To underseal or not to underseal...
To underseal or not to underseal...
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Discussion

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

92,854 posts

295 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I have a 2014 Vanquish in very good condition. I was swapping notes with the previous owner and he recommended that for year round use, as it will be, I should consider getting it undersealed.

Last time I did this was with a TVR Griffith 25 years ago.It went on a ramp, had black waxoyl painted on the chassis and cost about £50. Great.

Now of course we're in Astonland and things get more complicated. Local garages either aren't interested or I don't trust them with it. It's not something I can DIY. Anyway, I ended up swapping e-mails with a helpful chap called Pete Hamber, of Bilt Hamber, who by all accounts seem to make the best underseal. He recommended a chap who can come to my house, jack the car up, take off the wheels (and presumably undertrays though we didn't get to that level of detail) and apply clear or black BH underseal. Sounds ideal.

But with travel it would cost £575, which puts it into the 'Do I really need it that badly?' territory.

What does the panel think?

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 6th October 13:36

DB4DM

1,150 posts

153 months

Tuesday
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What's the car made of?

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

92,854 posts

295 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Topsides are carbon fibre; underneath not sure exactly - much is covered by undertrays - but rear subframes are prone to corrosion and in bad cases have to be refurbished. It's the VH3 platform.

BlackStang5point0

2,336 posts

243 months

Tuesday
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After recently viewing a VH platform Aston that had a horribly corroded rear subframe I think it's a must do on these models.

Regarding your quote I'd want to know exactly what prep work they will do before going ahead as like anything it's all in the prep.

camel_landy

5,509 posts

213 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Topsides are carbon fibre; underneath not sure exactly - much is covered by undertrays - but rear subframes are prone to corrosion and in bad cases have to be refurbished. It's the VH3 platform.
Underneath is a mixture of steel and ally... A perfect recipe for bi-metalic corrosion.

So like TVRs, the fibreglass/carbon will continue to look great on top but can hide a horror story underneath!!

M

Trevor555

5,478 posts

114 months

Tuesday
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I'm a car buyer.

If you do it, use the clear underseal.

Black covers up what I'd want to see.

V8 Minotaur

244 posts

25 months

Tuesday
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I'd say it depends on it being a real keeper.

If so get some quotes for dry ice blasting and then have it ACF50 sprayed soon after - Aston dealers offer this.

https://www.hwmastonmartin.co.uk/service-parts-off...

You can then look to top it up every couple of years as deemed necessary.

_Rodders_

4,474 posts

49 months

Tuesday
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Agreed. Or at the very least take before and after pictures to prove you're not hiding anything nasty.

Bilt Hamber is good stuff though.

RacingSloth69

83 posts

10 months

Tuesday
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I'm looking to give my car a Lanoguard treatment in the next few weeks - similar to the ACF50 solution, clear and doesn't look like you are trying to hide anything

The V12 Way

945 posts

114 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I had this done on my previous V12S vantage, dry ice and lanoguard, where are you located?

V8 Minotaur said:
I'd say it depends on it being a real keeper.

If so get some quotes for dry ice blasting and then have it ACF50 sprayed soon after - Aston dealers offer this.

https://www.hwmastonmartin.co.uk/service-parts-off...

You can then look to top it up every couple of years as deemed necessary.

V8 Minotaur

244 posts

25 months

Wednesday
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I've watched the dry ice being done at Podium Place, Newbury.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

92,854 posts

295 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Thanks for the varied replies. I chose Bilt Hamber because it lasts longer than Lanoguard or ACF50. However for more info this is the chap's website - as far as I can tell he seems to have every angle covered: https://mobilerustdoctor.com/

The V12 Way

945 posts

114 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Surley bilthammer is only a surface treatment, lanoguard gets into open end ed cross members etc and protects it all.


Simpo Two said:
Thanks for the varied replies. I chose Bilt Hamber because it lasts longer than Lanoguard or ACF50. However for more info this is the chap's website - as far as I can tell he seems to have every angle covered: https://mobilerustdoctor.com/

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

92,854 posts

295 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
The V12 Way said:
Surley bilthammer is only a surface treatment, lanoguard gets into open end ed cross members etc and protects it all
Are they not applied in the same way? (not sure if spray or brush). Lanoguard only lasts a year I hear; waxoyl on my Griffith lasted about 10.

The V12 Way

945 posts

114 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Sorry, I was thinking of more a hammerrite application, bilt harmer last 1-3 years i think

Are they not applied in the same way? (not sure if spray or brush). Lanoguard only lasts a year I hear; waxoyl on my Griffith lasted about 10.

[/quote]

monkfish1

12,405 posts

254 months

Wednesday
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Cant imagine its going to be a particuarly thorough job for £575.

Having done a lot of this over the years, i couldnt do it for less than £2k. But id be removing the extraneous clutter, undertrays, covers, arch liners, exhaust etc. needle scaling any rust, rust convertor, then patch epoxy where necessary. After that, 2K seam sealer on every joint/lap joint etc that doest already have factory stuff on it. Then underseal, plus dynax S50 in all the cavities.

Im currently doing mine, ill be over 100 hours in by the time im done, though i have gone further removing subframes etc.

Ive actually got a thread going in readers rides if you are really bored.

For a decent car, i wanted to keep, i wouldnt be spending 600 notes on a job in your drive.

monkfish1

12,405 posts

254 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
The V12 Way said:
Surley bilthammer is only a surface treatment, lanoguard gets into open end ed cross members etc and protects it all
Are they not applied in the same way? (not sure if spray or brush). Lanoguard only lasts a year I hear; waxoyl on my Griffith lasted about 10.
Bilt hamber make products for both the underside and cavities. I think there cavity wax Dynax S50 is fantastic, dont use anything else now. But im not impressed with the underseal. I use Dinitrol 4941 for that. That stuff is tough.

paulrog1

1,235 posts

171 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
If you want to do it properly and will last for over 20 years do this -

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

It took me a few months to do working some weekends, not very difficult.

moveover

368 posts

193 months

Yesterday (08:01)
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Out of interest, given its ostensible ’off-road’ abilities, does the DBX have better under-carriage protection?

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

92,854 posts

295 months

Yesterday (09:26)
quotequote all
paulrog1 said:
If you want to do it properly and will last for over 20 years do this -

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

It took me a few months to do working some weekends, not very difficult.
What, remove a perfectly good subframe?

I have no facilities, no automotive tools, no indoor space to work in and no knowledge. Other than that I'm all set.

If the panel thinks that £575 is too cheap - it was about double what I was expecting - I'll leave it. It's underseal, not a respray...