Exposed steel floors - how to protect?

Let's try this again. Apparently it wasn't as stupid of a question as someone led me to believe...

For those of you who have exposed steel floors in your hot rods (or customs) and don't desire to have rusty or carpeted floors, how do you protect them and keep them nice. I really wanted to paint my floors and I really don't want to cover them up with floormats, carpet or wood, but I'm afraid they're just going to look like **** after awhile. What do you guys do to keep them looking nice? TONS of clear coat or some kind of sealer???

I had thought about maybe doing an aluminum panel, but also thought that might be a bit too much for an interior that's pretty stripped down.

Would like to see what you have done.

Thanks!

P.S. Thanks Ryan for taking care of people with nothing better to do...

 

how about something like bedliner? or do you want the look of bare steel?

 

i like the idea of a painted floor with aluminum kick panels in highest traffic areas. paint stays nice where it needs to and limited corrosion on the aluminum.

 

This is a good idea. Paint the interior, masking off where the feet will go and use the bedliner there...

 

Hey Scooter
In my pick up ....I'm using a painted and detailed floor with br*** featured leather clip down panels in the scuff areas

 

I was thinking of the bedliner idea as well. Make sure it's the good 2-part epoxy stuff for best wear. And I'd still do a nice stainless/aluminum heel pad.

 

If you look at what Troy Trepanier uses in some of his car that may be an option. I remember reading one of those Build books on his Sick fish Cuda and they swore by this stuff. I think it was called something like Gorilla Skin. It may be something that has to be baked on but he coats the inside and underneath of his cars with it. It looks like a black trim pain that it supposed to be indestructible.

 

I am to the inside of my coupe with wood floors because I think the way that wood wears is cool and distinguishing. That may be an option also.

 

This is sort of what I'm leaning towards right here.

Anyone have pictures of finished floors that are painted with this type of treatment?

Here's a good example from a familiar car! I like how this floor is painted and nothing else. I wonder how it will stand up...



Not sure if this picture is a before or an after the above shot...



Based on the fact that the door latches are not painted either, I'll guess this is a before paint picture.

 

I sprayed my floor panels with bedliner 2 years ago - so far so good, no rear marks or marring that I have noticed, but I haven't been up close and personal with the floor either.

 

In that pic Scooter, I think the top one is by far a better way to go. The bottom pic is way to busy at least for my taste. The top one looks utilitarian almost. What about the paint that is used on industrial machines such as John Deer or Caterpillar. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the military has something that they use that holds up better then typical paint.

 

I rolled on DP epoxy primer and I plan to add a rubber mat where your feet rub and fasten it all the way around with stainless fasteners to the floor. I have some samples of thin ribbed rubber mat.

 

Dig the idea,
How about making sure the 'high traffic' areas are easily removable for retouching later, if whatever you use doesn't hold up as well as hoped - hope for the best plan for the worst?!
CraigR

 

Now that's some good thinking right there Craig! Should have asked you at breakfast! HA! My floor will have several removable panels anyway. Maybe this is the way to go right here.

 

I would Epxoy Prime it first, then, if you want Lizard Skin or Bed Liner, do that-the Epoxy will seal it and not allow rusting-I Epoxied the inside/underside of my Car, then I Seam Sealed it inside and out, then used a Truck Bed Liner on the bottom, and it looks great-I'm going to use Lizard Skin inside-

 

No shoes, thick socks!!!!

Seriously though... how bout some brushed aluminum panels similar to the carb coating riveted to the steel floor, then if they get gimped, plop a new panel in!

 

PPG has a product called C-RECT...it's an industrial coating, used for bridges, metal spans, etc. that need protecting from all kinds of weather...it's tuff stuff...UV resisitant and waterproof...and it can be tinted to any color you choose... best of all, it's cheap...about $65.00 a gallon...you mite want to look into the stuff...

R-

 

I think 40stude has a good idea, but me , Id just throw some sticky rubber floor mats down untill showtime, then it will still look fresh with out compromising the design for wear and tear.

 

If you want to stomp on it with muddy shoes, hands down, topcoated POR 15.

The catch is I'd rubber mat it for at least 6 months. Anything that makes one year of curing without a chip or scratch will never have a chip or scratch.

Downside, when your shoes are wet it's like ice.

good luck and don't roast your lil tootsies.

 

Also a good point!

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm going to insulate my floor to keep the exhaust heat out as well as the noise.

 

Zolatone?

 

My buddy has a old bronco with the zolatone paint on the floors, looked really good, but didnt last very long at all, but that was a lot of dirt and mud doing 4x4 stuff.

 

Que es Zolatone?

 

What he said ^^^

 

http://www.zolatoneaim.com/z20_1.html

Im sure there are several versions of this out on the market, this just came up first on the search.

 

Ahhhh.... ok.

 

OK I'm confused now

Is the paint a transition coating during shakedown miles before insulation?
Or will you be insulating the underside of the floor?
Or will the coating also need insulation properties?

FWIW My comment on slickness and water applies to any gloss coating. Makes using pedals weird when damp sneakers mean you can't pivot on your heel with any friction. More than once my foot slipped under the brake or clutch because of the slick floor.

good luck.

 

Going to insulate the underside of the floor. I agree with the slick surface thing too. I was thinking about that.

In my coupe I've had just primered floors forever, but they look like poop now. Super surprised they've heald up this long.

 

Scooter:
If you dont want the bedliner look, then I would suggest POR-15. I woul then make the heavy traffic areas removable for easy repaint. This is really pushing it here, but if your floor is really flat you could lay down a very thin lexan or lexan like material that is transparent. But it might not look very good. Just a thought.

 

3WLarry's deuce had a gray zolatone interior, the stuff looks like trunk spray paint...