Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Guys

Has anyone had any parts powder coated in Essex (or near) and could recommend a good company?

I am about to overhaul my rear suspension and would like it to be sparkling clean

Any ideas on the sort of price I should be paying for say blast and coat a rear spring??

Thanks

Jason

Only places I have used were in Cambridge or redditch..
Cost seem to depend upon the mood in the powder coating shop.
eg ?60 to do on suspension side (front and back) including sand blasting, one month then ?80 for the other side the next month (perhaps left handed powder coat is more expensive )
Tim

Tim

What did you get coated for ?60+?80?

I was thinking:

Wishbones
Springs
Spring abutments (top)
Dust shields

So if you got front and back, then for just the rear I should be looking at about ?70?? That sounds a lot?

Jason

I got the wishbones, springs, spring abutment plate, front upright, antiroll bar.
Costs are so variable, its hard to assess. The lotus parts where done via Paul Matty (I'm not sure howmuch overhead he puts on them, but he gets them done in redditch I think).
However I also got all 4 corners of a triumph spitfire done in cambridge, and that was 70 pounds total. the amount of work was about the same!
So very variable
Tim

Hi Jason,
I'm not sure of the difference in mileage from where you are to Cambridge but there is a company in Sittingbourne in kent that does powder coating.

http://www.bpblasting.co.uk

Dave

I had all the suspension powder coated on my previous car at the company I worked for at the time. The manager of the coating plant insisted that I had all the parts either etch primed or zinc/passivated before powder coating for a much extended life. Any knocks or chips would allow rust to creep under the plastic coating. I didnt keep the car long enough to prove /disprove this advice. I had the parts coated in Nylon which is a lot tougher than the usual polythene.

Folk's,

I am going to get my suspension done by electro plating, this can be done in colour and will not chip, not sure where you would get this done in the UK me being on the other side of the globe.

Tony w

I made the mistake of powder coating a chassis a few years ago, within one year it was coming off in sheets as water gets under any small nick and breaks the bond to the metal. The previous chassis which was painted with 2 coats of Hammerite was still good 8 years later. I have since had suspension components nickel plated which looks good.

Andy

Andy

How much did the nickel plating cost?

Jason

Hi Jason, I use these guys. http://www.vulcanshotblasting.com/ About 45mins or so from you and they do Lotus factory work apparently. Cost me ?80 for a complete Spyder roll bar including pre blast / strip
Hth, Chris.

Jason

I think it was less than ?100 for the front suspension

Andy