How many have gone for underside protection?

[sukhjeevan]

My chassis arrives in 3 weeks and I have started to put together my build plan.

I was wondering how many builders have gone for protecting the underside of the chassis/aluminium panels with some sort of stone chip protection, such as Hammerite stone chip shield?

The factory state that it's not required, but I thought some extra protection can't really hurt.

[GtrMan]

If you see my Build Pictures I have used Wurth stone protect on all alum panels including the one inside...

https://www.facebook.com/130699937041653/photos/pb...

[sukhjeevan]

Looks good.

So did you use etch primer and then use Wurth protection once the panels were fixed in place?

[crossram]

To do this properly you should sand the panels with a 250 grit then use a good catalyzed primer followed by catalyzed paint. There are not may products in a can that can take the abuse unless it's like a rubberized bed liner, thats why I suggest a catalyzed paint.

[GtrMan]

I only sanded the alum and basically the wurth stone gaurd does not require base paint .

[crossram]

I guess you have to ask what is the protection for?

[sukhjeevan]

I guess something that would prevent stones chips from penetrating the powder coat layer and to reduce some of the road noise produced by stones clattering the floor panels.

[Storer]

Take it from someone who knows, the alloy looks carp after a year or two without some protection.
If the car is used when there is any salt on the road you will get instant corrosion too.

I used a stone chip preparation and then two pack paint on the rebuild.



Paul

[Steve_D]

I used the Wurth stoneguard on bare ali in 2004. It's still there.

Steve

[GtrMan]

I also applied a eggshell black finish over the wurth St Gr as the wurth come to Matt ones dry.

[sukhjeevan]

Ok. So sounds like something I should definitely do. I'll look into the wurth and 2 pack epoxy options. I hear that por 15 is pretty good stuff but not sure about Ali application.

Edited by sukhjeevan on Tuesday 25th March 10:31

[crossram]

Salt, stones ? What the heck? where do you guys drive your cars? Maybe you should be buying a jeep ?

[UltimaCH]

Guess we can't all live in California or Arizona...

[crossram]

But really you drive your good cars when there is salt on the road? In the states we have a clunker car that we use during the winter and don't care about. And would you drive your low clearance car off a paved road onto gravel?

[sukhjeevan]

If we didn't drive on salty roads we would probably only drive for around 3 months of the year.

[DHGTR]

We also don't have the space to keep 'clunker cars' like you lot in the states.
We've all seen Fast N Loud, you all have 15 cars in your spare barns.

[UltimaCH]

[F.C.]

crossram said:

But really you drive your good cars when there is salt on the road? In the states we have a clunker car that we use during the winter and don't care about. And would you drive your low clearance car off a paved road onto gravel?

Yes we do have "sheds" to drive in the winter months, we also have laughably poor road surfaces to deal with on a daily basis, so no off roading is required to fill the battery tray with grit n gravel!

[sukhjeevan]

After some research, here's what I am proposing to do:

1. Etch prime the underside only of the aluminium floor panels and engine facing side of rear bulkhead.
2. Apply Wurth Stone Guard to underside of all floor panels, underside of chassis members in engine bay and engine facing side of rear bulkhead.

I think that should be sufficient and allows me to keep the bare aluminium look internally within the front clam area and cockpit.

Please shout if you see any flaws!

[Steve_D]

sukhjeevan said:

After some research, here's what I am proposing to do:

1. Etch prime the underside only of the aluminium floor panels and engine facing side of rear bulkhead.
2. Apply Wurth Stone Guard to underside of all floor panels, underside of chassis members in engine bay and engine facing side of rear bulkhead.

I think that should be sufficient and allows me to keep the bare aluminium look internally within the front clam area and cockpit.

Please shout if you see any flaws!

I like the look of the rear bulkhead done with the Ali foil faced heat insulation. It will help both heat and sound insulation of the bulkhead.

Steve