The underside of my 49 Kaiser

[joefrazer]

I'm impressed...looks great!

[joefrazer]

Here are a couple pix of the covers that fit in behind the park light housings on the 49-50K. Of course...the pictures posted sideways...but you get the idea!

[shadetree77]

Wow! Looking good! That is, in my opinion, the worst part of restoration. Scraping and degreasing all of that crud and then painting it. Did you spray the paint or brush it on? What kind of paint? I used Chassis Saver(similar to POR15) and brushed it on. Man, was that a pain! It took me and my Dad two days under there with paint brushes. We were covered, head to toe, in that stuff too. And let me tell you, that rust encapsulating paint DOES NOT COME OFF! I think I'll spray it on next time.

[JoeKeys2010]

I'm in the rail car repair business and have access to several different coatings for industrial use.  The underside was painted with a DTM (Direct to Medal) epoxy which flow very good.  The engine block I painted with an epoxy primer and used a urethane top coat.  I mixed it until it matched what was on the oil pan.  the fire wall I had mixed with a DuPont formula mixed at a PPG automotive shop.  It matched perfectly to some paint that was left under the wheel well.  I did paint it with the bushings installed.

This has been a nasty job, lots of gook and undercoating to remove.  I have been on it (off and on) for over a month now.  I have some components to put back on the engine, the starter, generator and radiator and then I'll post some photos of the engine compartment.  I'm sure in all of it I painted something the wrong color or painted something that should not have been painted. Right now I am just proud to get it painted, the block, transmission, the under side, the inside fenders, firewall and trunk.  I'd rather paint the outside three times over than do this again.

I am very very pleased with the outcome.  Painting is always the reward for hours and hours of prep work.  On now to the body and getting it back to a Caribbean Coral and then the seat covers and door panels.

[JoeKeys2010]

I sprayed it and was still covered head to toe in paint.

[JoeKeys2010]

Just had the gas tank vated and lined.  I am ready to install in back under the car.  Is it supposed to be painted black or does it stay the medal color?

[joefrazer]

I've seen factory photos with them both ways. Most folks paint them black.

[JoeKeys2010]

Here is the gas tank, freshly vatted, lined and painted. Replaced all the gas lines from the tank to the pump.  Scrapped the rear end, axle and sprngs and painted.  the only thing left is the area between the rear end and the transmission.  Then I can set her down again.  Almost there!

[joefrazer]

Looking good! I did the same thing to my 50 Traveler several years ago and feel your pain. It's alot of work...but well worth it!

[JoeKeys2010]

Here are a couple of shots under the hood after I stripped and painted everything.  The firewall is Caribbean Coral as will be the body when I am done.  I don't have the plate mounted on the firewall yet and I plan on changing the clamps to the old style ones; but for the most part I am through.  If you see something in the picture I missed or painted wrong please let me know.  I used several email, photos and this website to try to get everything right.  I painted the windshield wiper motor and realize I should not have so I will strip the paint back off of it.

[joefrazer]

A well detailed engine compartment goes a long way at a show. I detail all my cars and have had other members bring theirs to me to have them done. Yours is really shaping up nicely!

[JoeKeys2010]

Looks like I posted the same photo twice. Here is the second photo I took of the motor.

[JoeKeys2010]

I finally finished all the scraping, sanding and wipping today and now have the complete underside painted!  I've also completed the engine compartment, trunk, fender wells and door jams. Other than the body itself, I still have the inside to paint. I think I would rather rebuild a motor than do the underside. It is near perfect and I am very pleased with it. I should have counted the hours I spent. It had failing undercoating besides grease and a small amount of rust in the floor pans. Bit at last the job is done.

[JoeKeys2010]

Here are the last of the pictures from the completed underside.  It is a little shinny right now, but given I used a DTM epoxy it will lose it shine over time and turn more flat.  If you look closely in one of the photos you can see my parts car.  Just glad to be done with this part of the project.

[JoeKeys2010]

Started n 10/18/2013 sat her back down on four wheels 12/26