Further chassis considerations

Thurs.17.08.06. The garage has been tidied then made ready to accept the chassis, but the appropriate method of preserving the steel structure from the most common of oxidization agents, ‘rust’, as yet to be decided. During the 1980’s the only available corrosion preventative products were ‘red lead’, ‘waxoil’ or ‘hammerite’. The processes were quite similar, each requiring clean metal with a sealed layer of paint or oil. These approaches tended to be the route taken by the enthusiastic amateur because of the simplicity of the practice. ‘Galvanising’, where hunks of metal could be dipped into large vessels of liquid subsequently followed by ‘powder coating’, when the subject was placed in a room after which paint would then be blasted at very high pressure were available, but at a prohibitive cost for the ‘DIY’ engineer. However, presently these systems have become much more accessible for the ‘ordinary’ person, at not such an exorbitant cost.  After consultation with Mark, Andy, Mad Dave of the Thunderdome, Slick, Gordon, Richard Earl of Sheffield, Rimmers, Haydn, Colin, Jimmy the Axe and Lowtie we have decided against using a powder coating treatment. 

Comparable pieces appear to have mixed results. On a heavily textured surface the process seems unsatisfactory, in that, the coating does not penetrate the tiny recesses later being susceptible to deterioration when exposed to weather. The ideal combination of first galvanising before applying the ‘coating’ has also proven to be difficult. The company in ‘Widnes’’ who had been assigned to cleanse the chassis using the ‘galvanising’ method have refused the order due to the soiled internal condition of the box sections. They fear that expelling the corroded waste material would contaminate the outstanding fluid in the tank. The residue would need to be replaced with fresh, making the entire undertaking not cost effective. There is now a reluctance to search out another provider who could reason the same. Powder coating alone would still not solve the problem of rusting from within. It would require a thorough injection of waxoil throughout the major internal areas of the chassis to guarantee a sufficient degree of protection. Even though cost is not a major issue, the fact that Edwin increases his quote every time we make a tentative enquiry is slightly off putting. Firstly, £120 rising to a final figure of £200 for the chassis in addition to £60.for the box of assorted parts is not acceptable and certainly adds to our suspicion. Away and shite.

We also believe after, much soul searching, analysing the relevant data, reading the manuals and picking the brains of ‘Mad Max Dave’, Mark and Andy, any viable rust prevention product properly applied to the exterior, combined with liberal amounts of waxoil pumped internally, can be as effective as any professionally executed process. We are keeping faith with old technology; the ‘simple’.