Hot dip galvanising...
Discussion
I don't think TVR need to make drastic changes to the process. The problem is largely one of attention to detail in the preparation and application of the powder coating.
If they just
(a) cleaned up the welds, grit blasted and de-greased the whole chassis to get a good surface profile so that the powder coating would adhere properly and be less liable to peel off in large flakes;
(b) apply the paint to a higher thickness (as paint scheme durability is directly related to thickness;
(c) radiused all the edges (ie. on suspension arms) cos paint thins over a sharp edge;
we would see a vast improvement on durability of the powder coating. It should then last 10 years or more before it needs any attention. All for a few more hours of semi-skilled labour and minimal capital outlay on equipment.
If they just
(a) cleaned up the welds, grit blasted and de-greased the whole chassis to get a good surface profile so that the powder coating would adhere properly and be less liable to peel off in large flakes;
(b) apply the paint to a higher thickness (as paint scheme durability is directly related to thickness;
(c) radiused all the edges (ie. on suspension arms) cos paint thins over a sharp edge;
we would see a vast improvement on durability of the powder coating. It should then last 10 years or more before it needs any attention. All for a few more hours of semi-skilled labour and minimal capital outlay on equipment.
I've posting this before, but it won't harm to repeat.
I had to replace the wishbones on my Chim due to a prang, and was shocked to see the condition of the wishbones/chassis. When I got new ones I stripped them, and the old ones that weren't bent, to get them all "properly" powder coated.
The coating on the new wishbones was a marked improvement on the ones originally on the car:
a/ the metal had been blasted and had a rough surface (the originals were mirror smooth)
b/ there was a primer under the plastic coating (none on the originals)
c/ the coating itself was thicker.
Seems TVR have already addressed the issue - on the wishbones at least, the quality is much better. Maybe the chassis are getting better preparation now as well.
Anyone prepared to take some NitroMors to their Tuscan or Tamora to check?
I had to replace the wishbones on my Chim due to a prang, and was shocked to see the condition of the wishbones/chassis. When I got new ones I stripped them, and the old ones that weren't bent, to get them all "properly" powder coated.
The coating on the new wishbones was a marked improvement on the ones originally on the car:
a/ the metal had been blasted and had a rough surface (the originals were mirror smooth)
b/ there was a primer under the plastic coating (none on the originals)
c/ the coating itself was thicker.
Seems TVR have already addressed the issue - on the wishbones at least, the quality is much better. Maybe the chassis are getting better preparation now as well.
Anyone prepared to take some NitroMors to their Tuscan or Tamora to check?
I recently went to a galvanising company who do some of the chassis for Lotus plus a few bits for Vauxhall.
I asked the manager about the TVR chassis, and took my S2 along. The response was that there is a high probability that the chassis would distort in the bath. The chassis could end up as scrap, and they would need to drill holes in each end of the tubings to allow air to escape when the tubes are filling and molten Zinc to run out when the chassis is removed from the bath.
Jas.
I asked the manager about the TVR chassis, and took my S2 along. The response was that there is a high probability that the chassis would distort in the bath. The chassis could end up as scrap, and they would need to drill holes in each end of the tubings to allow air to escape when the tubes are filling and molten Zinc to run out when the chassis is removed from the bath.
Jas.
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