[wontgiveup]

I am rebuilding a 1969 Triumph TR6 and have it stripped down to the frame. I am considering having the frame galvanized in a hot dipped process.

I am looking for anyone with experience in doing this on any car and what the results were. Advice is welcome. Any pros and cons?

Thanks for your help.

Regards

 

[[email protected]]

Hot dip galvanize is a globby, sloppy process as far as auto frames are concerned. Go look at chain link fence hardware at your home center to see how it looks. Do you even know where it could be done? A better approach would be to electroplate in zinc but that is not practical. After zinc coating, it is difficult to get paint to stick to the coating for very long. My suggestion is to have the frame powder coated. Can be done in any color of the rainbow, FAR superior appearance to zinc and will last as long or longer. Probably cheaper too.

 

[Will's41]

Don't do it.....We built a boat trailer and had it done. ok, for a boat trailer not a car. Sloppy like willys36 said. Powder coated frame...now that sounds nice.

 

[Kevin45]

One thing about powdercoating is that it can chip and rust then start forming and working its way underneath. I would use POR-15 to do the frame. Tough as nails and I believe you would be more satisfied. Also it is around $85 vs. $400 to do a frame with powdercoating.

Kevin

 

[Maverick]

www.zerorust.com its far easier and safer the POR-15. Its a one step process and is sprayable. Its what I did.

 

[[email protected]]

Kevin; I have done a BUNCH of powder caoting and haven't experienced ANY chipping whatsoever. In fact, I have real trouble getting the stuff off when I want to weld in a spot! Maybe you need to change supplier. POR15 and ZeroRust (urethane based coatings) are good options also but color choice is limited. They work best if there is a coat of rust on the surface of the steel. Clean steel doesn't seem to cover as well in my experience. I like the PC option because not only do I get a great coating but my parts are sand blasted to white metal - as clean as you can get - and the electrostatically charged coating migrates into every hole and crevis, even goes deep inside hidden areas tht sprays won't reach.

 

[drgnwgn289]

I'm with you willys, all of the front end components of my car are powder coated and they haven't cracked or chipped or anything. I was going to powder coat my triumph frame too, but its a two wheeler.

 

[wontgiveup]

Lots of choice I see. Thanks for the information. Does powder coating or POR-15 get inside the frame? I am concerned about stopping the corrosion from the inside as well. If not any suggestions on how to effectively coat inside the frame.

 

[[email protected]]

That is all a function of painting technique. If you spray POR 15 you won't get any inside the frame. To do that, you will need to roll, brush, be creative about getting contact inside there. BIG caution with POR 15; it is a urethane so permenently stains ANYTHING it comes in contact with, inclucing cement, skin, wood. IF you do this, do it over a dirt surface with full body protection!

Conversely, powder coating is sprayed on as an electrostatically charged powder so it will seek out ANY bare steel surface, thus will migrate all the way into hidden channels and coat them. Do you get the feeling I like powder coating?!?