Galvanized Chassis

[malc_grn]

Well body off rebuilds seem to be the hot subject at the moment, so this is what I done last year.
My steering rack went, so while I was sourcing a replacement I started to dig around the chassis, and within a week or two decided the body had to come off!
After a fair bit of research and having owned an Esprit, I went down the galvanized route, to me this makes complete sense. Both the inner and outer of all tubes are coated, the galvanizing is very tough and even if you remove a bit of it with a grinder the zinc is sacrificial so the bare metal won't even rust, and they give it at least a 25 year life.

Heres a couple of pics, before and after:
[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2983902440101836410hVbtuR][/URL]

[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2650748620101836410rLsLuQ][/URL]

[URL=http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2548605480101836410ToUBus][/URL]

I throughly enjoyed the chassis refurb and would love to do another, I'm almost tempted to sell and buy a cerb with rotted chassis!

Edited by malc_grn on Sunday 8th March 20:59

[malc_grn]

As you said I had no idea of the condition the chassis was in, I was always told that it was good and solid, I couldn't see any holes with the body on, I only took it off so I could do a proper job of cleaning it up etc... So there must be loads running around like I was without a clue of what lies beneath.

The Body is very stiff and strong with the roll cage bonded in, so no issues with flexing / cracking when removing, compared to other fibreglass sports cars I've restored!

The cost of the galvanizing is worked out on the weight of the final product, my chassis came out at 106kg and the cost was £410.00 / Tonne, so it worked out at £75ish - Bargin!

Ridds happy to help out, PM me if you need anything, I have an excellent fabricator, and contacts with the galvaninzer.

Cheers

[malc_grn]

QuiteQuietCerb said:

malc_grn said:

I throughly enjoyed the chassis refurb and would love to do another, I'm almost tempted to sell and buy a cerb with rotted chassis!

Edited by malc_grn on Sunday 8th March 20:59

or you could do mine

Would be happy too, being a firefighter I have lots of spare time - I see a buiness opportunity here!

[malc_grn]

hiltonig said:

how can you guarantee nothing distorts during the dipping >>>?

Well I had to go with the advice / experiance of the galvanizers, you're right some companies refuse to touch anything to do with cars.
I took the chassis along so they could assess for themselves, the chassis is very strong, with lots of short runs of tubing, they said it was more sheet metal work you get issues with and they had no problems doing the cerb chassis.

When you compare it to an esprit chassis and alot of the kit cars that come with glavanized chassis the cerbs looks bomb proof in comparision.

Note: I didn't get any of the wishbones done as I felt they wouldn't be up to it, so had them powder coated instead.

[malc_grn]

BCA said:

Very impressive - I think ridds and I are going to become rebuild vultures;

May I please ask who did the galvanising/repair work to the chassis? Do you have any contact details.

thanks.

Thanks - I'd recommended it, very statisfying

I used McArthur Group Ltd, in Bristol

Chassis was refurbed by a friend who is a fabricator at a local engineering company.

[malc_grn]

Hi Phil

I'll send you an e-mail

Regards
Malc