Powder-coating rear subframe

[AndrewGB]

Hi,
Do many people powder coat the rear subframe to help prevent it rusting? It seems a sensible way to protect it and should not be too expensive. Are there any problems that I might run into?
Thanks
Andrew

[neil8p]

It was suggested to me that painting is better than powder coat on subframes. I'm told if powder coat gets chipped and moisture gets underneath the powder coat can come off in big chunks. Paint is easier to rub down and touch in.

Not experienced this personally, just a thought for you really

Cheers

[Paul V]

I painted mine in hammerite and it was still perfect years later when the rest of the car had rusted away. I’d prefer painting to powder coating really, if you really want to go all out paint it with hammerite then give a healthy coat of wax oil after.

[love machine]

Used lead oxide and loads of waterproof grease. That works a treat. It's a mess but it's not going to rust, ever! There is about 20kg of shit stuck to it though!

[Cooperman]

Possibly the ultimate treatment is to strip all the paint off in a bath of solvent then hot dip galvanise the entire sub-frame. I did this a few years ago on a 1275 'S' and the result was excellent, especially as I then painted it with 'chassis black' paint However, the place in Luton where I got this done has closed down so now I just use two coats of black Hammerite. IKt's not so good as the galvanising, but it does lastquite well so long as you Waxoyl it every year after jet washing all around.
The other rear sub-frame tip is to remove the bolts holding the frame to the end of the sill section twice a year, blow Waxoyl into the void behind the holes, then put lots of copper grease on the bolts when re-fitting them.

[AndrewGB]

Thanks for all the good advice.
I think that for now hammerite and waxoil is the best way to go. If I ever replace it I might galvanise straight away.
Andrew

[haynes]

I fitted a galvanised rear subframe, supplied by Steve Harris down in Cranborne.