Hi Guys,

My (factory) floor pans are a dull gray in color. Where I've wire wheeled to remove the seam sealer, they're bright and shiny (of course). The gray doesn't look like primer. More like a factory coating of some kind. Maybe part of the galvanizing process? Just wondering what gives the pans their gray color...and whether I should leave it intact or wire wheel everything down to shiny before applying my epoxy primer.

Thanks!

Here's a picClick to view attachment

Floors are not galvanized, your looking at raw steel!

I believe he's referring to the paint on top of the bare steel, prior to the floor tar.

Yes, it is factory. I have always assumed it was either a grey electrostatic, (similar process to powder coating ) or an epoxy type paint. It seems to be thicker and more durable than typical exterior paint.

Exactly. At first I thought the dull gray was the patina of 43 year old steel, but after wire wheeling it seems that it's a layer of some kind. My main question is whether or not I need to remove that dull gray layer before primer. Thanks!

No. Get the floor tar off. Clean up the residue with some mineral spirits or lacquer thinner, take care of any surface rust spots, then just scuff the grey with 240 - 320 grit sand paper

Will do. Thanks so much!