Although I didn't actually drive the 300Z they used the foam in/on(?) they
said that it provided a lot of extra structural strength, so much so that
when they tested the Z after injecting the foam into the body "the chassis
now almost feels like it has a roll cage."
While the roadster is not a unit body design I can't see how this product
would not stiffen the body and frame of our cars. Compared to my Miata, the
roadster is fairly loose and has considerable cowl shake. Anything that can
tighten it up for better handling would be greatly appreciated especially
when no fabrication is needed.
'66 Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: Gary McCormick <svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com>
To: Marc Sayer <msayer1@concentric.net>
Cc: Mike Kerr <mikekerr@innercite.com>; datsunmike <datsunmike@nyc.rr.com>;
Roadster list <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 05, 2000 1:00 PM
Subject: Re:
> I question whether filling the interior of the frame members with this
material will
> significantly increase stiffness - the Roadster's frame members appear to
be pretty
> substantial already. A foam filling, even though the material itself, when
set, is quite
> stiff, is not going to contribute materially to either the torsional,
lateral or
> longitudinal stiffness of the car. The loads that affect the frame members
are going to
> subject a foam filling to shear stresses - stresses to which these
materials are not
> sufficiently resistant for them to be beneficial. Your best bet is to
treat the frame for
> external rust resistance to prevent corrosion from weakening it, rather
than attempting to
> use an ineffective means of attempting to strengthen it.
>
> Gary McCormick
> San José, CA
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------
>
> Marc Sayer wrote:
>
> > Mike Kerr wrote:
> > >
> > > one problem though if it traps moisture it can give you probems with
rusting
> > > out the body
> > > there was this house that they used some new type of foam as
insolation
> > > that caused all the nails to rust that held it together , it had
formed some
> > > sort of acid that did the damage .. Would be a bummer if you pumped
foam
> > > inot your car only to have it rust away..
> > > But if this stuff is safe it could be used in the frame of the roaster
to
> > > stiffen it ...
> >
> > Mike is absolutely right. Though the stuff is used for just this purpose
> > in new cars and therefore isn't going to produce rust or corrosion in
> > and of itself, if the box members being filled aren't properly prepared
> > first, you are going to have problems. I haven't seen the instruction
> > for these products, and they may give specific dos and don'ts But I
> > would think that all rust should be treated first with an agent such as
> > Rustmort or Ospho, which will convert the rust to a stable iron oxide
> > that is not reactive and will not corrode any further. Then a coating of
> > some sort might be in order, like a paint or something. As I say the
> > specific product may well have instructions as to how to use it in an
> > older car, once it is released for consumer use. Of course as it is used
> > now, during production of a new car, the situation is completely
> > different.
> >
> > --
> > Marc Sayer
> > Editor/Publisher
> > Z Car & Classic Datsun Magazine
> > http://zcarmag.com
> > Voice 541-726-6001
> > Fax 541-746-0863/726-6001
>
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