POR15 or Chassis Paint?

[bluegoose]

Hello all, I had to take the rear control arms (suspension arms) off my 1984 CS and plan on getting them powder-coated. While underneath the car I see just how little undercoating there is left on the car. I was wondering you guys' opinion on POR15 paint is? My understanding is that it acts as a rust converter (I doubt it really does) and a durable enough paint for chassis.

I'm wondering how well it would work on frame rails, or the outside of the rocker panels? I'm sure to use undercoating as well, but as stated before I'd like some more opinions as to what to use on the frame rails (unibody rails), and the outside of the rocker panels. Thanks in advance to any feedback.

[Interceptor]

POR 15 means:
Paint over Rust...

This Stuff is made for Painting Suspension Parts usw. under the Car...
Is not good for things that get Sun(UV-Ray) becouse the Colour whitening out..

The POR 15 is an extremly High durably and Flexi Paint(for Springs usw).

When you use this...you have a good performance for many Years!!!

[1SupraMk2]

You need to really clean anything you plan to paint with POR. If an area is still dirty then water could seep under the POR (same with undercoating) and cause more problems than you had before.

[Tire Shredder]

POR 15 is a good product, but it is to be used as a system. read and follow the directions. You do not just purchase a can of paint and go to town.

two products hsould be used first. 1) marine clean to remove any grease and oil 2) metal ready to convert the rest to iron phosphate and add a zinc coating to aid in bonding.

once rinsed (follow the directions) and THOROUGHLY dry (POR15 cures with humidity and must be applied to perfectly dry parts, on a day it isn't very humid) then you paint the parts.

it's pigment is not UV-proof and will eventually turn grey (not likely on the chassis) their chassis black paint is intended as a top coat, to be applied OVER POR-15. chassis black does have UV-resistant pigments and is very durable but it is NOT intended to be applied on rusty surfaces.

if you want the full job done right you actually need to purchase 4 products and it's not cheap stuff.

Take note if you're applying to surfaces, pinchwelds etc, in locations where the rust is likely to have started on the back side or in between a joint, those surfaces must be treated as well. You must get full encapsulation of the rust or it will continue to spread in the untreated areas, and eventually break through your paint.

[BuddyJ]

I prefer Rust Bullet over POR15. It's a bit more forgiving in terms of prep work involved and offers the same benefits.

[bluegoose]

Ok, thanks everyone for helping me figure out what the better solution would be. Sounds like the POR 15 system would be good for frame rails but not as a top coat in an area where it can be exposed to UV rays. I might use it on the frame rails and more potruding parts of the underside in unibody, but not on the rockers.

I've already done quite a bit of rust removal/treatment on the car and just primered the rockers. I figured I should do a little learning as to how to best protect the rockers. Again thanks everyone!

[Tire Shredder]

Ok, thanks everyone for helping me figure out what the better solution would be. Sounds like the POR 15 system would be good for frame rails but not as a top coat in an area where it can be exposed to UV rays. I might use it on the frame rails and more potruding parts of the underside in unibody, but not on the rockers.

I've already done quite a bit of rust removal/treatment on the car and just primered the rockers. I figured I should do a little learning as to how to best protect the rockers. Again thanks everyone!

you just have to paint overtop of the POR-15 with something else that is UV resistant if it's in an exposed area... another POR15 product like chassis black or you can buy "tie coat primer" and use any paint you want

[wirysage]

you just have to paint overtop of the POR-15 with something else that is UV resistant if it's in an exposed area... another POR15 product like chassis black or you can buy "tie coat primer" and use any paint you want

Don't go near tie-coat primer I used it on my hatch its garbage. Buy Acid #8 primer put a thin layer of that over the POR-15 and then paint some high quality high build primer over the top of the Acid #8.