Testing steel properties of a chassis

[rockcrawler31]

Hi guys

I have a Chevrolet C30 chassis i'm using for a hot rod project. I'd like to box the frame in places and run the odd crossmember as well as weld link/airbag mounts.

The chassis is an open C section design, and MAY be high carbon steel. Can anyone tell me how to test the grade of the steel used in the chassis? What if i cut a tiny bit off the chassis at the back - could i send that somewhere to have it tested?

If it IS high carbon steel, what proceedures can be done to be able to successfully weld to it and not suffer failures and cracks? Pre and post heating? Tig with a specific filler rod?

[ledgend80]

i would say you would need to talk to someone who does ndt testing. they should be able to come out to you and do some material testing

[DamTriton]

IIRC Gwagensteve here is into NDT, he may be able to give you some pointers on who, where and how.

[rockcrawler31]

Cool. thanks KIA.

[date]

A simple, but crude test to see if it is a high carbon steel is to put a grinder to it. If it sparks wildly, it is high carbon. If it sparks normally, it is not. You can egt some idea by test grinding a piece of mild steel and comparing it to a known piece of high carbon (eg tool) steel. This is not totally conclusive, but will give you a good idea.

[V.W.Dave]

Hey Milo,
You should know by now who to talk to about metal in your area. You have been wheelen enough times with BlackBull to know his metal skills.

[bazzle]

Spectrometer services.
http://www.spectrometer.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Send them a bit in an envelope . Prob cost about $80

Bazzle

[rockcrawler31]

Hey Milo,
You should know by now who to talk to about metal in your area. You have been wheelen enough times with BlackBull to know his metal skills.

I know, but neither of us are metallurgists. That i know of at least. It's kinda the thing you want either a bit of paper, personal experience with that particular chassis, or manufacturers nomenclature to be sure so that i don't go killing some poor schmuck.

[rockcrawler31]

Spectrometer services.
http://www.spectrometer.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Send them a bit in an envelope . Prob cost about $80

Bazzle

Thanks for the link baz

[KiwiBacon]

A rough test is to heat and quench a piece, see how hard it gets.
If you just want to check weldability that'll be a good start. If you need to convince someone of the actual carbon content, then a mass-spectrograph is the way.

[Gwagensteve]

Spectrometer services.
http://www.spectrometer.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Send them a bit in an envelope . Prob cost about $80

Bazzle

Bingo. That's who we use for carbon content.