Log Posted June 30, 2006 Share Posted June 30, 2006 Hyall Have a new rear crossmember with extensions for my 110 and was thinking.....would it be a good idea to get it galvanised then remove the coating from the extension ends using an angle grinder with twisted wire brush so they can be welded to the rest of the chassis? Anyone done this and how easy was it to remove the galvanising? Log Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted June 30, 2006 Share Posted June 30, 2006 You only need to remove the galv to about an inch away from where you are going to weld. A wire brush in an angle grinder will remove it ok. I sometimes weld galv plate, and this is the method I use. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log Posted June 30, 2006 Author Share Posted June 30, 2006 Blimey that was a quick reply! Thanks Les! I cant afford to get a galvanised chassis so thought this would be a good option considering the rear crossmember is usually the first to suffer from the brown blight. I assume that due to the construction of the crossmember, it would be unlikely to warp during the galvanising process? also, and this may sound like a stupid question but, when using the wire brush to remove the coating, how do I know when I have removed the coating and am down to the bare steel? Is this easy to tell or am I going to have to judge when I have gone through one shiny metal (zinc) to another shiny metal (steel)? Log Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 30, 2006 Share Posted June 30, 2006 The zinc will be a different colour to the steel. It is a lighter grey, and the steel is a dark silver colour. You shouln't need too much wire brushing to get through the galve, and it won't hurt the steel too much if you over do it, but stop regularly to check. Don't forget to do both sides of where you are going to weld. Cheers Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log Posted June 30, 2006 Author Share Posted June 30, 2006 Thanks Mark Its a job I only want to have to do once and would rather fit it and forget it! I cant understand why the chassis is not galvanised at the factory. After all it would only increase the cost of a new vehicle by about £100 or so. Or are there alterier motives I wonder. If they would galvanise the chassis, dooor frames, etc, as standard then the damn thing would last forever! Certainly Audi dont seem to have a problem with this! Cheers Log Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 30, 2006 Share Posted June 30, 2006 I would guess there are other issues from a production point tof view that you or I take for granted - Dimensional changes, fettling of holes and threads, and the time and labour required to do that probably adds up to quite a bit more than £100 per vehicle. Plus, as you say, if they lasted forever, why buy a new one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromit Posted July 3, 2006 Share Posted July 3, 2006 Dimensional changes Yeah, can you imagine, defenders with doors that didn't seal properly, bolt holes that didn't line up, leaking sunroofs, etc. etc. Would ruin the defender brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 If you have an old car battery and a baking tray you can remove galvanising by draining a couple of inches of battery acid into the tray and immersing or standing the component in the tray for a few minutes. Crossmember extensions should sit in the tray ok. Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.