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.

I just used a good undercoating

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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?

jimmy it sounds good here

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?

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

Excellent. Are there washers?

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