C3 spare tire holder finish

[Jim A.]

The Technical Information Manual states that the spare tire tub is unpainted and that the outside is smoother than the inside.
I have finished removing all the undercoating, scratches, filled and sanded to a 400 grit finish. See attached pics.
My question is best to add a gel coat or simply wet sand to the smoothest finish possible. I am trying to keep it original.
Appreciate all the help out there.Spare Tire Tub after clean and sand 1.jpg

[Don L.]

[Scott S.]

Re: C3 spare tire holder finish

Don, Is right on.
Scott

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 spare tire holder finish

The Technical Information Manual states that the spare tire tub is unpainted and that the outside is smoother than the inside.
I have finished removing all the undercoating, scratches, filled and sanded to a 400 grit finish. See attached pics.
My question is best to add a gel coat or simply wet sand to the smoothest finish possible. I am trying to keep it original.
Appreciate all the help out there.[ATTACH=CONFIG]98683[/ATTACH]

Jim------


This appears like a later version of the spare tire tub. Earlier versions were a darker color and had fiberglass fibers clearly visible. I do not know just when the change occurred, though.

I also agree that you should seal the tub with something like satin clear urethane. The original tubs had a "skin"when they came out of the mold. That is lost when a refinishing such as yours is performed. The satin urethane will effectively restore that "skin".

[Jim A.]

Re: C3 spare tire holder finish

Thank you guys for your responses. I really have am not sure that the tub wasn't replaced before I acquired the car almost 20 years ago.
There was so much undercoating on the tub I just feel it came from the dealer that way. There was more fibers showing before I refinished it. They are still there. Am hopeful they will pop out more with better finish. I might wet sand with 800 grit prior to a satin clear coat. Will repost here with a picture after it is finished.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 spare tire holder finish

Thank you guys for your responses. I really have am not sure that the tub wasn't replaced before I acquired the car almost 20 years ago.
There was so much undercoating on the tub I just feel it came from the dealer that way. There was more fibers showing before I refinished it. They are still there. Am hopeful they will pop out more with better finish. I might wet sand with 800 grit prior to a satin clear coat. Will repost here with a picture after it is finished.

Jim------


What year is the car? Also, if the tub had been replaced, I think you'd be able to tell by the rivets you removed. Of course, someone could have replaced them with the proper rivets, properly installed. But, "way-back-when" it's very unlikely this would have been done.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 spare tire holder finish

You clicked the 73-77 header for this post, and your profile shows you own a 1977.
As such, the lighter gray shown is correct for your car.