Factory Undercoating?


Hello I have done several searches and still do not have a clear answer.. I am at the point in my Frame off resto where I have to decide what I am doing with the underside of the body… This is an 80k or mile car with 1 previous paint job.. From what I can tell the bottom of the car is completely undercoated or sound proof..

This is the heavy thick looking stuff.. The floors are perfect and this is a Fremont car. I am trying to restore as close to original as I can.. The coating seems original and or put on at the factory.. Almost like it was installed before the body was mated to the frame. It’s Even above the gas tank.. And both the top and bottom of the tank is coated. No suspension parts, frame, and or rear end is coated.. I have seen pictures of Dave Dodd’s unmolested 68 and it looks very similar to that, not sure what plant his is out of though..

I understand the consensus is that if the car has undercoating on the floors it’s because someone is trying to hide something.. This will not be the case here.. It will certainly make the prep of the underneath a lot easier to freshen it up, then to scrape all that stuff off..

I guess my question is DID the Factory ever put this material on all over the floors? It sure does look like it in my car?

Thanks Dave

Factory Undercoating?



I have seen pictures of Dave Dodd’s unmolested 68 and it looks very similar to that, not sure what plant his is out of though..
Thanks Dave

Dave has a June built, Framingham car. What I remember from crawling under the car in 2006 is that the undercoating looked like it was dealer-applied. Maybe Bill Rose or Mark Hickman will chime in to agree or disagree with me, or maybe Mr. Rose will see Dave and ask him.

IMHO, the only area on a '68 with factory undercoating is under the front wheelwells, to protect them from rock chips. But, I've been wrong before.:yes:
BillL

Our late '69 Baltimore Chevelle had undercoating on the vertical inner rocker panels and transmission tunnel. I'll have to check out the floor pan again to be sure.

Here is a picture that shows factory overspray under Daves front fender which would lead me to believe it was undercoated at the factory. I wont inbed the photo as it is huge. :)

http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/138car/Dodd%207%207%202006/?action=view&current=1fa2re2.jpg

I believe I took some additional pictures of the bottom of the rear quarters of his car in 2007 I will need to check my inventory.

Here is a picture that shows factory overspray under Daves front fender which would lead me to believe it was undercoated at the factory. I wont inbed the photo as it is huge. :)

http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/138car/Dodd%207%207%202006/?action=view&current=1fa2re2.jpg

I believe I took some additional pictures of the bottom of the rear quarters of his car in 2007 I will need to check my inventory.


Thanks, Mark, I found this one in your album...

In the one you posted sure looks like overspray on the coating.

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r63/138car/Dodd%207%207%202006/c862re2.jpg

Dave

As far as I know, any undercoating, other than the rear wheel wells, rear rocker area, and a quick shot on the trans tunnel, was done by the dealer. I don't have too many shots of the bottom of Dave's car, but if there's undercoating there, I'd say the dealer did it. Also, my 68 was about as original as you're gonna find, and mine only had the undercoating, in the areas I mentioned above. If the body is off, I think you know what I would do. It would take some time to remove the undercoating, but go for it. You will be much happier in the end. I removed it from the wheel wells in my current project (69 El Camino) and it wasn't that bad. I used a heat gun/scraper, then cleaned the rest up with a wire wheel on a grinder.
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee335/wrrose/Pict0027_1.jpg

I have a Baltimore built car and I scraped the undercoating off myself. It sure seemed like it was sprayed on by the Dealer. I have the original order form from the dealer that list undercoating which I assume it was sprayed by them. Wheel wells and floor including tunnel but not above the gas tank. No suspension, frame, or rear. I'm not spraying it back on either.

If the body is off, I think you know what I would do. It would take some time to remove the undercoating, but go for it. You will be much happier in the end. I removed it from the wheel wells in my current project (69 El Camino) and it wasn't that bad. I used a heat gun/scraper, then cleaned the rest up with a wire wheel on a grinder.
http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee335/wrrose/Pict0027_1.jpg


Your right Bill, you always motivate me with your encouraging words.. Anyone want to come over for a scraping party??? I’m buying.. And Bill, bring that funny little stand you have.. :thumbsup:

Dave

Dont worry about it Dave, it's probably just some Fla. swamp mud you got stuck to the bottom. l:)
T.C.

Dont worry about it Dave, it's probably just some Fla. swamp mud you got stuck to the bottom. l:)
T.C.

Terry, where have you been? Hope all is well... I have an extra scraper with your name on it.. Having an after Christmas Party at the House on Saturday the 27th.... Bring your dirty clothes :disco: And drive the Chevelle over incase I need parts...

Dave

Dave, you know I'm always there for ya ! :D
Oh did you say the 27th ? :clonk:
Gosh I just remembered I have to, hum...........Oh yea, now I remember, do something my wife wanted, yea that's it honeydues.
You know I would be there if I could. :beers:
T.C.

I have a 70 Arlington built SS and I have under coating at the front of the tranny tunnel and rear wheel wells. I scratched off a bit of the wheel well coating and found the original gobi beige paint.

I have a 71 SS454 Elco and it had dealer applied undercoating everywhere! Except the suspension. It was born at the Fremont California plant and sold in Eugene, Ore and survived so well over the years that I just cleaned it up a bit and left it alone. Window sticker listed it as a $12.50 option back then.:thumbsup:

The 70 LS6 Atlanta built car I did, had the usual asphalt stuff in the rear wheelwells, under the rear seat area above the rear axle, and inside the trans tunnel over the trans. According to the assembly manual, there is supposed to be some on the front wheel houses as well, from about the center of the tire rearward. My LS5 had the original fenderwells and they were done this way.
I wonder if it is a variable from plant to plant... most of the cars in my area came from Atlanta, and I had a 70 that was built in Arlington, and sent to Southern Kentucky. I don't remember it having much undercoating at all...