I'm working as fast as I can to get my body shell ready for some body work this spring summer. I'm quickly finishing up my sheet metal work and would like to begin planning the restoration of the floor.

I will be using a spray in bed liner (either Raptor or Gator Guard) as the undercoat. My question, for those of you who have used an undercoat, is what did you do for prepping the surface? I'm planning on sandblasting the underside, then spraying epoxy primer. Is there anything else I should do? Would there be a benefit to top coating the primer with paint before undercoating?

Also, if you have any input to what bed liner product you used and your thoughts I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm looking for a relatively smooth finish to cut down on cleaning effort.

Thanks in advance!

When I did mine I used a self etching black primer and then right to the bed liner that way you don't have to sand the epoxy. The epoxy would have to dry to let the solvents out and the you would have to sand which I didn't want to do. Any thing else to do with this don't hesitate to ask.

Ryan, I used Gator Guard II sprayed over PPG DP50 epoxy primer. I sprayed it with a "Schutz" style gun (per the tech sheets) and it did leave a surface with quite a bit of texture. It looks like the finish of most sprayed-in bed liners which I think looks great, but definately not factory. This finish really didn't matter to me since I was looking for something that would be basically indestructable for a daily driver!! The Gator Guard epoxy IS real tough. However, If I did it again I would probably choose something with a smoother finish. What would that be...I don't know at this point.

I asked the tech rep at Dominion Sureseal about topcoating the epoxy primer before spraying the bedliner. He said it was not necessary, and a waste of money.

In my case, I was working in steps. I sprayed the epoxy primer about 3 wks before the bedliner. I did scuff the epoxy primer with scotch-brite before shooting the bedliner.

Jb

Thanks for the replies. That helps my decision greatly. I'm not really concerned about the finish looking factory, I'm only concerned with clean up. A rough surface would probably be more difficult to clean than a smooth. If you're familiar with the products, I'm looking for something with a similar texture of Line-X. I want to avoid the "Rhino Liner" deep texture look if at all possible.

David; What bed liner did you use? What do you think of the surface finish?

Johnny; Would you happen to have any pics of the finish? As long as it's not super rough, I'd be happy with it.

Thanks for the replies. That helps my decision greatly. I'm not really concerned about the finish looking factory, I'm only concerned with clean up. A rough surface would probably be more difficult to clean than a smooth. If you're familiar with the products, I'm looking for something with a similar texture of Line-X. I want to avoid the "Rhino Liner" deep texture look if at all possible.

David; What bed liner did you use? What do you think of the surface finish?

Johnny; Would you happen to have any pics of the finish? As long as it's not super rough, I'd be happy with it.

Ryan I believe I used morton it doesn't have to rough a texture I like the way mine turned out. i sprayed mine up on the jack stands you can see in my photobucket.

Ryan, here is a shot of the bottom of the 69. It definately has the "sprayed in" look. If you are looking more towards a smooth finish, then GatorGuard might not be what you want. Plus, from what I've been told, the new Gator Guard seems to have more grit than the original mix.

However, I have seen cars and trucks with GatorGuard, where the finish was much smoother than mine. Some guys have had success rolling on epoxy bedliner. I now wish I would have spent a little time experimenting with thinners, spray pressures, etc. But, I was in a hurry! It is possible to get a little smoother finish.

In my case....I just wanted something tough to protect the bottom. Who sees the bottom anyway!!! The beauty of a Non-Numbers, planejane car is that you can do whatever you like to it without the guilt of destroying the value, or loosing points at a national event. This car will be a true driver. Heck, I might not even wash it! Jb

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2217000-2217999/2217852_82_full.jpg

Thanks again for all the posts.
Johnny, I've been looking into Gator Guard and have seen that the texture varies quite significantly depending on how it's sprayed.
This is the first I've heard of Morton, and I'll have to do a little more research on it. I'll have to at least do some testing with Gator Guard. If It turns out to have too rough of a texture, I'll use it for my Jeep's interior. It sounds like everybody that's used it has been pretty happy with it so far.

My car started life a 6 cyl jane. I'm going for more of a resto-mod with an LS1 so I'm not concerned with originality. I too, am simply wanting something tough to protect my work.

I paid $200 for a kit and its two part what ever you use make sure it has a activator or hardner.

So far I haven't actually found much on Morton. Could you possibly point me to any info? Everything I've found to this point directs me to the Dominion Sure Seal web site... but all I can find on their is Gator Guard. Kinda confusing.

How much were you able to do with the $200 kit? I'll be looking to do the underside of the car, trunk, and possibly a thin layer on the inside of the floor as an added sound dampener.

pm sent.. I just did a car with the morton epoxy bedliner. Might be able to help you out..
can't post pics for a week or so as my laptop is getting serviced.

I got mine thru superior auto body paint store in Baltimore MD.The kit will do everything you need to do. I used about a quart and a half to do from the cross member back. This has a hard texture like line X may be a little harder. I will try to find out from my buddy where you can get it.

Chad, Pics would be great if you could get them. No rush, whenever you can get around to it let me know.

David, I think I may end up spending more than I would with Gator Guard, although if it's a similar texture as Line X I think I would be happier with it long term. I hope to only be doing this once. I haven't yet checked locally for any info, just a quick web search. Is the product you used called TBL?
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/sjdiscounttools_1983_277104719

Yeah this looks right its been over a year ago that I did it.Check the pot life and the application proccess, one of the bedliners application when you start spraying you cant stop or the tip gets clogged this is why I used morton.I'm not saying its gator gaurd but just check it out.

I havent seen that one yet, it's amazing how many products are out there.
something new always popping up.

Interested to SEE and READ from those having expereince with RAPTOR, mfg by UPOL !!!!

I can search for other threads, but asking here also...........

Thanks, Chuck

A question for all that have bedliner applied to the bottom of their car. Would the head from the exhaust cause the bedliner to soften and get sticky also cause it to bubble up?

I am assuming you are meaning heat.My car has been done a year and no signs of blistering or bubbling.

uggh yeah i meant heat:o
sorry, i think my fingers are too big to use a keyboard sometimes:p

I was thinken head might of been a new term for some car stuff...lol...

if your car is clean metal underneath {blasted or new} i like to see just a fresh painted surface. how many of our cars are going to be driven in bad weather after all the resto.work? not mine!! when i see undercoating,whatever type, i wonder whats its covering up. i understand it has its place in a nice build like the pics. in this post,but my car is going to have paint on the underside. plus you have to deal with it if you ever make changes down the road. im going with dynamat under the carpet to control sound/heat.

At our shop we have Vortex Spraylinners. I have a 79 camaro i am restoring which i also have done all the undercoating and bottom of my new the floor pans with Vortex and LOVE it. the prep for Vortex is simple sand with 80 grit to scuff the surface tape off and spray. also it is guaranteed for life.
good luck