I am in the process of building my car from scratch and I would like to hear your opinion on metal selection for different applicarions.
1. Water tanks. They are usually made of stainless steel because it is very resistant to water and minerals in it. No oxidation or deterioration, that's why it is widely used in food companies. But what about aluminium? Sometimes it does get some nasty looking oxidation (from salty water) but is it only cosmetic or maybe also dangerous? I would prefer to make a water tank (washing water, not potable) of aluminium due to the very low price and weight.
2. I've seen fuel tanks made of aluminium so probably it is OK, but I just wanted to mention that a fuel tank is also in my plans.
3. I am planning to use PVC tubes to route coolant to different parts of the truck. The PVC tubes which are used to run water in homes are a good choice: cheap, lighter than a reinforced rubber hose and easy to assemble (I have that special heater to connect PVC elements). I hope that coolant will not eat thorugh PVC
4. I have to reroute the air condition lines and they are made of aluminium. Obviously finding aluminium tubes and welding them precisely will be much more complicated than using copper lines and soldering it. Can it be done? I have a short distance to cover so the weight of copper will not be an issue, but the flexibility of copper will let me bend the tube to fit right where I want. But will A/C fluid (R134a) eath through the soldering points or react with copper?
5. With brakes I have no doubt as anyone who replaces corroded lines uses copper tubes.
Any feedback will be highly welcome.
1. Water tanks. They are usually made of stainless steel because it is very resistant to water and minerals in it. No oxidation or deterioration, that's why it is widely used in food companies. But what about aluminium? Sometimes it does get some nasty looking oxidation (from salty water) but is it only cosmetic or maybe also dangerous? I would prefer to make a water tank (washing water, not potable) of aluminium due to the very low price and weight.
2. I've seen fuel tanks made of aluminium so probably it is OK, but I just wanted to mention that a fuel tank is also in my plans.
3. I am planning to use PVC tubes to route coolant to different parts of the truck. The PVC tubes which are used to run water in homes are a good choice: cheap, lighter than a reinforced rubber hose and easy to assemble (I have that special heater to connect PVC elements). I hope that coolant will not eat thorugh PVC
4. I have to reroute the air condition lines and they are made of aluminium. Obviously finding aluminium tubes and welding them precisely will be much more complicated than using copper lines and soldering it. Can it be done? I have a short distance to cover so the weight of copper will not be an issue, but the flexibility of copper will let me bend the tube to fit right where I want. But will A/C fluid (R134a) eath through the soldering points or react with copper?
5. With brakes I have no doubt as anyone who replaces corroded lines uses copper tubes.
Any feedback will be highly welcome.