Got so bad then if you hit a bump the cab would drop down and hit the driveshaft. Retired it then.
As mentioned above maybe a good coating of rust paint. (I'm trying that on my 97 Crown Vic.
I drove my 79 SCab into the ground, had to replace the bed,and that started rusting, then the floor let go, followed by the fenders. Got so bad then if you hit a bump the cab would drop down and hit the driveshaft. Retired it then.
As mentioned above maybe a good coating of rust paint. (I'm trying that on my 97 Crown Vic.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 822
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From: Ilion Herkimer
welcome to FTE, while protecting the undercarriage is one thing your forgetting about the body cavities on your truck. the A pillars and the rear of the door jam, above the headliner/ windshield, inside the doors, backside of the fenders, underside of the cab/ box as well as the inner cavity of the box. undercoating / rust proofing is a system. not a spray and play.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 32
Lots of good ideas on how to do it correctly above.. Here's how I did mine.. I should have taken before pics, everything was completely rust colored under there
Sprayed mine about a year ago..
Told myself that I'd shoot the spindle/brake areas better when I had to pull the tires but haven't had too yet
I tested the paints adhesion by holding the 3500psi washer directly on the paint and it never flaked
I do have one
I do have one
Sprayed mine about a year ago..
Told myself that I'd shoot the spindle/brake areas better when I had to pull the tires but haven't had too yet
I tested the paints adhesion by holding the 3500psi washer directly on the paint and it never flaked
I do have one
I do have one
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,031
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From: East Central Ia
I wouldnt put under coating on anything PERIOD. Lived in rusty metal Michigan my whole life and never had anything rust, i have bought them that way. A cheap paint gun from harbor freight and used motor oil, spray it inside every panel heavy, very heavy. Let it drip and repeat every fall and your truck will never rust, been doing it almost 40 yrs now.