What to coat frame with: undercoating vs. bed liner

[GaryMB]

I'm going to pull the tub off my CJ7 in a couple days and will be coating the frame after I clean it real well with aircraft remover and metal etch. To protect it, should I go ahead and put on some dupli-color pickup bed liner or just some regular aerosal undercoating (or other)? Also should I prime it?

 

[gunner]

RE: clocking dana 300

I did that several years ago with my 78 CJ5 - it was sure a chore. I just used a bunch of primer and spray paint. So far, it's been holding up fine. I had a few rust spots around some seams, so I used POR-15. That stuff is still rock hard.

I used that dupli-color pickup bed liner on the inside of my Jeep tub, but that stuff chipped and cracked within a year. When I get some time, I'm going to take off the dupli-color stuff and try Hurculiner. I know it's more expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for.

In any case, I'm glad I did the work, but it sure took a lot more time and money than I anticipated.

 

[redrooster]

RE: Differences between an 87 and an 88

Herculiner is no better. The Bondo brand at Advance is somewhat better because it has a two part hardener to add. After three years, even that is starting to come out of my Jeep. I'm going to remove all of it and go Rhino.
For the frame, everyone swears by POR-15. It might by the ticket for your guys that are subject to salt exposure. For us southerners a .99 cent can of Wal Mart flat black works well.

 

[Junkpile]

I agree with rooster, and I live in a southern area that has salt exposure. I like gloss or satin black though. Eastwood brand Chassis Black aerosol is nice stuff. The best recommendation I could give would be to spray the frame the first time with a good quality single stage automotive paint if possible, and then touch it up with a spraycan as needed.

 

[raptor_pilot]

POR-15 is by far the best way to go. Its used by all the professional offroaders and numerous others. It's not called liquid powder coating for nothing. I used it on the suspension of my dad's camaro and its beautiful. Only two problems are its more epensive than normal undercoating and its not UV stable (not that it matters). The stuff is just amaing. If you can afford it thats the way to go.
Mike

 

[jay79cj7]

I used Eastwood's rust encapsulator instead of POR-15. I read an article online where the two were compared and Eastwood was better. They are the same price.

 

[88Wrangles]

POR-15 is good stuff. You really can't go wrong with it.

I've used the spray on ruberized-undercoating before and it works well too It's pretty cheap, and lasts a long time on a frame and underbody.