Steering, suspension, and wheelwell restoration

[prorac1]

we are currently restoring the front end of Jason's 63 valiant.

We for the most part have the suspension and steering colors and textures the way we want them. Our problem, or question rather is the paint "texture" on the wheelwell, or apron itself.

As the pictures show, we have the wheel wells stripped down, but there seems to be a rough, sandy texture left.

So our question is, we're the factory, non-undercoated wheel wells smooth as glass or textured due to sheet metal style, etc. we are planing on painting them body color (red)

Any help is appreciated. Thanks. Eric and Jason.

 

[HemiDenny]

IMO.....
If you are building for the Javitt Center trophy....clean sheetmetal with body color.

If you are building for looks and practicality. .....black it out with rubberized undercoating....especially where the stones would bounce off the metal. Makes your wheels pop out, deadens the road noise, protects from stone chips.

Or a combo (like the factory).....body color overspray with some sound deadener spattered on by Ray Charles as he BS's with his buddy on Thursday afternoon. (No workee on Friday)

 

[RedFish]

I don't think they used a sheet metal with a smooth side and a textured or galvanized side. More likely oxidation along with years of sand and gravel blasting created that texture. Whatever you spray on it will stick good.