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  • valiant171

    May 14, 2009 9:26 p.m. valiant171 New Reader

    So that's what I am looking for, is there anything out there that fits my needs, I have a beater that needs some holes filled in but unlike "Great Stuff" I am looking for something that wont attract water. Any ideas? Thanks

  • sshbsn

    May 14, 2009 9:50 p.m. sshbsn New Reader

    Hurricane adhesive foam is closed cell and cures quite a bit harder than "Great Stuff." I worked on a trailer rig that applied it here in Florida, but I think there's a roofing foam available in a can. Maybe try a roofing supply house, or else chase down a foam trailer and offer the guys a little cash to spray your car!

  • jeffmx5

    May 15, 2009 11:21 a.m. jeffmx5 New Reader

    Check at marine supply stores.

    Pourable or sprayable?

    Google "marine expanding foam"

    http://www.uscomposites.com/foam.html

  • bigbrainonbrad

    May 15, 2009 2:07 p.m. bigbrainonbrad New Reader

    On the subject of foam, many years back SCC had a 300ZX project they were working on. In one of the articles on the chassis they filled the "frame" rails with some type of expanding foam to stiffen the chasis. This was when Dave Coleman was there, so I doubt someone with his knowledge would do such a thing if it was a bad idea. Anyone ever try this or have experience with the idea?

  • valiant171

    May 15, 2009 2:59 p.m. valiant171 New Reader

    Thanks guys, exactly what I was looking for! And preferably sprayable.

  • Strizzo

    May 15, 2009 3:40 p.m. Strizzo Dork

    bigbrainonbrad wrote:

    On the subject of foam, many years back SCC had a 300ZX project they were working on. In one of the articles on the chassis they filled the "frame" rails with some type of expanding foam to stiffen the chasis. This was when Dave Coleman was there, so I doubt someone with his knowledge would do such a thing if it was a bad idea. Anyone ever try this or have experience with the idea?

    iirc, it was a 240, and they measured body flex by jacking up one front corner and measuring how high it lifted the rear either rocker or tire, then did the foam thing, then did it again. i think they found that it flexed something like 20% less with the foam. dunno what kind they used though : /

  • Trans_Maro

    May 15, 2009 3:52 p.m. Trans_Maro Reader

    BTDT..

    The foam works nice in rockers and unibody framerails, it does stiffen the chassis a bit.

    I helped my buddy out with his mini-stock Tercel one year.

    We poured the two-part expanding foam into the rockers and rear quarters of his car.

    You could beat on the sheetmetal with a hammer and hardly leave a dent. The car held up really well but eventually the tech inspectors caught on.

    The foam comes as a liquid in two parts, mix together as per instructions. Pour in through a hole made with a hole saw. Work fast since you only get about 5 minutes before it starts expanding.

    Shawn

  • mad_machine

    May 15, 2009 5:57 p.m. mad_machine UltraDork

    structural foam is what Dave Coleman used.. I am intending on using it in my fiat

  • porksboy

    May 15, 2009 7:30 p.m. porksboy Dork

    Where do you get the structural foam? Is it at Homedepot? I remember reading about it and considered researching and using on my last project but dissmissed it as to much a pita to find.

  • Trans_Maro

    May 15, 2009 7:55 p.m. Trans_Maro Reader

    We got ours from a local plastics supplier, Industrial Plastics IIRC.

    Shawn

  • YaNi

    May 15, 2009 9:14 p.m. YaNi Reader

    porksboy wrote:

    Where do you get the structural foam? Is it at Homedepot? I remember reading about it and considered researching and using on my last project but dissmissed it as to much a pita to find.

    This is where I get my foam and urethane. Its a two part polyurethane foam that is available in a bunch of different densities. Not the crap in a can.

    US Composites

  • Per Schroeder

    May 15, 2009 9:51 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

    The two part seat foam is available from Pegasus, RPW, among others. It's less than $40 for enough to do a seat.

  • May 16, 2009 11:11 a.m. kb58 New Reader

    Just be careful with the stuff. When it expands it exerts a fair amount of force. Spread over a large panel it can be hundreds of pounds, enough to bend things.

  • RXBeetle

    May 16, 2009 6:58 p.m. RXBeetle Reader

    8lb./ft^3 polyurethane 2 part marine foam is crazy strong. I used it for the impact attenuator for out FSAE car. kb58 is right about the expansion concern, it's like 8:1 expansion and it sets up really fast.

  • griffin729

    May 17, 2009 2:14 a.m. griffin729 New Reader

    bigbrainonbrad wrote:

    On the subject of foam, many years back SCC had a 300ZX project they were working on. In one of the articles on the chassis they filled the "frame" rails with some type of expanding foam to stiffen the chasis. This was when Dave Coleman was there, so I doubt someone with his knowledge would do such a thing if it was a bad idea. Anyone ever try this or have experience with the idea?

    Oh, I do miss Dave. For that matter I miss SCC. I now have a sub to Modified. I'm giving them a chance, but I doubt I'll be renewing. Damn, this economy anyway. 'Course SCC was having budget problems anyway. I have that issue floating around somewhere, but not sure which one it is in. Anyway, I'm off topic. Sorry.

  • ccrelan

    May 17, 2009 7:01 a.m. ccrelan New Reader

    http://www.sr20forum.com/members-rides/245943-93-classic-restoration.html

    Here is exactly what you are looking for. Detailed info about using foam.

  • MA2LA

    May 17, 2009 6:25 p.m. MA2LA New Reader

    http://foamseal.org/auto_after_ordering.htm here ya go, I've been wondering about this stuff for years, Acher racing used something like this in the late 80s on thier road racing jeeps.

  • Keith

    May 17, 2009 11:49 p.m. Keith UberDork

    Alfa used it on the Alfasud as well. Those cars would rust at a visible rate, and I've heard the foam blamed for that.

  • Tom Heath

    May 18, 2009 12:41 p.m. Tom Heath Production Editor

    I was looking into a structural foam for chassis reinforcement, but chickened out.

    There are a couple of problems; Corrosion can come not only from absorbing moisture in the foam, but from plugging the drain channels in the chassis and trapping moisture that comes into the car after the foam is applied. Also, long-term durability is questionable. I've seen structural foams turn to dust in high-vibration industrial applications. Dust is not stiff.

    The potential for corrosion stopped me from using it, but it might be good for something with a short projected lifespan, like a Challenge car or LeMons rig. Someday I'll try it just to say I've done it.

  • kingbeann

    May 31, 2011 3:31 p.m. kingbeann New Reader

    Here is the link to SCC: http://www.modified.com/projectcars/0006scc_project_nissan_300zx_part_5/index.html

 

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