Floor panels--> When to apply UPOL Raptor

[danmas]

Folks,

For those of you that applied UPOL or lizardskin to your floors: Before you install or after? I can go either way but it feels like it will be neater if I do it before the install. Thoughts? To be clear, this will just be the external facing part of the floor. On the inside I intend to use coolmat or something like that. Or should I do both sides?

Thanks,
Dan

[Namrups]

I used Lizard Skin on the interior panels of my Coupe from the dash line to the back of the car. I sprayed it on after installing the panels before mounting the body. In the footbox area I used both Dynaliner and Duraliner applied to the inside surface of the panels before attaching the panels to the car. I used the Raptor to coat the underside of the hood and body before final paint.

[narly1]

My plan is that all of the panels that enclose the passenger compartment will either be powder coated (firewall) or painted with etching aluminum primer on the "outside surfaces. The road facing pieces will then get an additional coat of Raptor or similar. The inside surfaces will get a layer or two of my home-brewed lizard skin. I want the panels to fit tight to the frame so everything will be masked and pre-finished off of the car. Finally a layer of heat/sound mat. I've made templates out of cardboard for cutting the matting. In the hot rod the floor has a top and bottom panel that sandwiches fibre insulating pieces. So I'm trying to figure out if I'll have enough space to put more lizard skin on the side closest to the road. Then a layer of heat/sound mat on the inside. No paint on these pieces...

Earl

[Junbug]

Dan,
I used the Lizard Skin thermal spray on product and their sound insulating spray on product. It wasn't as messy as I thought it would be. I got all my footbox and fast aluminum powder coated locally. Once all the cockpit aluminum was installed I sprayed both products on over a single day. Ceramic heat insulation sprayed first, in two coats, then the sound insulation also in two coats. Thermal insulation went inside all passenger facing cockpit areas, excluding the top of the trans tunnel cover (but I did spray the bottom of the trans tunnel cover). Then the sound insulation went on over everything, but also through the trunk floor. I didn’t see a need for heat insulation in the trunk. Overall it was pretty easy to do, and it took more time to tape and paper cover all the areas I didn’t want sprayed. I bought the lizard skin kit from Amazon, that comes with the sprayer. Only other thing needed is a larger air compressor. The overall pressure is low but constant, so a small 5 gallon tank won’t cut it.

[Junbug]

Oh, and used the Raptor spray on the underside of the body. It seems really solid and a good product so far.

[danmas]

Dan,
I used the Lizard Skin thermal spray on product and their sound insulating spray on product. It wasn't as messy as I thought it would be. I got all my footbox and fast aluminum powder coated locally. Once all the cockpit aluminum was installed I sprayed both products on over a single day. Ceramic heat insulation sprayed first, in two coats, then the sound insulation also in two coats. Thermal insulation went inside all passenger facing cockpit areas, excluding the top of the trans tunnel cover (but I did spray the bottom of the trans tunnel cover). Then the sound insulation went on over everything, but also through the trunk floor. I didn’t see a need for heat insulation in the trunk. Overall it was pretty easy to do, and it took more time to tape and paper cover all the areas I didn’t want sprayed. I bought the lizard skin kit from Amazon, that comes with the sprayer. Only other thing needed is a larger air compressor. The overall pressure is low but constant, so a small 5 gallon tank won’t cut it.

I went a stalked your build thread last night. I recall when you did it. Reading through your experience gave me the confidence to carry on.I have most of my sheet metal powder coated but I didn’t do the floor bits. Not sure why. I have a powder gun now and two infrared heaters that should get me to 400 degrees. Maybe I will take a crack at it. Trying to tie up a few loose ends before I do rotator cuff surgery (again!). So this will likely be a late fall or winter exercise.

Thanks!