repainting my fenderwells - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gene · 10-03-2002, 05:08 PM

how in the heck to I remove the 30 plus years of dirt and grime form the underside of my fenderwells???? I have tried high pressure washers, aircraft paint removal spray and even tried a sander but it just gummed up? Please tell me a way of cutting through this gritty mess!!!

Southpa · 10-03-2002, 05:26 PM

That stuff, a hard black tarry coating? is good, best to leave it there. It was applied at the factory to protect the steel from water and flying rocks. The last thing you want is metal with only a thin coating of paint for protection. Your fender wells certainly wouldn't last very long without it. It may look dirty etc. but nobody sees it anyway.

Gene · 10-03-2002, 05:28 PM

Most of it is already gone? So I would like to remove it all and re-apply some undercoating is it possible to get this crap off???

Truck Hippy · 10-03-2002, 05:28 PM

Hey. I think the best way is to have them sandblasted. I you can take them to a sandblasting place and just drop them off it may be cheaper to have the guy blast them when he has some other parts to blast.

TERRYP · 10-03-2002, 05:46 PM

Kerosene, or gasoline is a solvent for undercoating

**1971Stepside** · 10-03-2002, 06:18 PM

Step 1: Sandblast
Step 2: Powder Coat

stllookn · 10-03-2002, 06:24 PM

I removed the undercoating from the inside of my fenders using a butane heater and a putty knife. Just heat it a bit a it comes right off...very easy. After you remove it use a drill motor and a wire wheel to finish it off. It will be ready to re-undercoat or sand and paint. Some of the paint will come off too so make sure you recoat it with something. Each fender will take about 30 minutes or so.

RodC · 10-03-2002, 07:20 PM

Try a heat gun. and putty knife

bobs409 · 10-04-2002, 08:29 AM

I would just remove the loose material and re undercoat. The stuff that's not budging is good yet.

If you really want it all off, I would use the solvent method. It will soften it up so you can scrape it all off.

MOTHERTRUCKERS · 10-04-2002, 08:58 AM

Oven cleaner works pretty good also, sand blasting will bounce off or inbed into the undercoating, it's like sandblasting greasey parts. oven cleaner takes the petroleum out of grease and undercoating.

stmoore · 10-04-2002, 01:21 PM

once it's removed, you need something thick to prevent "stars" from rocks appearing on the seen side. You might want take them to a local bed liner shop and have them sprayed. I have used Dupli-color spray can bed liner with good results.

10-03-2002, 05:08 PM	#1
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	repainting my fenderwells how in the heck to I remove the 30 plus years of dirt and grime form the underside of my fenderwells???? I have tried high pressure washers, aircraft paint removal spray and even tried a sander but it just gummed up? Please tell me a way of cutting through this gritty mess!!! __________________ 1971 SWB 4X4 Build BOARD MEMBER #5448 BOOMER SOONER!!!!

10-03-2002, 05:26 PM	#2
Southpa Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,410	That stuff, a hard black tarry coating? is good, best to leave it there. It was applied at the factory to protect the steel from water and flying rocks. The last thing you want is metal with only a thin coating of paint for protection. Your fender wells certainly wouldn't last very long without it. It may look dirty etc. but nobody sees it anyway. __________________ 1970 GMC 1500 Custom Original 350/TH350 Victoria, BC, Canada You can wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one gets filled first.

10-03-2002, 05:28 PM	#3
Gene Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 2,914	Most of it is already gone? So I would like to remove it all and re-apply some undercoating is it possible to get this crap off??? __________________ 1971 SWB 4X4 Build BOARD MEMBER #5448 BOOMER SOONER!!!!

10-03-2002, 05:46 PM	#5
TERRYP GYRO GEARLOOSE Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Nevada City, CAEverett, WA Posts: 361	Kerosene, or gasoline is a solvent for undercoating __________________ Nevada City, CA Everett, Washington 57 3/4 rat, 235, 3spd 66 C-10 Panel, SWB. 350 from '68, 200R4 tranny, 3.07 rear ratio, restoring 68 C10 LWB 350 4spd, 4.56 rear dump runner 82 Camaro, 305, THM-200-R4 84 Monte Carlo 305 TH350, land tuna 85 Tercel SW, snow runner DISGRACED OUTLAW MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB

10-03-2002, 06:18 PM	#6
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Step 1: Sandblast Step 2: Powder Coat __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

10-03-2002, 05:28 PM	#4
Truck Hippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hickory, NC. Posts: 776	Hey. I think the best way is to have them sandblasted. I you can take them to a sandblasting place and just drop them off it may be cheaper to have the guy blast them when he has some other parts to blast.

10-03-2002, 06:24 PM	#7
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	I removed the undercoating from the inside of my fenders using a butane heater and a putty knife. Just heat it a bit a it comes right off...very easy. After you remove it use a drill motor and a wire wheel to finish it off. It will be ready to re-undercoat or sand and paint. Some of the paint will come off too so make sure you recoat it with something. Each fender will take about 30 minutes or so. __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

10-03-2002, 07:20 PM	#8
RodC Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fairmont WV Posts: 304	Try a heat gun. and putty knife __________________ Rod Childers '71 C10 Stepside

10-04-2002, 08:29 AM	#9
bobs409 1969 Custom 30 wrecker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pottsville, Pa Posts: 2,611	I would just remove the loose material and re undercoat. The stuff that's not budging is good yet. If you really want it all off, I would use the solvent method. It will soften it up so you can scrape it all off. __________________ Bob 63 Impala 283/PG/3.36 (under restoration) 66 Impala 327/PG/3.36 66 Chevelle SS 409/M22/3.55 69 Chevelle 307/PG/3.08 (future restoration) 69 C10 short stepside 454/TH350/3.73 69 Custom 30 tow truck 350/4 spd/4.10 (resto done, CRUISIN TIME!) 71 Cheyenne 20 fleetside 350/4 spd/4.10 71 Chevelle 6/PG/3.08 72 Chevelle 454/M21/4.10

10-04-2002, 08:58 AM	#10
MOTHERTRUCKERS Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: BRADENTON FLA Posts: 3,269	Oven cleaner works pretty good also, sand blasting will bounce off or inbed into the undercoating, it's like sandblasting greasey parts. oven cleaner takes the petroleum out of grease and undercoating. __________________ Rest in Peace Ed. Thanks for all the good times.

10-04-2002, 01:21 PM	#11
stmoore Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 129	fenderwells once it's removed, you need something thick to prevent "stars" from rocks appearing on the seen side. You might want take them to a local bed liner shop and have them sprayed. I have used Dupli-color spray can bed liner with good results. __________________ steve moore



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