Chassis clean up,
Discussion
I know some chassis left the factory with some really bad powdercoating on them and the results are that a number of owners now have some serious expense trying to sort them out.
I cleaned a lot of the crap of my chassis when I first got the car 3 years ago and this weekend I jacked it up to check the condition. I gave it a clean with some GUNK and a few old rags and it has come up really well. I was thinking I would have to do quiet a bit of sanding and painting but only a few areas need treatment and it is only really light surface rust. So did the factory get the powdercoating better on newer cars mine is a 2003, I looked at a 2002 T350 before my Cerb and it also had a very solid chassis.
Rear off side
Front off side
Front near side
Rear near side
I cleaned a lot of the crap of my chassis when I first got the car 3 years ago and this weekend I jacked it up to check the condition. I gave it a clean with some GUNK and a few old rags and it has come up really well. I was thinking I would have to do quiet a bit of sanding and painting but only a few areas need treatment and it is only really light surface rust. So did the factory get the powdercoating better on newer cars mine is a 2003, I looked at a 2002 T350 before my Cerb and it also had a very solid chassis.
Rear off side
Front off side
Front near side
Rear near side
My cars a 2004 car. Although chassis date puts it some where 2003. Most of the chassis is good just some little patches where the powder coat has chipped.
I stripped the front this year as water had gotten under some if the powder coat and caused it to lift. Out riggers are all solid but stripped and painted these as a preventative measure.
All in all happy with it. But yours looks much better than mine and of pretty much the same year.
I found the gutter side the worse out if the two sides.
I stripped the front this year as water had gotten under some if the powder coat and caused it to lift. Out riggers are all solid but stripped and painted these as a preventative measure.
All in all happy with it. But yours looks much better than mine and of pretty much the same year.
I found the gutter side the worse out if the two sides.
You can hate me but I'm having a 12k service with tappets along with disks skimming, handbrake sorting, steering wheel ribbon checking and a few other bibs and bobs. That along with the front end respray will be a few penny's but will keep me going.
I'll be cleaning and painting the metal work this winter. I'm under orders to do so under pain of death.
I'll be cleaning and painting the metal work this winter. I'm under orders to do so under pain of death.
natben said:
So did the factory get the powdercoating better on newer cars mine is a 2003, I looked at a 2002 T350 before my Cerb and it also had a very solid chassis.
From my 99 Chimaera and 99 Griff to my 2002 Cerbera I haven't noticed much difference with the main Chassis, all 3 have been fine except where a stone may have chipped the powder coating off the outriggers. However the wishbones of the Cerb seem to be much much better powder coated than the Chim and Griff both of which were in need of quite a lot of attention though nothing a wire brush and a can of POR15 couldn't sort. The Cerb however looks much like yours.I think the main problems may have been around 96/97 when the factory was running at absolute capacity so quality may have dropped
PuffsBack said:
From my 99 Chimaera and 99 Griff to my 2002 Cerbera I haven't noticed much difference with the main Chassis, all 3 have been fine except where a stone may have chipped the powder coating off the outriggers. However the wishbones of the Cerb seem to be much much better powder coated than the Chim and Griff both of which were in need of quite a lot of attention though nothing a wire brush and a can of POR15 couldn't sort. The Cerb however looks much like yours.
I think the main problems may have been around 96/97 when the factory was running at absolute capacity so quality may have dropped
You must have the lucky 99 cars both my 98 Chim and now 99 Cerb were pretty bad, But who is to say they were not that well cared for by previous owners and both were covered in nasty waxoil as well. :yuk:I think the main problems may have been around 96/97 when the factory was running at absolute capacity so quality may have dropped
That does look impressive for a car nearly ten years old! Out of interest Natben, what mileage, garaging and wet weather usage has your car been subjected too?
Mines a 2003, 37K garaged, driven in the rain on occasions but salty winter roads are avoided, and there are areas where the powder coat comes off in sheets on the front suspension mounts. I'm definitely going to have to clean up and paint to protect.
Mines a 2003, 37K garaged, driven in the rain on occasions but salty winter roads are avoided, and there are areas where the powder coat comes off in sheets on the front suspension mounts. I'm definitely going to have to clean up and paint to protect.
My car is also at 37k miles, I keep it in the garage.
It was used in all weathers by the last owner but while I have had it I avoid the hard winter and road salt and I have also kept it out the rain where possible but I do USE it it isn't a garage queen I just do not like driving a powerfull rear wheel drive in the wet. ("Pussy")!!!
Last year I re-powder coated the front wish bones as I had them of to replace the ball joints and bushes, they were showing surface rust and the powder coating was starting to peel in places and would have needed re-freshed in the next year or so. I haven't touched the rear end of the car and the chassis is fine.
The bottom front wishbones are showing signs of surface rust after only being powdercoated a year ago, so I guess the quality of powdercoating can vary quite a bit. I will give them a rub and paint during the winter.
I guess the best advice is to keep on top of it and if you see it starting to go "jump on it". I do not have the skills for a body off and certainly don't have the cash for one either at this time so keeping on top of it is the only option for me.
PS Demon dad your car colour looks very similar to mine, I must check the colour on the documents,
It was used in all weathers by the last owner but while I have had it I avoid the hard winter and road salt and I have also kept it out the rain where possible but I do USE it it isn't a garage queen I just do not like driving a powerfull rear wheel drive in the wet. ("Pussy")!!!
Last year I re-powder coated the front wish bones as I had them of to replace the ball joints and bushes, they were showing surface rust and the powder coating was starting to peel in places and would have needed re-freshed in the next year or so. I haven't touched the rear end of the car and the chassis is fine.
The bottom front wishbones are showing signs of surface rust after only being powdercoated a year ago, so I guess the quality of powdercoating can vary quite a bit. I will give them a rub and paint during the winter.
I guess the best advice is to keep on top of it and if you see it starting to go "jump on it". I do not have the skills for a body off and certainly don't have the cash for one either at this time so keeping on top of it is the only option for me.
PS Demon dad your car colour looks very similar to mine, I must check the colour on the documents,
Edited by natben on Monday 24th September 19:13
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