wcsinx

I just ripped out all the carpet, padding, and insulation from my project '76 because it was rotted, stained, and mildewed. There was a good deal of rust on the passender side steel floor pan. It wasn't horrible though. The pan still feels solid, and looks perfect from the underside. So now I'm trying to think of what would work well as a protective coating. I'm considering using either rubberized undercoating or that brush on truck bed liner stuff. Can anyone see any issues behind using either of these materials on my floorboards?

Taz77

I sand blasted mine then coated it with several coats of primer, then put down red devil polyurethane enamel paint. No more rust problems! The red devil paint is super tough.

Then I put down insulation and new carpet.

joe74

POR-15 is some really good stuff. Clean up loose rust and coat over it.
A little expensive but a little goes a long w

wcsinx

Oh that was another question I had. Did you spring for the precut insulation pads or did you just get sheets of insulation? I think I can fabricate insulation just as good or better than the precut pads, it's just a lot more work.

Also did you replace the padding as well? That's the stuff that really appears to be the culprit behind why the water was held under the carpet so well. That crap looks like a sheet of compressed dryer lint, and it holds water really well. I'm thinking it might be better (and dryer) to go with a thin sheet of foam rubber or something similar.

RustyVette

I'm with Joe74 on this one. After going thru the effort of pulling and replacing the carpet and cleaning up the pans, POR15 is the only way to go. I'm sure you will find other uses for any of the product that remains, just make sure you get a good seal on the container.

NHvette

POR-15 - for sure - and a lasting fix.

As far as padding - foam will hold water too - and not last as long.

The cure : keep the water out.

They sell similar backing for residential carpetting - for installation
on cement floors and other damp areas. This stuff will hold up
better than foam - IMO.

wcsinx

And where does one get this wonder gunk?

Foam will "breathe" easier though. That felt padding held 26 years of water in because it wouldn't allow any air to pass through it.

Oh I plan on that. It's garaged now and only take out on nice days. This is just more for contigency planning. Water is going to get back on the floor at some point whether it's from wet shoes, steam cleaning, spilled drinks, etc.

Uhm ... that stuff is foam. I should know. I just ripped 200 sq. ft. of it out of my living room. That is indeed the type of foam I had planned on using in my '76.

NHvette

www.por-15.com

Re: keeping water out - I just noticed two days ago that the drainage
hose for the rear deck vents was broken. Actually, I think it was torn, since
it was still soft rubber. Any time it would get wet the vents would drain
directly into the car (I called it a bath tub). The hose is right behind the
passenger seat below the rear window.

The carpet padding that I'm speaking of is NOT the composite/recycled
polyurethane foam padding known as "rebond". It is very similar to the
original jute backing that you took out, known as fiber or jute padding.
Various pad types are described here:
http://www.carpetguru.com/pad200.htm
The Frothed Foam pad that they describe here sounds good - CLOSED cell,
so no water gets in !! :) Is this the stuff you are talking about ?
Sorry if it is - I assumed you meant the most common rebond padding.

On one last note : I learned a trick from pulling my Buick carpet up. They
use the jute padding, but it has a heavy tar-paper like layer glued on top
of the padding, which keeps "normal" water from soaking through the
carpet and into the pad.
:seeya

wcsinx

very informative sites, thanks!

hmm, do any vendors carry POR-15 or is it only available online and through mail order?