Refinishing this area under the cowl?

Fiat88 · Post by **Fiat88** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:06 pm

What kind of coating would you guys use on this area, the original rubber type coating is kind of cracked. I'm thinking of using eastwood's extreme chassis black paint and a can of seam sealer so i can redo the seams. What have you guys used? THx.

SLOSpider · Post by **SLOSpider** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:22 pm

I just used a good undercoating

johndemar · Post by **johndemar** » Sat May 08, 2010 11:36 pm

I covered mine with POR-15. In fact almost all the surface that isn't painted the body color is covered with it.

Curly · Post by **Curly** » Sun May 09, 2010 4:24 am

Removed the old seam-sealer with knife, sandblasted all the paint off, reapplied seam-sealer, treated with etch primer same as rest of body and then the usual primers and top-coats to finish it off in body colour.

Fiat88 · Post by **Fiat88** » Sun May 09, 2010 2:05 pm

Might try the Por-15 stuff, is that stuff ok to use on good metal as I don't see any really rusty metal?

BTW, is the center air intake flap that's controlled by the heater lever removable? As it has a good amount of surface rust. Want to take it off and sand it down to good metal and repaint.

manoa matt · Post by **manoa matt** » Sun May 09, 2010 2:17 pm

I used an actual roofing product after prepping it and painting. I figured it was much thicker than paint and would hold up better. It rains all the time here and mine is a daily driver so that area sees a lot of water.

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Sun May 09, 2010 2:49 pm

Try to build up the bottom so that the water will always drain out, and not collect. The problem happens when residual water sits there for a long time without draining out. A little bit of a design error from Fiat made it so that the drain is not quite at the lowest point. A little shaping with bondo should do it.

Alvon

SLOSpider · Post by **SLOSpider** » Sun May 09, 2010 4:07 pm

Yes it can be removed. Open cover as much as you can then undo the hold screw for the cable inside. Then you can open cover more and access the 2 nuts on the bottom. While you have it out make sure it moves free on its hinge and lube it down so its moves easily . you can see one of the nuts in this photo

Fiat88 · Post by **Fiat88** » Sun May 09, 2010 11:15 pm

SLOSpider wrote:Yes it can be removed. Open cover as much as you can then undo the hold screw for the cable inside. Then you can open cover more and access the 2 nuts on the bottom. While you have it out make sure it moves free on its hinge and lube it down so its moves easily . you can see one of the nuts in this photo

Thanks for the pics SLO! Sanding will be much more easier but I wish I had a blasting cabinet...oh well sand paper will do!

jimmycakes401 · Post by **jimmycakes401** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:10 pm

Ventura, what do you recommend for building up near the drains? I have some fiber fill. Easy to use, rock hard after curing then top coat it? Sound like a plan?

124JOE · Post by **124JOE** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:13 am

jimmy it sounds good here

jimmycakes401 · Post by **jimmycakes401** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:10 pm

Trying to screw my cowl back on right now. I'm not sure which of my fastners are supposed to be in there. Since I didn't take it apart, I have no idea. Anyone remember if it is a phillips head screw top or a rachet top? Maybe have a picture?

seabeelt · Post by **seabeelt** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:34 pm

They are phillips screws (located in holes along the edge that is toward the engine compartment)
r/

jimmycakes401 · Post by **jimmycakes401** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:30 pm

Excellent. Are there washers?

Ky2000 · Post by **Ky2000** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:19 pm

Yes, mine had rubber washers that where shot, so i replaced them.

Refinishing this area under the cowl?

Refinishing this area under the cowl?

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Re: Refinishing this area under the cowl?

Re: Refinishing this area under the cowl?