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Would you undercoat a TR?

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Hegg

Hegg

Jedi Hopeful
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Having just bought a 2005 car and going through the "hey, would you like all this other crap that we should include with the car, but would rather ding you instead" process, I was wondering about undercoating.

Would it help protect the underside of an older car (in my case, a 1980 TR7) to take it to a shop and have it undercoated? I can't think of a reason why not, but I'm not as experienced as some people on this forum. I'm in Utah where the roads are made of salt.

I'm also considering getting that insulation material from Victoria British / Moss Motors and applying it to the underside and firewall area.

Anyone have any thoughts?
 
I think undercoating a new car is one thing,...but to undercoat a 20+ year old car is a bit "ify". On the new car it's probably a good idea, and on a freshly restored car it's probably a good idea too (especially if your gonna drive it on salty roads).

But on an older car you run the risk of covering up exsisting corrosion, thus sealing it in. That corrosion will only have one way to go and it will eat away at the metal working it's way toward the inside the car. If that happens, the undercoating will prevent you from seeing from the underside.

Personally, I'd be hesistant to undercoat an older car, unless I knew it was in great shape already. I don't think you want to cover up any road crud.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary
 
Thanks for the comments. That was one concern was covering up anything that might already be rusting.
 
I bet there are products out there for undercaoting older cars. Probably a lot different from the products used to undercoat the new cars today.
I like "Fillerup's" idea. Call a pro and tell them what you have, and see what they recommend.
 
Undercoating a new car with spray on rubber is a giant waste of money. Almost all manufacturers use galvanized panels. Most undercoating I've seen plugs up the drains, causing more problems. Getting under the car, cleaning it, and hitting it with a rattlecan would be more effective. As for an old car, it would have to be spotless, and all rust damage repaired, as well as all surfaces clean of surface rust, otherwise you seal the corrosion in. Waxyoil or some other Cosmoline type product will work fine on new or older cars, just don't forget to inspect re-apply every couple of years.
 
I think I would get it sprayed with a light oil, that doesn't block drainholes and doesn't seal corrosion in so as to make it invisible.
This is a common practice here in Canada, it drips for a few days and also picks up dust; but if the car were concours you wouldn't be thinking of driving it in winter.
You may find a product called "Crown" in aerosol form, comes out reddish and foamy, "creeps" well to get into areas you cannot apply it to directly.
Suggest you do not use used engine oil as it is too thick and contains acid from combustion byproducts.
Simon /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
Hegg, I wouldn't hesitate to undercoat a TR if all the above criteria are met: ALL rust removed and clean. Certainly don't block any drain holes, etc. Think about this, a nicely restored TR that has only paint will rust in a heartbeat because of the nature of the metal, rock chips, creaking body panels and so on. My TR6 has a "factory" undercoat and is totally solid underneath after all these years. I periodically touch up with a rattle can undercoat. Now, I don't go anywhere except under the fenders (wings) and behind them. The rest of the underbody and and trunk and around gas tank and on and on, I Waxoyl yearly. Eastwood sells a great pressure gun for this product that costs less than 50 bucks and applys Waxoyl perfectly. Even in the rockers. Waxoyl "creaps" beautifully and will go on over road grime. It won't, however, stop a rock taking the finish off the wheel well. The under carriage, the oil from the engine and tranny protect that.

Bill
 
There used to be a (Canadian?) company called Rust-Chek that sprayed cavtities and undercoated with a light creeping oil. Was also available in rattle cans. Have never seen them west of the Mississippi though.
 
How nice to have a car that doesn't undercoat itself with liberal quantities of engine oil from leaking gaskets and seals. While it may not be the neatest feature, a little engine oil leak can be a nice rust preventive.
 
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