major problems!!
Discussion
My 1990 s3 has just failed mot with offside trailing arm corroded,passenger outrigger side has a hole the size of 50p,so it looks like body off. Does anyone have any idea of the cost of a full chassis restoration? I went under the car whilst it was on the ramps andthe only other point was the seat belt anchorage points everything else was fine I know it will be expensive but will it be worth doing? Any help would be appreciated.thanks
sorry to hear of the failure but its all too common - I am doing the full chassis restoration at the moment mainly because I could see other problems arising in the near future ie mounting plates at front and the rear ones beside the trailing arms - it is hard work and costs mount up but it should be well worth it when completed - you will see from similar threads that there are now loads of people who can do the outrigger repair with only a body lift - much cheaper option if the rest of chassis is ok - trailing arms are available from tvr carparts at £220 + vat - good luck whatever you decide -
Oh dear sorry to hear that. They are all getting to that age now I suppose.
I did my S1 a couple of years ago, and as it wasnt much more work to take the body right off that's the way I went. You can then get the whole thing shot blasted and repowder coated.
David Gerald were quoting about 2k for a new chassis so its worth repairing if its straight.
Good luck which ever way you go.
Mick.
I did my S1 a couple of years ago, and as it wasnt much more work to take the body right off that's the way I went. You can then get the whole thing shot blasted and repowder coated.
David Gerald were quoting about 2k for a new chassis so its worth repairing if its straight.
Good luck which ever way you go.
Mick.
Thanks for your replies Mick and Ian I,ll see whats best to do later in the week, I would love to have a go at removing the body and fully refurbishing the chassis but not sure if I have the time or the know how but have seen a few good posts, thanks anyway I,m sure I,ll be back on soon, cheers
Just to add another angle to the repair. I found a great Welder in the Bury St Edmunds area who fixed my trailing arm. He basically cleaned up the are and cut away the rust.
He then cut half a pipe and welded the section onto the arm. He overlapped the area for added strength. The Mot tester reckoned the fix was stronger than the original!
It all cost £50 quid. so if the damage isnt too bad else where this is a possible fix.
happy fixing
He then cut half a pipe and welded the section onto the arm. He overlapped the area for added strength. The Mot tester reckoned the fix was stronger than the original!
It all cost £50 quid. so if the damage isnt too bad else where this is a possible fix.
happy fixing
It seems nobody on here ever mentions galvanising when restoring a chassis? it is not cheap but is better than taking the body off every five years.
If you have a car you intend to keep for a few years with body off at the moment or due to undertake this, it`s foolhardy to miss this opportunity to remedy the problem.
Also no one seems to use stainless when repairing parts which are obviously prone to rot as by simply replacing like with like you are faced with the same problem a few years later.
Plus,if you do sell potential buyers could be won over by this knowing that they wouldn`t have to repair this later on.
No more crapping it every m.o.t. either.
If you have a car you intend to keep for a few years with body off at the moment or due to undertake this, it`s foolhardy to miss this opportunity to remedy the problem.
Also no one seems to use stainless when repairing parts which are obviously prone to rot as by simply replacing like with like you are faced with the same problem a few years later.
Plus,if you do sell potential buyers could be won over by this knowing that they wouldn`t have to repair this later on.
No more crapping it every m.o.t. either.
dickkark said:
It seems nobody on here ever mentions galvanising when restoring a chassis? it is not cheap but is better than taking the body off every five years.
I seem to remember this was covered a while ago. I think the reason its not been done was the temperatures involved with heating and dipping the chassis - could lead to distortion.
Could be wrong - but think thats what it was.
Chris
woody said:
dickkark said:
It seems nobody on here ever mentions galvanising when restoring a chassis? it is not cheap but is better than taking the body off every five years.
I seem to remember this was covered a while ago. I think the reason its not been done was the temperatures involved with heating and dipping the chassis - could lead to distortion.
Could be wrong - but think thats what it was.
Chris
Correct,there are other alternatives though, but if you have to strip the chassis to the bare bones the cost becomes too much to justify,unless you do it all yourself
Another method, and one we use as an alternative to galvanising Industrial doors (because as you have rightly said hot dip galvanising does/can distort the metal framework) is to have the chassis Zinc Sprayed, its as good as galvanising and we have never had a call back even on coastal jobs.I intend to go that route when I have to do a chassis refurb.Not many companies will undertake it now due to its cost,but there is a company in Dukinfield, Cheshire who still do it.Ther are 2 types one is as a primer for painting over,the other is a final finish.
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