VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Body - Sheet Metal, Paint & Wood Fender Undercoating / Colour

Has anyone added any kind of undercoating inside of the fenders in the wheel area to provide a bit of protection from rocks flying up from the tires? In doing bodywork I can see these areas are very vulnerable to damage and one rock could easily ruin your day.

I want an original look so don't really want the lumpy rubberized rockerguard look, but a product like this that goes on smooth would be ideal. I've seen some bedliner products that go on smooth and are coloured throughout so chips won't stand out. Would like to do underside of floor with something like this as well but don't want to lose detail - just add some durability.

Also, the underbody on my 38 appeared to be a "gas meter grey" colour so I'm wondering if the underside of the fenders would have been the same initially before getting hit with body colour overspray?

Chevrolet offered an under coat material for under fenders in 1938 Described as "Under Fender Coating" #885198 and could be brushed on or thinned and sprayed on. Came in a one gallon can.
Fisher Body used gray for the under body. Fenders were made and painted by Chevrolet and painted black. Hood was made and painted by Chevrolet and under side was gray. Chevrolet used red primer for hood and fenders. Fisher body used a gray primer.
I would describe the grays as being medium with the under hood slightly darker.

3M makes a great rubberized undercoating, that's paintable. Gives semi pebble finish. I taped off 7" wide areas on the front and rear fenders, where the rocks and pebbles would strike the fender. I put on 5 coats per fender.
mike lynch