Suzuki Club UK

Hi Guys,
I've completely stripped the chassis of my SJ410, there is only one thing left that can be removed... the waxoyl (and a seized bolt that's sheared in the thread, but that will be sorted soon).
I've been debating about what to do next... I've attacked the chassis with a grinder and paint stripping pads to remove the waxoyl and it's going well up to now. I was thinking about getting it shot blasted to clear the hard to reach places. But here is what I can't decide to do

Option A - (The cheaper option) Just get the bits I can't get at with a grinder shot blasted, then paint with anti-rust solution before painting.

Option B - (The more expensive option) Get the chassis chemically dipped, then getting it galvanised.

I haven't had a quote for sandblasting yet, but from estimating, it will cost between £50 and £120. (I get that figure from other jobs the blasting company has done for the company I work for).
But galvanising is almost three times more expensive. The galvanising process alone will cost £280 ex VAT. But the chassis needs to be 100% paint/waxoyl/shit free prior to the galvanising process. Rust can be dealt with in the "pre galvanising bath" but it doesn't work on paint. So the best option is having it chemically dipped.
I haven't been able to find anywhere in North Wales that does chemical dipping on a large enough scale to do a chassis
I can't decide. Help?! Do I do it properly, or do it properly?! Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Mainly, it's cost. I can't decide. Has anyone here galvanised a SJ chassis before? Your opinions will be much appreciated!

Huw

In my relatively short time of being a Suzuki owner and following a number of forums, I've yet to see or here of a rusty chassis.

So I'd leave it alone.

Just add paint, underseal etc... where ever you might add a bracket, drill a hole or similar.

The bodies can rust bad, but a chassis

Doh! Re read your post, you've already attacked it.

Are you saying you actually have a rusty chassis??? They very rarely rust. I would just clean up the rusty bits you can get to. Primer and paint. If you get it blasted it will get rid of the protective coating from the factory.

I think the chassis are actually galvanised from the factory but it's not the same galv you see on landy chassis.

They do rust sometimes tho, as well as this "small hole" the rear end of the chassis near the fuel tank was rotted out, and the chassis was a 1995 so not even that old really.

We got galvanised chassis, but the Japanese didn't - so theirs rot out a lot. I think that is the problem with the Jimny too, we didn't get galvanised chassis on the Jimny either (I *think*) so they rot out.

Just paint it, it'll outlast your SJ by a factor of 3.

if you are going to go galvanised you need it double dip galvanised for best results, if its possible i'd shop around a bit galvanising is charged on weight (of zinc used) and that seems a little high considering the size of the chassis

Anton wrote:We got galvanised chassis, but the Japanese didn't - so theirs rot out a lot. I think that is the problem with the Jimny too, we didn't get galvanised chassis on the Jimny either (I *think*) so they rot out.

Just paint it, it'll outlast your SJ by a factor of 3.

??? The jap built SJs have the same coating, all the Sjs ive worked on have it.

Ones built in Japan for the European market do, yes. But SJ's built in Japan for the Japanese domestic market (aka "JDM" zuks) weren't galvanised. I can't remember where I read that, so don't quote me on it!

Saying that though... mines a spanish samurai and the chassis is near mint
My mates got 4 or 5 spanish ones, one which was used purely for launching boats into the sea...
It needed all the pipes underneath changing as they were all rusty as hell, but the chassis was fine