I have two questions, I did some searching but wasn't able to find these answers. When you box in your frame: A) How do you prep the inside against the elements prior to welding it up? B) Do you leave gaps between the boxed areas or put holes in the boxed area so that you can run brake lines and wiring inside the frame? Can you lay your lines in there and then weld up the frame? What's the best play here? I'm sure these questions have been addressed but like I said I wasn't able to find anything about this while searching. Thanks
I like to Waxoyl the insides of the frames after I finish them. Usually the lines and stuff get mounted outside the box. I would never mount them so I couldn't access them.
So you can put that on then weld without issues? Good supplier for it? I've found it on ebay but it's all in the United Kingdom.
I don't like to weld with ny paint or primer. It will contaminate the welds. Most older vehicles weren't painted inside. The new stuff is e-coated or dipped. I would leave access holes for painting later. You can also use those hole to route harnesses or lines through. A lot of European cars had line and harnesses in the frame tubes. Don't weld after running thing in the frame. The heat of welding will probably damage them.
You really don't need to paint it inside unless you are going to drive the car underwater. Brake and fuel lines inside the frame is show car shit, that's a ton of work and hassle for minimal gain. Wiring and battery cables can be pulled through the frame, we do that all the time.
OK so not to belabor a point here and sorry if I sound really stupid but the frame will be sandblasted. I can just weld up the frame then pour/spray into it? I'm just worried about the bare metal in there.
I'm no pro, just sharing my opinion with you. The inside of the boxed frame are not exposed to the elements, I dont think you need to stress over it. I have in the passed primered the inside of the rail prior to welding but just because I had some left over, heck the welding probably cooked some off anyway. I have tac welded elec conduit inside the frame rails before to run electrical wire to the tail lights for example, but I for sure would'nt recommend pre running brake lines or other wise and then covering it all up. You some times need to access this stuff and would be srewed if it's inside the frame rail. If you run them neatly they don't really look that bad. Lastly, I don't know what other guys use but I used 1/8 " plate to box my frame. Just one beaners opinion, good luck with your build. fat rich
+1 I agree with rich, you, me and everyone here will be long gone before corrossion eats away your frame rail with no sealent. IMO, and yes 1/8"
do all your welding on your frame...paint it..THEN spray some type of rust preventative inside the rails to protect them. If you rustproof with wax (or I use only Fishoilene) prior to painting you will likely end up with lots of problems with paint adhesion and 'fisheyes' in the paint surface.Run wiring,plumbing in rails after paint and before rustproofing .
I don't usually paint inside the boxing but i did have a couple where people wanted something in there so i drilled a 3/4" hole each side, poured in epoxy primer, spun it around and tipped it up a few times and then drained it back out and put a pipe plug in the hole. Waxoil does a similar job.
If you drill/stamp holes in the frame, which is popular today, and have it powder coated the entire inside of the frame will be coated. The electric charge attracts the paint.
Good idea but if this is what you are after you better be very clear with the powdercoater. Otherwise you will only have powder inside near the holes. They won't normally make an effort to get enough powder inside the rails to coat them.
I dont think you have to worry about it much as previous posts have said but if its something you want to do you could use a weldable primer. It comes in a spray can just spray it inside the frame and weld it up. Its available at autobody supply stores or some welding supply houses carry it.
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