Chassis weight

[Flatplane8]

In case its of any use, a bare unpainted chassis weighs just over 85kg. I've finished the welding on mine and just did a test fit to made sure it looked like it would fit. Off for painting next in marine paint (commercial stuff...).

[steviegtr]

Nic one. That should last well.

[Basil Brush]

I was surprised how light my Tuscan chassis was when I'd stripped it all down. It was much easier to man handle into the back of a van than I was expecting!

Are you doing hot zinc spray first?

[Flatplane8]

It will have some kind of zinc base coat, two pack. Might be Jotun or similar brand, but industrial paint rather than powder coat. The reason is I’m not changing the suspension bushes as the seem fine. I used the crane scale in the picture to compare deflection with a new one and they were pretty much the same.

The heat from powder coating would not do them any good though, hence paint.

[Flatplane8]

I used my son’s skateboard underneath the diff end to ‘wheelbarrow’ the chassis underneath the car. It took a bit of fiddling around to get it at an angle that would work, a crowbar was used for the last bit. It was worth doing before the chassis is painted, otherwise I’d have damaged the finish.

[notaping]

I made a spreader out of some scrap wood so I wouldn't damage the powder coat or heat shield on the tub.



The 'A' is screwed at the bottom right and the top of the 'A'. The bottom left slides along the horizontal bar - the clamp is loose and just stops the leg from springing up. Winding the scissor jack flexes the tub, just enough to drop over the chassis.

[Flatplane8]

That’s a good solution, we have a portapower we can use to do the same thing.i found that with the chassis on an angle only a gentle tweak was needed.

[Supateg]

Looking good!

I’ve heard and seen good results with Jotun. Once it’s all together I’d be looking to coat with a lanolin product with periodic top ups.

[Stick Legs]

For ships we use the following paint system for exposed areas. This is International, but Jotun or Hempel will have a similar system.

Aluminium primer. Single pack. (Aluminium refers to the colour, not the application purpose).

Red or grey primer. Single pack. Colour depends on the top cost.

2 pack colour coat.

This can be sprayed or rollered on.

The aluminium primer has an etch quality.
The second coat is in a contrast colour to prove coverage.
The final cost can go straight on top, unless it’s white, in which case a single pack white primer is used.

If I ever do my TVR chassis this is what I’ll do with brush & roller.

I can get you product codes in the new year if you like.

[Flatplane8]

Thanks for the offer of paint codes, but I'll leave it up to the blast cleaning and coating company. It will be Jotun two-pack products or equivalent. I did think about doing it by hand, but they can use their airless sprayer which will give a more uniform coverage.

[Supateg]

The important part is make sure they get into the corners. I have seen plenty of chassis blasted and when the operatives rush, the corners are missed, then not matter what you cover the chassis with, it’s the corners that rust first.

Hth

[Flatplane8]

Supateg said:

The important part is make sure they get into the corners. I have seen plenty of chassis blasted and when the operatives rush, the corners are missed, then not matter what you cover the chassis with, it’s the corners that rust first.

Hth

Thanks, they've done a good job getting in to all the nooks and crannies.

[Flatplane8]

Just over a year later and a bit more trivia. With all the suspension, brakes and diff installed the weight is 290kg



With the wheels on its 365kg



I noticed afterwards that the engine host was on the 250kg setting, but it all seemed fine. In both cases deduct 5kg as I used a dumb bell as trimming weight to ensure level flight....

[Flatplane8]

notaping said:

I made a spreader out of some scrap wood so I wouldn't damage the powder coat or heat shield on the tub.



The 'A' is screwed at the bottom right and the top of the 'A'. The bottom left slides along the horizontal bar - the clamp is loose and just stops the leg from springing up. Winding the scissor jack flexes the tub, just enough to drop over the chassis.

Did you spread it far enough that the chassis just went straight up with no tilt? I've measured my top rails as being 64cm wide and the tub at that point is 62cm. I used a portapower to spread them to 63cm to see what it was like and it did do it albeit with a bit of creaking.....as I'm not ready to join the body to chassis yet I left it for today.

[notaping]

I started it a a slight angle - passenger side down. Here's some more pics. Also - there's a link to lots of resto pics in my profile.

.

[Flatplane8]

notaping said:

I started it a a slight angle - passenger side down. Here's some more pics. Also - there's a link to lots of resto pics in my profile.

.

Thanks, will check them out.