Galvanized Frame
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Been around lotsa pro chassis including cut/modded cup, busch, truck/ late model & never seen any foam inside. Cannot envision any foam inside would offer any significant rigidity either.
If it's moisture prevention you're after, (rather than foam) suggest you'd be better served by a sealed system w/ schrader valve; charged w/ dry nitrogen.
If it's moisture prevention you're after, (rather than foam) suggest you'd be better served by a sealed system w/ schrader valve; charged w/ dry nitrogen.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
Wasn't even considering the foam, I'm looking into how I should strip and seal my frame after adding gussets and support plates to take the engine I'm dreaming of installing but absolutely cannot afford (one day maybe right?) As a former spray foam installer my experience with foam says that unless it is a really high density it wont do much if anything to help the structural stability of a frame. Other than vibration reduction and possibly pest control I dont see how regular low expansion foam can ever get hard enough to prevent torsion, deflection or overall stiffness. I wanted to find out more about the type of galvanizing done, how the finish were over time or if they painted it and had any bonding issues with the paint.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Yes, there can be paint bonding issues w/ galvanized. Some production vehicles had/have galvanized exterior body panels. Do Not recall the brands & names, but the top auto paint suppliers offered a liquid adhesion promoter; specifically to pretreat such panels. You could chase that down via your local auto paint & body shop supply store.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
Self-etching primer is what you use. It's been around a long time. Car companies have been using galvanized rockers for decades. A lot of those paint flaking issues of the 90s were due to other issues.
You'd want to clean off the galvanizing well prior to priming.
You'd want to clean off the galvanizing well prior to priming.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 20
Likes: 3
Thanks for the advice! I'm going to finalize the details about the method to seal the metal once I make sure this frame is good enough to fix and use.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 404
Likes: 46
From: Feenicks
MAN! I had high hopes for this thread … years ago someone filled a 300zx twin turbo I one of the car mags and noted substantial rigidity improvement … boats often use this sort of foam.
I just got the last of my suspension parts to completely rebuild my 81. I am tempted to yank the body off so I can work on a Tilly chair and make the frame pretty again. The. I thought I’d seam weld and gusset it, then I thought I’d galvanize it…. And since I am spray foaming my home I could get that super dense closed cell stuff and turn this flimsy flyer of a chassis into something modern feeling …
BTW: I think this is total overkill but the experimentation sounds like fun and the costs aren’t too bad … having owned a well sorted 80 C3, they handle just fine and surprisingly well manners on rough stuff for sun h an old design … same cannot he said for a convertible Camaro or mustang!
I just got the last of my suspension parts to completely rebuild my 81. I am tempted to yank the body off so I can work on a Tilly chair and make the frame pretty again. The. I thought I’d seam weld and gusset it, then I thought I’d galvanize it…. And since I am spray foaming my home I could get that super dense closed cell stuff and turn this flimsy flyer of a chassis into something modern feeling …
BTW: I think this is total overkill but the experimentation sounds like fun and the costs aren’t too bad … having owned a well sorted 80 C3, they handle just fine and surprisingly well manners on rough stuff for sun h an old design … same cannot he said for a convertible Camaro or mustang!
