Hmm, where to put this. Well I chose here as its as much a part of the chassis as owt. Anyhow, I'm expecting some ally soon for my floor and I can't find summat I'm looking for in the searches but what do I bond it on with? I've heard PU and Sikaflex?? Where can I get these and out of interest do these set hard or remain slightly flexible? As well, what rivets? I think I read stainless steel so's to avoid corrosion and dissimilar metal corrosion. Cheers all.

Large flange Ali rivets will be fine, you can get the tofosi at a good price (I put mine at 50mm ccs).

I was wondering the same about what bonder to use and MK supplied me with...

No More Nails.

I plan to use some silkaflex to bead around the inside to give a nice, neat finish and add a bit more strength at the same time (no more nails has a beige colour, and I want something that's a bit more coluorful - my Elise had bright orange glue on the chassis joins)

Erm, what does tofosi mean? No More Nails eh?? Thats easy to get hold of, as for Silkaflex, where can I get that from? Never heard of it before this site.

Sikaflex (no middle L) comes in different "numbers". A few versions on eBay, no idea which is perfect though.

http://cgi1.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7619138643

http://cgi1.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320024174513

http://cgi1.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260030642897

See this link for descriptions of "numbers"

http://www.sikaflex.com/

[Edited on 29/9/06 by the_fbi]

Do not use stainless rivets as this will cause dissimilar metal corrosion, use aluminium rivets.

Sorry:

www.tifosi-devon.co.uk

Good supplier, find what you need from the website (very basic site) and ring them up - great, friendly service, decent prices and quick turnaround as well

Cheers Stevie. Aluminium rivets? Will they not corrode where they contact the steel chassis? Thought stainless as it generally don't corrode cos of the coating?

I got seam sealer from a local motor factors bout £3 per tube

Practically any PU adhesive will be fine for bonding panels to the chassis. Just ask your local Bodyshop supplies company and they will recommend something suitable (Sikaflex, Tigerseal etc) It bonds very strongly but remains a little flexible so it wont crack in the future. Stainless rivets are the strongest and will be fine - just use large headed 5mm rivets on the floor and 3-4mm normal heads on the sides.

Stainless and aluminium react together much faster than aluminium and steel. Also stainless next to steel will cause the steel to oxidise much more rapidly as well. Believe who you want, but at work we have to isolate dissimilar metals with a non metallic barrier to prevent corrosion at all times, and all the relevent information is freely available on the net. Search for "galvanic corrosion".


Which ever rivets you use, dip them in sealer first to reduce contact between the different metals, and if a decent adhesive is used, the stresses on the rivets will be much reduced.

Chers Gazza. I unerstand what you mean. Done lessons in corrosion when I joined the RAF. I always remember the definition of it as it was always a prime question 'A tendancy of a material to revert back to its more natural, stable state'Yeah, was gonna dip them in sealant first to try and create that barrier. What about dipping them in a paint or summat before using them as an added prcaution, anyone done that?

You could always get the black anodized variety to save you having to dip them - they look smart too.

stainless+ali is worse then steel+ali.

having said that, i've never heard of anyone's floor fropping off because of this - I'd like to think you'd get some warning as rivet ping off, more floor rattling etc: before your ar5e ends up on the tarmac

Aluminium rivets it is then. Cheers lads.

I wouldn't get too wound up by galvanic corrosion. My 40 year old Dellow had aluminium panels and aluminium rivets and they still did the job. Corrosion only happens in the presence of wet so if everything is painted and sealed you will have a lifetime's use without any problems. Also, if you have bonded the floor you have belt and braces!

Hi and use sealed end rivetts so as not to let all the warter in through the rivet to the inside of the chassis.

cheers matt