Landracing Forum

Misc Forums => Do before leaving for a race => Topic started by: ggl205 on June 03, 2017, 12:38:20 PM

Title: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: ggl205 on June 03, 2017, 12:38:20 PM
I have a VERY clean 1999 Ford E350 Super Duty tow/push van and would like to keep it this way, if possible. No rust so I will be starting fresh with whatever undercoat works best. Any solid recommendations?

John
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: ronnieroadster on June 03, 2017, 08:23:08 PM
Undercoated my Dodge Ram myself spent the week on the lift doing it made sure every possible area was coated including inside the doors and lower body sills used Rusfree brand undercoat found it on Ebay. Its a very thick somewhat clear liquid I thnned it with mineral spirits so it would flow out of the syphon gun ina light pastey spray.
   One gallon was more than enough to do the truck which has a crew cab and short bed. After a week on the salt last year theres no rust. I did spend time in town having the high school kids power wash everything for the trip home best $25.00 donation you can make to get most of the salt off.
 Ronnieroadster
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: wobblywalrus on June 04, 2017, 12:44:22 AM
John, drive slow out there so your tires do not fling the salt all over the undercarriage and take off your shoes and put them in a trash bag before you get in the truck.  That keep the salt off of your floor mats and interior.   
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Stainless1 on June 04, 2017, 09:18:11 AM
And pray for lots of rain and storms in Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas on the way home.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 04, 2017, 09:56:04 AM
Rain on the way home won't do it all -- witness a couple of years ago when, in JULY, I removed the left rear turn signal housing on the pickup to replace a bulb - and found a big ol' hunk of salt - maybe grapefruit-sized -- nestled down inside the fender.

A winter of rain and snow and slop and all that -- still didn't get rid of the salt from Bville.  I still think my idea would work best -- find a fast-running stream that's a little deeper than your vehicle's roofline, then park the vehicle in the stream for a couple of days.

That'd get most of the salt out. :-D
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: sofadriver on June 04, 2017, 10:22:57 AM
It's my feeling that the salt will get under, around or behind any kind if coating and cant be completely removed because it's under the coating.

When I was a kid in Ohio they'd salt the heck out of the roads (no doubt adding to the demise of Lake Erie).  Every fall my Dad would take the ole' Pontiac down to the gas station (remember those?) and they'd spray the undercarriage with used motor oil.  The oil would weep into all the little areas that a coating would miss.  Can't remember any of our cars ever rusting out.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: wheelrdealer on June 04, 2017, 10:23:26 AM
The next time I will try this,

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/ (http://www.saltawayproducts.com/)

Others may have and have some real feedback.

BR
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: thundersalt on June 06, 2017, 03:06:35 PM
I used salt x for years. It works better as a cleaner after the trip. Last year I bought bulk wd40 put it in a sprayer and lube up every nook and cranny. I was even covered with it. Worked better than anything I used in the past. Also it helps with all the bare metal parts on the newer trucks.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: stay`tee on June 06, 2017, 06:24:11 PM
"WD40" mate, as Thundersalt said "WD40", "Drown" the thing before going and after the clean up,, I have been using the stuff for twenty years both on the bike and Van, haven't had a problem,, uummmm "WD40"  :-D
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: tauruck on June 06, 2017, 06:51:26 PM
I just had a thought!!!!! :-o
There's an acrylic water based stone chip spray that's cheap as chips.
It's the stuff they paint on cars on the sills. That might work????. :cheers:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: donpearsall on June 06, 2017, 07:14:30 PM
I have tried a lot of stuff to keep salt away. But for my bikes, the best one I have found is BoeShield. It is a spray-on that dries kind of waxy and sticks to everything, but when it dries, it does not attract dirt or salt.
I also sprayed it all over my electrical connectors and they did not corrode as they have before.

It is developed by Boeing, so its got to be good, Right?

I buy it in spray cans but it can be purchased by the gallon. Kind of expensive at $120 a gallon.

Here is the website: https://boeshield.com/ (https://boeshield.com/)

Don

Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: WhizzbangK.C. on June 14, 2017, 05:57:12 PM
I asked Tom Mellor what he did to prevent his Rolls Royce tow vehicle from rusting away. My guess was that he completely disassembled it every year and cleaned it thoroughly. (I thought that was a reasonable thought, seeing how meticulous he is. ) He laughed and said something like "It's only clean and shiny on the top side. It has an automatic chassis lube system and the entire undercarriage is completely coated with oil and grease. No salt can get to any metal under there!" 
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: bbarn on June 15, 2017, 08:41:58 AM
Anybody use Fluid Film? Been reading up on it and considering doing my truck with it, not just for the BSF salt but for the PA salt too.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: sofadriver on June 18, 2017, 07:37:03 AM
The real deal.............

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmoline
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Vinsky on June 18, 2017, 03:59:21 PM
One of the local aluminum boat builders here uses SHARKHIDE metal protectant. Lasts about one season in salt water. http://www.sharkhide.com/mpinfo.html
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: RidgeRunner on June 18, 2017, 09:38:19 PM
     Thanks for the real deal link SD.  Now I know finally know why the stuff was so hard to clean off the tools and parts over 50 years ago, they had probably been stored within the stuff since at least the end of the second big one -20 years at least.  Such a pain to take off then I've avoided it since.

           Ed

Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Dr Goggles on June 18, 2017, 11:23:23 PM
I used salt x for years. It works better as a cleaner after the trip. Last year I bought bulk wd40 put it in a sprayer and lube up every nook and cranny. I was even covered with it. Worked better than anything I used in the past. Also it helps with all the bare metal parts on the newer trucks.

That's my tip for the race vehicle. Also we've all had that issue where you get home after the salt and all your thrash time and then time away has conspired against you and it's all hands on deck for anything and everything EXCEPT the race car. It takes ten minutes at most to go out to the shed and give the car a hosing in WD40, if you go out a few days/weeks later and there's still water clinging to it, go at it again....

For the tow vehicle I tried silicone spray lubricant one year, emptied a big can on the whole underbody, NOTHING stuck to it, not even dirt, I have also tried others like WD40 but the silicone was the best....however WARNING: it is best used in a contained situation, I wouldn't use it to douse the race car because it is persistent and very slippery...
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: manta22 on June 19, 2017, 12:20:51 PM
One thing about spraying silicone on everything-- don't do it if you ever plan on fiberglassing anything on it or bonding something on with epoxy. Silicones are a good mold release so it will prevent anything from sticking to it.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Elmo Rodge on June 20, 2017, 12:29:57 AM
Neil, actually they're a terrible mold release because if you ever want to bond anything that's been within about three miles of the stuff you're skeeeerooood.  :roll:
Wayno
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: manta22 on June 20, 2017, 12:52:28 AM
I think that's what I said, Wayno.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: tauruck on June 20, 2017, 01:08:32 AM
You guys are funny. :-D
BUT wise!!!!.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: sofadriver on June 23, 2017, 12:12:44 AM
Bought this at the auto parts store.  Sounds pretty good.

http://www.fluid-film.com/
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: wobblywalrus on June 23, 2017, 12:51:07 AM
Smearing on a thin layer of that blue waterproof boat trailer wheel bearing grease works pretty good.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: mstrdinan on June 23, 2017, 08:54:43 AM
seems to me I read somewhere that a nice pair of FOR SALE signs is appropriate after a few years on the salt....
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Glen on June 24, 2017, 02:57:47 PM
Do take it on the salt.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: BHR301 on June 24, 2017, 09:37:36 PM
If you live in the rust belt (Michigan) in two or three years it will look like every other car or truck.. :cheers:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: jimmy six on July 19, 2017, 08:00:22 PM
A rental truck..
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: donpearsall on July 19, 2017, 08:53:19 PM
If you take any vehicle on the salt no matter what precautions you take, it it is doomed. You can coat the underside with whatever you want, but salt dust will get everywhere not just the bottom. The salt particles are suspended in the air all the time, salt water splashes everything, you will bring it into the cab with your shoes and clothes.

The only solution is to make vehicles out of 100% plastic or ceramic and not have a bit of metal in it. Maybe one day...

Don
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: racergeo on July 19, 2017, 09:22:11 PM
  Get a roll of Gorilla tape and make some over size wheel well "salt flaps" for rear wheel wells. F@R.  Cover carpet w/cardboard and tape to the sill plats. Spray Blaster brand penetrating catalyst (Home Depot) on your Ebrake assy. and your brake pivot. WD40 under your dash. Then saturate the under carriage, especially where salt is flung off your tires with Blaster brand corrosion inhibitor. Home Depot will sell all these items 5 cans of the Blaster products and the tape for under $30. Then pray.
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 20, 2017, 06:39:41 AM
I was thinking about the rental that I drove to the salt in '15.  I rented here in Marquette where they didn't have a clue, and when I returned it I spent a few bucks at the car wash rinsing off the most visible of the salt.  I had rented it from a branch at the local Ramada Inn -- so upon returning it I left it way over there in the lot and hoped they'd move it before the next rainstorm.  It was still dripping lotsa salt when I walked away.

Did you happen to buy a black Chevy Cruze from Avis a year or so ago?  Has it dissolved yet? :roll:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: QikNip on November 19, 2017, 11:54:00 AM
To add to the point made here (repeatedly) the salt is absolutely ubiquitous! Example: Yesterday when I went to use a feeler gauge (that had spent week in a tool box drawer without ever seeing the light of day) the edges of every blade had surface rust on them. As for the race car, I washed it repeatedly and then thoroughly sprayed every nook and cranny with Salt Away (several times) and despite not being able to find one damn particle of salt visible anywhere when I was done, it continues -  now three months after Speed Week, to occasionally drip brownish water drops on the garage floor. I think it's like the Borg Star Trek line..."Resistance is futile"! :)
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on November 19, 2017, 12:08:34 PM
How many of us can give examples of stuff like "We cleaned the bike down to the frame last autumn, and this spring put it together and when it was on the dyno it was dropping hunks of salt!"?  I've long held that the best way to get all of the salt would be to find a fast-running creek a little bit deeper than the race vehicle and park the car/bike in that stream for four or five days.  That'll get dang near all of it. :roll:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: QikNip on November 19, 2017, 12:20:25 PM
How many of us can give examples of stuff like "We cleaned the bike down to the frame last autumn, and this spring put it together and when it was on the dyno it was dropping hunks of salt!"?  I've long held that the best way to get all of the salt would be to find a fast-running creek a little bit deeper than the race vehicle and park the car/bike in that stream for four or five days.  That'll get dang near all of it. :roll:

Well maybe most of it  :cheers:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: WhizzbangK.C. on November 19, 2017, 04:31:13 PM
How many of us can give examples of stuff like "We cleaned the bike down to the frame last autumn, and this spring put it together and when it was on the dyno it was dropping hunks of salt!"?  I've long held that the best way to get all of the salt would be to find a fast-running creek a little bit deeper than the race vehicle and park the car/bike in that stream for four or five days.  That'll get dang near all of it. :roll:

Well maybe most of it  :cheers:


Some of it, for sure.   :dhorse:
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on November 19, 2017, 04:37:23 PM
Certainly better than nothing.   :-o
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on November 19, 2017, 04:54:09 PM
How many of us can give examples of stuff like "We cleaned the bike down to the frame last autumn, and this spring put it together and when it was on the dyno it was dropping hunks of salt!"?  I've long held that the best way to get all of the salt would be to find a fast-running creek a little bit deeper than the race vehicle and park the car/bike in that stream for four or five days.  That'll get dang near all of it. :roll:

I last ran in September of 2014.  The day after I got it home, I put the car up on jacks and ran an oscillating sprinkler under it for a solid day.  Vacuumed and hosed off everything, repeated the process after it had dried probably 2 times.

It's now the 19th of November, 2017, I'm under the car prepping it for some chassis mods, and sureasshit, I wipe my finger on the inside of the driveshaft tunnel, taste it, and it's STILL THERE.

I get a chuckle when somebody suggests that they might build a car for Bonneville and then put it back on the street . . .
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: Stainless1 on November 19, 2017, 07:21:30 PM
Actually back on the street may be the best idea.... that is back on the street every  time it rains.... A good rain makes me grab the dodge (not a substitution) keys and take it for a long wet drive....  :-D
Title: Re: Best Undercarriage Protection Against Salt
Post by: wobblywalrus on November 20, 2017, 12:04:41 AM
We all deal with it in different ways.  My motto is "if it is worth the trouble of fabricating, it is worth using stainless steel, titanium, or corrosion resistant aluminum."  Also, no powder coat on steel stuff.  Zinc chromate primers with spray or brush painting.  Where ever possible shielding is used to keep the salt spray out.  Electronics are at the bare minimum so there is less to worry about.