Undercarriage paint

[QPip3r]

Hello! I own a 1957 Studebaker President and need to paint the underside of my body and frame. I wanted to get everyone’s knowledge on what paint yall used on your vehicles.

-Thanks

[IndStudenut]

I think this YouTube video gives an excellent comparison and extensive testing of several common products on the market today. Naturally there are inexpensive options and others on the high end. However the high end options tested in this video are within the same price range. There is also a low end product that does reasonably well in several categories considering the cost. I have not painted my frame yet but I know which one I am going with when the time comes. I know it is not a comprehensive list and others here may suggest other products. But it does list most of the common ones used. Unfortunately you don't paint a frame or undercarriage but once or at least that is my hope. So your hoping to make a good decision the first time. I think this video gives you well tested options that is convincing. If you are contemplating any of these products I encourage watching the video. It may change your mind. But you can come to your own conclusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TABWPHutk-A

[medium_jon]

Q2: someone there on campus did a truck frame last year and used POR 15. I thought it looked good.

jsw

[Cus63]

Might not be available in the US, but I always use a Marine Grade Epoxy Mastic, the brand I use is Jotun. You can use an Under Body Gun or normal gun with a big tip, dries to a really tough satin type finish, regards, Cus

[M-Webb]

I bought an old beat up 2R11 farm truck off ebay way back when early 2000's as my 1st ever Studebaker. When I got it, it was pretty dirty and rusty of course, including the whole chassis, no paint left on the frame that I could tell and it was full of caked on dirt in every nook and cranny. Took a while to wash and scrape it all out. The surface of the exposed metal on the chassis was definitely rusty, except where the oil soaked caked on dirt was, that metal was nice underneath! The rust on the chassis was not the bad super deep flaky cancer type rust fortunately, just heavy surface rust.

I did some fairly 1/2-ass cleanup on it, getting all the dirt out of it and scraping off the oil soaked caked on dirt, cleaned it with some dishwash detergent, scraped and wire-brushed loose stuff off while at it. No sandblasting or any other too serious metal prep. Because I didn't want to spend too much money on it and thought at least some paint would be better than nothing which it currently had, I purchased some of the Rustoleum satin black in cans and I just used cheap throw away brushes to brush it on and then some spray can as well in places where was hard to reach with the brush, etc. It was some pretty backyard nowhere near professional work to be sure. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much. But that paint held up on that truck surprisingly well for about 10 years or so when I sold it. And that truck was only ever parked outside the time I had it, never inside. I live in N. Cal., in the SF Bay area, so the weather is fairly mild, never any winter and salt roads etc. But at the time we lived in Berkeley and it was subjected to some degree of salt air coming off the ocean, heavy fog quite often, etc. Not as bad as living right at the beach of course, but it wasn't exactly Phoenix AZ dry weather all the time either.

My current truck is a'61 Champ and I got it pretty well restored. The frame was painted all black and looked close to factory perfect, but after using the truck for years, it did not stay perfect of course. But I still just spot touch it up with a little can of the Rustoleum and some spray can every once in a wile. That is one nice thing about the Rustoleum, it is cheap, easy to get anywhere and easy to use, including on-going spot touchups. Just clean the area needed a little, sand it some if wanted and then just brush or spray on a little where needed and it blends right in pretty well.

I don't make a habit of hanging out under my truck admiring the paint all that often. But when I'm under there, I don't like seeing a bunch of rusted up dirty chipped paint looking stuff. And the Rustoleum has served me pretty well to be honest. I'm not going to win Pebble Beach with it, but that's not on my list of goals anyway. I drive my truck but still want it to look good. Rustoleum works for me. It is just oil enamel paint too, so the smell and chemicals is not that bad either, pretty mild.

[Rafe Hollister]

Project Farm Youtube channel did an undercoating comparison. I have used the winner, CRC 6026 Corrosion inhibitor, for the last 3 years. Way easier than paint, easier to get into tight areas, still tacky ofter a few years but does not attract dirt. See the test here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyWHF4NoNVk
Rafe Hollister