Color of Underside of Body

[tpawlik]

I am restoring a 62 Starfire. What was the original color of the underside of the body. My car was undercoated and I could not see any color before the body was blasted. I am going back with the original Chariot Red.
Thanks.

[Olds64]

If you live up north it depends on what color the underside of the carpet is.

Sorry, I am not sure. I would suggest undercoating your car with POR 15 if you had it sandblasted. To hell with staying original. If you use the POR 15 some archeologist will find the frame of your Oldsmobile thousands of years from now and it will get put into a museum.

[justinj]

Exactly what I'm doing on my '62. POR-15!

[ent72olds]

[quote=Olds64;74098]

If you live up north it depends on what color the underside of the carpet is.

Very funny HA HA!

[daves62]

Mine is black appears to be glossy
where there is any left

after a look in the daylight. looks like the same black as the engine compartment

[Bluevista]

[quote=ent72olds;74410]

Originally Posted by Olds64

Very funny HA HA!

The undercoating and the carpet is usually fine, somehow the metal disappears between them.
The carpet actually does get pretty hard from all the salt you track into the car and is pretty stiff and strong.


I would think a 30 degree gloss black like the firewall for the underbody, just a guess.

[tpawlik]

Thanks for the replies. It took me a while to figure out the color of the carpet comment. Since my car is a convertible, I have already replaced the rusty floor pans. So, no views of the underside of the carpet. I am familiar with POR 15 does it come in a low sheen black?
Thanks.

[62Starfire63]

The '62 Olds big cars underside floor colour is Red Oxide from the Factory. I am Tinting a two part tintable sealer primer surfacer in red oxide colour and I will be under coating as per where the Factory coated the floor with a Shutz Gun. The Fire Wall is car body colour totally and blends out down into the Transmission Tunnel of the Floor. Hope this helps if you want it to look like the Factory did it.

[tpawlik]

Now that you mention it, I remember other cars from this era that were "primed" on the underside. It was a flat dull redish color. You also mention undercoating with a Shutz gun. How thorough was the undercoating?
Was it done before the body was mounted on the frame? The replacement floor pan I installed was completely undercoated before I had it blasted.
Thanks.

[62Starfire63]

The Body would be installed on the frame and then you'ld spray with the shutz gun, the Undercoating material on the under side of the body only where the Factory did for originality and sound deadening. You would spray this Material on the first coat at about 40 PSI. and then lower your pressure slightly so the texture starts to get thicker but but remains rather coarse. The Material for spraying is usually available in Automotive Paint Supply Stores in cans so all you have to do is screw on the Shutz Gun sprayer to the Cans, hook up your air line and start spraying. Try a small test area on an old piece of sheet metal over your head to practise, but don't forget to wear head and eye protection.