Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, I am about to start work on rebuilding my Traveller.

Years ago I had the chassis Galvanised on my Landrover

I want the car to pretty much last a lifetime, so was wondering if Galvanising the floorpan had ever been done, and if so what if anything was the pitfalls / problems?

Hi

Hot dip galvanising is ok on heavyish steel like a land rover or trailer chassis but needs completely clean steel including all the seams which is really not really practical with a traveller body. The heat from the hot dip is also likely to cause distortion.

You can use zinc rich paint though

Taupe

I don't imagine you could galv the floor without doing the whole thing. And that would lead to greatly added weight, poor surface finish for getting a good paintjob, and the distortion that taupe mentions.

Zinc-rich paint and waxoyl will make it last for a good while.

wonder about Zinc metal spray then?

Don't know the year of your car but assuming its about 30 years old ,if the rebuild has been done properly with new panels and then properly painted and undersealed,wouldn't another 30 years class as a lifetime. Well it would for me cos it would take me to almost 100 year old

dnac wrote:wonder about Zinc metal spray then?

Hi there!

I am restoring a 1950's 4-door at work at the moment and the owner has had the (rebuilt) lower half of the bodyshell sand-blasted and hot zinc sprayed. Without paint the zinc spraying is guaranteed for at least 10 years.

It leaves a very good surface for paint too.The owner is currently in the process of painting the underneath in chassis black.

This is defintely the route I would go if I was rebuilding the underneath of a Minor.

Hope that helps.

Note that cars rust from the inside out so special attention should be given to hollow sections and cavities.