Wheel well coating

[BobCarter]

To prevent damage to the finished exterior fiberglass I am considering the application of a protective coating on the wheel wells (gravel roads in our area). Perhaps a 3M product. Does anyone have any experience with coating their wheel wells? Pros and Cons? Recommended products?

[stevo7896]

One common method is to apply bed liner material.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

I have truck bed liner under a set of plastic wheel well liners.

[NukeMMC]

I have truck bed liner under a set of plastic wheel well liners.

Same here, Alex's Wheel Well Liners (http://acroadsterinteriors.com/Fenderliners.html) work great.

[BobCarter]

Do you guys have any concerns about these liners coming loose?

[edwardb]

Putting undercoat on the body is quite common for these builds and highly recommended. I generally put a single coat all over, and then several additional heavy coats in the wheel wells. Also I coat the wheel facing sides of the aluminum splash guards, often call elephant ears because that's what they look like. The undercoat gives the underside a nice consistent overall look, reduces the noise and "pinging" of smaller stuff hitting the wheel wells. And in the case of something larger, should prevent damage to the paint on the top side, e.g. "starring." Several different products can be used, but truck bedliner is extremely tough and what I recommend. Duplicolor has a water based product called "Bed Armor" that works well. Herculiner has a solvent based product that many have used. There are others. Just be aware all are messy, and I highly recommend you do this with the body upside down. Don't try it from underneath. One of those "ask me how I know" moments.

I have seen the wheel well liners from Alex installed in a Roadster, although I haven't personally used them. No doubt they give some additional protection, but I think mainly they clean up the appearance if that's something you want. You don't see the open front of the wheel well openings, etc. Looks a little more production I guess. Depends on what's important to you. I would do the bedliner regardless of what you do with the wheel well liners. JMO.

[BobCarter]

Good info.
Thanks

[skullandbones]

Minimum should be a single coat under the whole thing as some have mentioned. Turn it over as edwardb stated. I found out about that the easy way. If you are wanting to clean up the rougher underside areas you can multitask while it is on it's back. I found everything easier that way. Your aching back will thank you and the jobs you do will be better done (like smoothing and fairing the wheel wells.

Hopefully, it's the last time you see the body in that orientation!

WEK.

[rmiller64]

I will be applying Herculiner today http://www.amazon.com/Herculiner-HCL1B8-Brush-Bed-Liner/dp/B0002TDUW4 now that all to trimming and edges are done then the first gallon on Slick Sand before the body goes on for fitment

43397

[edwardb]

I will be applying Herculiner today http://www.amazon.com/Herculiner-HCL1B8-Brush-Bed-Liner/dp/B0002TDUW4 now that all to trimming and edges are done then the first gallon on Slick Sand before the body goes on for fitment.

43397

Nice! Now get some drop cloths everywhere before cracking open a can of that stuff. There's no way to do it neatly, and it's murder to clean up afterwards. No point in messing up your nice neat lift and garage floor! ;)

[rmiller64]

Nice! Now get some drop cloths everywhere before cracking open a can of that stuff. There's no way to do it neatly, and it's murder to clean up afterwards. No point in messing up your nice neat lift and garage floor! ;)

Roger that Paul, I'll slide a sheet of painters plastic under the body between the lift. the nice neat lift and floor has been covered in red dust.

Thanks for the heads up

[BEAR-AvHistory]

They fit pretty tight. The units are molded flat & need to be flexed into a curve to fit in. The flex alone will hold them in pretty tight. They are then pinned at both ends with normal under body trim mounting buttons like factory cars. The front of the front wheel unit used a metal "L" bracket bolted in.

My gut feeling is being pretty ridged they will prevent the paint from staring due to a thrown rock in anyplace they cover that the truck bed liner alone might not protect.

A bit pricy but so was the paint job.