Hot dipping and galvenizing frames

[TX650L]

I have heard of a couple of guys doing this so far on the forum. I get a lot of steel galvenized so I thought about having this done on my FJ-60's frame. I called the poeple I send stuff to every week and they said that they won't hot dip and galvenize a frame because at 850 degrees the frame warps. This was something I was worried about before I even called them to be honest.

So you guys who have done this were you able to put the truck back together no problems? If this is the case I may just POR-15 the outside and spray some ATF on the inside.

 

[KLF]

There was an article in an old Trails issue several years ago about doing this, very well written, you might look for it. Also, Tedd at Cruiser Solutions is having this done on a lot of 40's now, you should give him a call.

Cruiser Solutions, custom cruisers, restorations, genuine Toyota parts, body tubs, used Land Cruisers for sale

 

[Randy88FJ62]

Maybe they attach the frame to a jig to stiffen it up?

 

[Joe_E]

Yeah, but then how do they hot dip all those boat trailers???
Alot of them are made with chinsey small box tubing no where near as heavy as a cruiser frame.

 

[ntsqd]

Quite the thing to do with Land Rovers too.

 

[billmc]

I just got called by the galvanizer this morning to tell me my 40 frame was ready. They galvanized and painted it chassis black. I'll let you know if it looks warped when I pick it up. People do it all the time so it should be fine.

 

[GulfShoresFJ60]

I haven't noticed any warpage whatsoever on my 60 frame. I've had the body on and off a few times, everything that attaches to the frame seems to be go on fine as well.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yeah, I've never heard of frames warping during the galvanizing process. I know I've seen them do this to both frames and whole jeep tubs on Powerblock TV.

One day my frame will be galvanized....

 

[TX650L]

Well I've called about 4 different galvanizers so far, all of which I do business with, and none of them want to touch because they are worried about the frame warping. I did talk to one guy who does all our bolts and nuts (we are a manufacturer and distributor of all kinds of screw fittings) and he said he could electro galvanize it for. Only thing is that I'm not sure the protection offered by that would be adequate.

 

[TX650L]

AH HA!! Found one in here in Houston! Metal Plate Galvanizing if anyone wants to know. He said he charges $.50 a pound. This may be my price since we are good customers of his. If anyone needs it done in the Houston area and I will call him for you if you can't get the same price.

 

[djawahir]

The galvanizers want to cover their a$$ so they tell you that there is a possibility of warping. I had my frame done a few months ago. Other than having to tap all of the frame holes again, It's great. I had no warping at all. My frame had some places where the galvanizing was a little thicker than in other places, but it's a frame and most people won't see the extra drip, etc. I also had my frame powdercoated afterwards....looks brand new now.

Good luck!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

The galvanizers want to cover their a$$ so they tell you that there is a possibility of warping. I had my frame done a few months ago. Other than having to tap all of the frame holes again, It's great. I had no warping at all. My frame had some places where the galvanizing was a little thicker than in other places, but it's a frame and most people won't see the extra drip, etc. I also had my frame powdercoated afterwards....looks brand new now.

Good luck!

Galvanizing and powdercoating, damn. Your frame isn't going to rust......ever.

 

[billmc]

Took advantage of the balmy weather this morning to go pick up my 40 frame, galvanized, painted, and not warped at all, sits totally square. It's so beautiful and smooth I just want to stand out in the driveway and fondle it.

 

[Kroll]

Ryan from Hill-Top cruisers in Alberta is a firm believer in galvanizing. From what i remember, he treats every 40'series resto with a galvanized frame. I haven't heard of any issues that he has encountered.

 

[Joe_E]

Took advantage of the balmy weather this morning to go pick up my 40 frame, galvanized, painted, and not warped at all, sits totally square. It's so beautiful and smooth I just want to stand out in the driveway and fondle it.

That looks Super Duper!!

 

[MoGas]

Even if it warps, can't it be straightened easily enough?

 

[151fab]

I've had angle iron galvanized before. Up to 20 foot lengths. They were used in the construction of a solar array at a hilltop microwave repeater site. The galvanizing was done after all other processes were completed. All the holes ( at least twenty) down the length of the longest section were drilled 1/16 oversize. All the sections came back straight and every hole lined up just fine. This is on a structure with over 60 pieces of galvanized angle iron. If sections of 3/16 X 2 X 2" angle can come out of the process straight to within 1/16 over 20 feet I think your frames will survive just fine.

PS: Porsche used to (might still) galvanize all their 911 uni-bodies too. When was the last time your FJ had something in common with a Porsche?

 

[Tinker]

It looks like the question is hot-dipped vs electroplating. The former would be thicker, but obviously has to be hot enough to melt zinc & whatever else is in the alloy. Electroplating is at room temperature.

Nobody mentioned sandblasting or acid-dipping before galvanizing: how did you remove the rust?

Also, I've heard that Heep frames often spring back after straightening & should be welded to prevent this, but Toyota frames are strong enough to resist it. Same-o on galvanizing?

 

[billmc]

Nobody mentioned sandblasting or acid-dipping before galvanizing: how did you remove the rust?

I didn't have to remove the dirt, rust, or paint beforehand. The place I took mine to (V&S Taunton, in Taunton, MA) first baked it to remove the remaining paint, then it get dipped sequentially in a caustic solution, pickling, flux and then molten zinc.