Factory correct looking under carraige (primer with overspray), what process and materials are you using?

[torredcuda]

I am currently having lot`s of fun (NOT!) cleaning and sanding the underneath of my road runner getting it ready for paint. I want to replicate the factory look which means gray primer with body color overspray, I`m not looking for concours points but just want it close with as few different materials ($) and the least amount of effort. What paint products are you using - just epoxy primer with base color overspray, base and clear ovespray, single stage gray paint over the primer then overspray or ??? The epoxy is pretty close in color but not sure how it will hold up without a top coat, if gray paint what code is close?

 

[Black_Sheep]

I would use a flattened single stage gray topcoat over epoxy primer for easier future clean up. Where necessary, I would use spray on bedliner instead of undercoat for the same reason. It will look close to original and be easier to maintain if the car is actually driven…

 

[torredcuda]

I would use a flattened single stage gray topcoat over epoxy primer for easier future clean up. Where necessary, I would use spray on bedliner instead of undercoat for the same reason. It will look close to original and be easier to maintain if the car is actually driven…

Exactly what I was thinking of doing but thought I`d see what others have done. I will use Raptor liner or something similar for the undercoat in the wheel wells.

 

[eldubb440]

epoxy will hold up just fine in my opinion....... I try to time it so I paint the car while the epoxy window for coating is open



...... I have found a green/blue/greyish coating under factory undercoat`on many cars....... I had some semi flat military green single stage on my shelf and played with it a little to get it close........ then I used red oxide primer around the edges, cause red oxide primer is used under the top coat paint....... then let the green go where ever when painting the exterior, covering most of the red oxide

adding a mat clear top coat would protect the overspray look when cleaning; I have yet to go that far, but it's coming

 

[Air grabbler]

I shot three coats of PPG DP50 epoxy primer on a challenger and am not extremely happy with how it’s holding up. It just isn’t durable enough by itself.

RestoRick sells a paint that replicates the factory primer look, but offers real protection. I will use that on my current project.

He also sells an undercoat that looks far closer to the factory undercoating than the off-the-shelf 3M products I’ve used. I will continue using his undercoating until/unless someone comes up with an even better alternative.

If originality isn’t important, then a bedliner material would probably be fine.

 

[torredcuda]

eldubb440 - That`s a good way of doing it but unfortunately I am tight on space to work so I need to get the body off my rotisserie moved over and back on jack stands to finish the outer body. That means I am going to finish the underside now so I will prime and paint including overspray and them mask it off when I paint the exterior. I know epoxy will get chalky when exposed to UV but wasn`t sure how good it will hold up underneath where it is obviously not exposed to sunlight.

 

[eldubb440]

I've seen epoxy primer live for decades outside over sandblasted metal.........it faded a bit, but I could probably scuff and paint it with no issue

also, all epoxies are not created equal

 

[torredcuda]

I knew Rick had the undercoating but I see the gray paint as well - $319 + shipping for a mixed gallon, not too bad a price but wouldn`t think I would need that much with an HVLP gun?

 

[torredcuda]

I've seen epoxy primer liver for decades outside over sandblasted metal.........it faded a bit, but I could probably scuff and paint it with no issue

also, all epoxies are not created equal

I`m currently still using PPG epoxy but am starting to switch to Tamco products.

 

[eldubb440]

I`m currently still using PPG epoxy but am starting to switch to Tamco products.

I use southern poly....... they ship free........love the stuff; sands easy, fills good, it's literally the only primer on my bench....... I use it for everything

 

[torredcuda]

I tried Tamco high build primer on a motorcycle tank and was impressed as it filled good, sanded really nice and didn`t shrink at all. I also looked at SPI and heard good things about their primers and clears but they don`t mix basecoat, I know I could use another companies base but Tamco does it all and also has great reviews.

 

[gtx6970]

Have your painter go thru the green / greys in a single stage to find something close

 

[eldubb440]

That means I am going to finish the underside now so I will prime and paint including overspray and them mask it off when I paint the exterior.

if using base coat, I would also blow some clear over it ...... obviously cover the car for overspray........ next one I do will be like I did above, but with a full application of matt clear over top

 

[eldubb440]

Have your painter go thru the green / greys in a single stage to find something close

and put a flattener in it

 

[torredcuda]

I am the painter! I do have a buddy at the parts store who has been mixing my paint for 30+ years that I`m sure could find me a close color.

 

[eldubb440]

looking at my pics, I guess I did it separate from the exterior paint; as you plan to do........ tomato/tomoto

 

[T2R9]

epoxy will hold up just fine in my opinion....... I try to time it so I paint the car while the epoxy window for coating is open



...... I have found a green/blue/greyish coating under factory undercoat`on many cars....... I had some semi flat military green single stage on my shelf and played with it a little to get it close........ then I used red oxide primer around the edges, cause red oxide primer is used under the top coat paint....... then let the green go where ever when painting the exterior, covering most of the red oxide

adding a mat clear top coat would protect the overspray look when cleaning; I have yet to go that far, but it's coming

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Beautiful! Now you have me thinking...

 

[eldubb440]

Beautiful! Now you have me thinking...

I know......

 

[davek]

Beautiful! Now you have me thinking...

Dont fall for Marks tricks Jeff.

 

[nitro_rat]

I would epoxy gray, overspray with body color, and then maybe clear with a semi-gloss clear to seal the epoxy so it doesn't get chalky. Then raptor liner for the undercoating. On a real driver I would almost be tempted to do the whole underside in raptor. Raptor is tintable so you could do the gray "primer" color and the "overspray" in colored raptor. I may do that on mine...