undercoating wheel wells 1980?

[Edward F.]

I am in the process of having my 1980 Corvette painted. The painter asked me if I wanted black undercoating in the wheel wells. There seems to be some undrecoating in there now, and there is also some bare fiberglass. Any opinions. I want the car to be correct. Thanks

[Jack H.]

Re: undercoating wheel wells 1980?

I can't speak for '80 Corvettes, perhaps your copy of the NCRS Judging Guide will address the issue, but earlier cars going WAY back did have undercoating in the wheel wells.

It wasn't there to prevent 'rust' since it was shot onto the fiberglass fender panels. It was there to prevent damage to the fender's top side exterior paint from the tires picking up stone(s) in the tread and thowing them against the underside fiberglass... That 'shock' can wind up leaving the top surface paint with a bullseye or crack.

At the factory, the degree of undercoat coverage in the wheel wells varied WIDELY. I've seen some earlier original cars with quite a bit of coverage and others with just a narrow, semi-circular, band of undercoating...

[Walter G.]

Re: undercoating wheel wells 1980?

I recall some undercoating in the wheel wells of my '79, if that helps. Kind of a typical factory applied job-served the purpose, but nothing pretty. Back then I would Armor All the heck out of them for concours events and I still remember the rough stucco look of the wheel wells due to the undercoating.