I know this has been talked about on the big list in ages past, but has anyone tried using this stuff to stiffen the chassis? I got a japanese rx-7 video and it shows the guy at RE Amiwhatever drilling 3 holes under the door seal and filling the area with the foam. I haven't looked closely at the under structure of the car to comment on any areas under there to fill, but it seems like the only place to fill would be the door sills on both side. Any comments or feedback?

website- www.itwfoamseal.com

Tim Benton

 

Tim: SCC did this with thier project 300z turbo car a long while back- it included a write up of the whole process- I definately thought about this to-just a little too paranoid to do this one and get it right on the first attempt.
ah found it
"Featured in the June 2000 issue of Sport Compact Car Magazine in the article entitled Nissan 300ZXTT, Part V, More Suspension Tweaks and Tales of the Magic Foam (pages 236-242), AUTOSEAL (HandiFoam II-12) significantly improved the chassis stiffness of the Nissan 300ZXTT. Five (5) kits were used to stiffen the chassis. Each kit yields approximately one (1) cubic foot."

 

I have the same video I think. The guy has a 2nd gen right? If I knew the correct way to go about it, I'd do it to mine.

 

I'm going to be using some here soon. Will take some pictures and report progress.

 

very cool

 

Looking forward to it David, finally some useful feedback for the FD from someone I trust. Just don't say you gained 5 hp from your butt dyno though

Tim

 

Without any industrial tools to measure the rigidity of the chassis alone, how would someone see if there is a performance benefit? One may think that track times would be suitable, but without a consistent driver and car/track conditions, it would be difficult to see any performance benefits from using the foam.

 

In some ways your right, but a quick drive at an angle on a steep uphill driveway might show something. Normally the car squeaks and slightly twists as you turn into the driveway. If it takes some of that flex away, maybe it won't squeak anymore.

Tim

 

you guys need to ask icemark in the FC section. he has already done this with his vert and messed a little too.

 

Yea I remember reading about that somewhere, and they said plan EVERYTHING out PERFECTLY, b/c this stuff dries VERY quickly, and once it's try, it's not going ANYWHERE, including if it's on your hands

Tim, funny you mention this, b/c I've been toying w/ this idea to reinforce the passenger side rocker panel cuz I'd really like to shorten my exhaust, and have it exit out the side, right in front of the rear tire (which would involve cutting through the rocker panel)

 

I agree this test may work for sound absorbtion, but it may not necessarily correlate with chassis stiffness.

I think a better test would be to mark the car at two vertical points where the door ends and the quarter panel begins. Measure the car on a flat surface, then on a steep incline; do this before and after the use of the foam. I am not sure of the stiffness of the chassis on this car, but this test would work on a lesser chassis than the FD.