I have a 1982 Trans Am that has black undercoating on the underside. I know the later cars came with the beeswax undercoating. What came from the factory on the early cars?
Is this a factory undercoating or more than likely a dealer applied undercoating?
If it is not factory, how do I go about getting that garbage off?

 

Nothing, my 82 has nothing on the underside. I'm not aware of any factory beeswax stuff either. The underside is just gray zinc coating with body color overspray

Kerosine, soaked rags and a scotch pad for the stubborn spots will get it off.

 

My 84 also has NO undercoating of any kind underneath.
Just virgin factory red paint!

 

I've read where some members use a bottle torch (carefully) to soften the undercoating, then a plastic putty knife to scrape, followed by kerosene or something similar, and plenty of elbow grease.

JamesC

 

Any reason you want to scrape it off? I just scraped all mine off since I am fully restoring my trans am, but I do have to say, that undercoating did an amazing job of protecting the underside of the car for 25 years. There wasn't even any surface rust starting. Just nice clean painted metal underneath the coating. Unless your going to redo it with something better, I'd leave it on.

 

Gee, I wonder if it's my old '82 T/A, which I had Ziebarted on the 1st day I got it.
Is it a white w/black, T-top, WS4, 305 (4bbl) auto (200C) car ?

 

If you, like I stand under a car on a lift and your hair starts sticking to the underside.... I always remove undercoating and use bedliner or stone chip coating, something that doesn't stick.

 

It probably protected my car all these years, because I have no rust underneath. But compared to the underside of my TTA which has no undercoating, it does not look all that good. It was laid on kind of thick in spots, and makes the underside look dirty. It really did not bother me until I bought a 4 post lift to store the car, and now I see it every time I go in the garage.

 

No - it's a black and gold Recaro TA crossfire injected car.

 

I would not recommend taking it off unless you plan to recoat it with something. We have a couple third gens, plus my Second, and that undercoating does a great job and lasts forever. We have coated cars with Por-15 before. I just warn you, IF DOES NOT COME OFF. AT ALL. EVER.

Some cars had dealer added undercoating IIRC....