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Spraying Foam into Frame...opinions?

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Perhaps their foam is not a polyurethane or
polyisocyanurate. Maybe they have developed
a spray foam that is not hygroscopic?

The foam concept seems like overkill to me.

Dimensional, long term stability of sprayed foams
is another issue. Even after curing, they slowly
change shape when exposed to high humidity.

d
 
I would think that RATCO is primarilly interested in installing foam in race cars to increase chassis stiffness...maybe I'm wrong...
 
Race cars might be appropriate.
Few live as many years as our TRs.

The long term effects would have no bearing.

d
 
Tinster said:
Perhaps their foam is not a polyurethane or
polyisocyanurate. Maybe they have developed
a spray foam that is not hygroscopic?

The foam concept seems like overkill to me.

Dimensional, long term stability of sprayed foams
is another issue. Even after curing, they slowly
change shape when exposed to high humidity.

d
Click to expand...

There are all sorts of interesting foams out there. Automotive uses are looking into among other things Epoxy based foam. Foam can be reinforced such as by mixing fiberglass into the mix. If it is largely a "closed" type foam it will not absorb water. This also depends on the skin type .... And of course they are NOT meant for DIY. They almost all require special equipment to foam / inject require precise cure conditions etc.
For real fun there are metal foams ... Well you get the idea, not the junk they sell at the local hardware store.

Yisrael
 
Back in my Navy days, there were some guys who built up a 1964.5 mustang with a huge 400 something engine in it.

They decided to reinforce the frame by spraying foam into it for strength. When the took it out to the race strip, the first time they ran it, they torqued the frame so bad that htye had to scrap the project.

So it looks like even without waitting for the water to rust the metal, foaming a frame probably doesn't do much for you.
 
first, i wasn't going to go to home depot, we've got a local business called sprayfoam that does all sorts of projects from parade floats to...well, anything that requires foam.

second, i wasn't looking for rigidity, foam wouldn't do squat for that. i was thinking it would dampen vibrations, like sound traveling throught the frame form road bumps and holes.

third, i probably wouldn't do it for cost reasons anyways, but i was interested in ratco's reasons and foam.

good discussion though.
 
Yisrael,

Can you remember when the construction
industry tried mixing steel needles into
concrete to spare the expense of rebar steel?

We don't see much of that anymore, do we?

d
 
As they say..NO question is a DUMB question when it comes to LBC's Right?Maybe i have one thats a 50-50;On our cars whether they be TR's Mg's whatever aren't those DRAIN HOLES their for a reason?Logic tells me using ANY foam product on our cars on the lower half would plug these drain holes,be they in the rockers,dog legs etc.SSoo,What route would the water(rain)go if it does get in?Wouldn't it just fill up the inside door panel or dog leg & or wherever.And eventually start running into the cockpit?I understand SOME AREAS would benefit from USING FOAM,like frame members etc,BUT then again your just LOCKING in any condensation & moisture eventually your defeating the WHOLE PURPOSE RIGHT,sounds a little ILLOGICAL PERSONALLY,& ALSO once done theirs NO turning back.And remember British Leyland NEVER GALVANIZED anything on our cars....Cheers Mates & Gooday!...
Ken&Whitelightning (Alias Myspitfire)
 
BINGO!!

Next time you are in a mall; look up at the
skylights. If you see water stains on the ceiling
surrounding the skylights, you can be certain some
idiot put caulking over the skylight frame drain
holes.

Your sound logic prevails.

Google "phenolic foam + steel" and see what THAT stuff
would do to an auto frame.

And also note: most of these sprayed foams are also
powerful adhesives. Almost impossible to remove.

d
 
Tinster said:
BINGO!!

Next time you are in a mall; look up at the
skylights. If you see water stains on the ceiling
surrounding the skylights, you can be certain some
idiot put caulking over the skylight frame drain
holes.

Your sound logic prevails.

Google "phenolic foam + steel" and see what THAT stuff
would do to an auto frame.

And also note: most of these sprayed foams are also
powerful adhesives. Almost impossible to remove.

d
Click to expand...

Ditto on the adhesive, I used to work for Utility Trailer {semi trailer manufacturer} and they F.I.P {Foam in place} the inside wall lining on, literaly using the foam to glue the inside walls in place> if the foam appliers "Blew" {too much foam bulging the panel} a wall panel, we would have to remove the panel and foam and reinstal the panel. The foam is a real pain to remove as like Tinster says it is a very strong adhesive.
One other note about these trailers:
The floors were also F.I.P., they had incidences of the foam colllecting water off of the road due to the floor underskin not sealing properly. I would stay away from foam other than to use it for insulation, I certainly wouldn`t put it in or on any part of my car or truck.
 
AweMan said:
Ditto on the adhesive, I used to work for Utility Trailer {semi trailer manufacturer} and they F.I.P {Foam in place} the inside wall lining on, literaly using the foam to glue the inside walls in place> if the foam appliers "Blew" {too much foam bulging the panel} a wall panel, we would have to remove the panel and foam and reinstal the panel. The foam is a real pain to remove as like Tinster says it is a very strong adhesive.
One other note about these trailers:
The floors were also F.I.P., they had incidences of the foam colllecting water off of the road due to the floor underskin not sealing properly. I would stay away from foam other than to use it for insulation, I certainly wouldn`t put it in or on any part of my car or truck.
Click to expand...

Funny, reminds of a foam insulation company in the 80's in central Wisconsin. They went all over drilling holes in walls of older homes and pumping in foam. People were finding foam in all sorts of strange places and walls blown out everywhere. There was serious talk of something along the line of tar and feathers around that part of the country for a while.
 
The guys spraying foam into stud cavities literally
came out of the woodwork during the first oil crisis,
I think maybe 1972ish? Polyurethane foam it was.

God help the poor souls who had a house fire with
polyurethane in their walls and attics. Urethane
burns easily, fast and hot.

I design hurricane stuff with industrial grde
polyisocyanurate for adhesive. I don't even keep
any of it home for personal use. Too tricky to use.
I stick to (pun intended) with epoxies.

d
 
Darwin said:
Someone here at BCF, I think it was Tony, related a story of filling the frame with fiberglass batting soaked in resin. Probably would help with stiffness and noise control but it seems like a lot of work. Don't know how it would be for promoting/ inhibiting moisture. Maybe if Tony sees this he can comment.
Click to expand...

I did that. With a '66 MGB, back in about '70~'71. We opened up the rails at the front and loosely ramrodded 'glas and resin into 'em. Stiffened the car tremendously. Not the best practice tho, for all the reasons listed above. When the car had finally gone its last mile (after more than 250K!), in '79, the guy who wanted it for the mechanical parts took a torch to the tub and got a real shock... he didn't tell me he intended to cut it up or he'd have been warned. We had a laugh over it though. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
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