Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Galvanised chassis

My galvanised chassis on my 97 +4 was in good nick when I sold it in 2014. I did though spray biannually with waxoyl.

The painted chassis on my 92 4/4 wasn't great when sold in 2007 & the bulkhead I had repainted.

My experience of both types of Morgan underseal is that the more recent black Dinitrol 4941 is harder than the earlier golden brown product. However, the golden brown has more potential to self heal if damaged, and is nicer to deal with. I also think that it's better in that components are visible through the film rather than being covered in thick black gunge. That's why I've asked for "clear" underseal on my next car.

With regard to galvanising I don't have any long term experience! I'm not a fan of powder coating though. Once the coating is penetrated, moisture gets behind and it will lift in chunks. And it's difficult to repair.

I purchased my 4/4 in April 2017, it was registered in May 2016, so I believe I have the coated chassis ?

It looks very clean and shiny black under the car, but saying that my car hasn't seen any wet weather yet. The 4/4 is my weekend toy to use on nice days when I'm not working.

Therefore Should a galvanised or coated chassis really mater? I'm sure it will out last me at this rate !

If the crossmember in front of the seats is black, it's a coated chassis. If the crossmember is silvery-gold with a vague pattern, its galvanised.
With either, the vulnerable places are where the chassis is drilled to take various parts, because the bare steel edge will rust when they get wet.
Either type needs watching over time, but I don't think its a big issue.

Thanks for that info Dave

I am now curious, I will remove one of the Chrome chassis protectors (inside the car) and have a nosey later to see what it is.

Lift the corner of the transmission tunnel leather put of the way first. You may be able to see the crossmember without lifting the cover.

Coated Chassis ?

Looks like one.
Will

Yes it is.

Quite likely unless you are a teenager! The new coating process will make sure that the coating gets everywhere - until MMC drill holes for fitting bodywork and exposes the underlying metal. And thats where the problem comes with painted systems, when they are breached and bare metal is exposed to water and air and salt etc. Galvanising not only "alloys" itself to the steel and so cannot be peeled off, but round a breach the zinc preferentially erodes and so protects the steel until, that is, its used up.

And as Peter said earlier there are different sorts of zinc coating with some, such as on my mooring's Chinese made galvanised shackles being so thin that its really cosmetic and only until it sees any salty water. On the other hand,in my galvanising plant at work, we used to hot dip steel fabrications and that gives a really good thick layer that on my anchor, (and thats dragged through rocks and sand in salty water), is still good after 25 years use.

Hopefully the bits of your chassis that face the road have been covered with stone chip paint like the big car makers use. If not and the car was mine, I think I would apply some black waxoyl.