Volvo Bodies

[M Wehrman]

I believe Vince can answer this. How can you tell if you have an Aluzinc body over a "regular"? The obvious not Az body would be Swiss cheese..Of the 2 bodies I've had,one was holier than the Pope,and the other only has minor spots in the foot wells.
Mark

[HafWit]

I would assume that Alu-zinc (being non-ferrous) wouldn't hold a magnet. Thus a simple magnet test should suffice to differentiate them.

Cheers,
Greg

[Jimm391730]

Aluzinc is an aluminum and zinc coating over steel, so you won't be able to tell the difference since the magnet will still attract to the steel base metal. From the QDZN Steel website:

"The composition of the coating is: 55% aluminium, 43.4% zinc and 1.6% silicon.
The excellent corrosion resistance of Aluzinc® is a result of the properties of the two metallic substances: the barrier effect of the aluminium present on the surface of the coating and the sacrificial protection of zinc."

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

Generally, the step under the small window is only present on the older bodies.

To clear up another often misunderstood fact: Yes the newer bodies are zinc treated but they have fully aluminum sections, just like the old ones. All of the bodies have a roof (the rear 3/4) and the big upper/side panels that are aluminum. The rest of the body and all of the cab/doors are steel, new or old.

[Jimm391730]

So the "new" bodies are zinc plated, wheras the "old" bodies were not? And the "alum" designation is because portions are aluminum, not steel?

Just trying to wrap my head around it -- this is different than the term "aluzinc".

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

I've never been clear on the stock body treatment, if there was any, but I assume they were not plated in any special way given how many I've seen rusted to hell. I think the new ones are just a result of general modern plating techniques or maybe the military requested some light galvanizing. I have no clue where the "aluzinc' thing came from. Maybe I missed something, or maybe someone made an ignorant statement some years back that stuck somehow. I dont know exactly what that process looks like but after fully removing the paint on two 303's personally, the metal sections just looked like lightly zinc plated steel to me.

Yes, all of them have aluminum sections. Some were replaced but I've seen a new body truck with the old alum sections still in place.

[HafWit]

It is refreshing to know that many of you are much smarter than I am when it comes to things such as alu-zinc coatings. Thanks for the corrections! Now, if we were talking about human anatomy or physiology, I might come off sounding a little smarter (I hope).

Cheers,
Greg

[Christer_tgb]

This sounds wierd to me.

The only place where the magnet, with the antenna for my CB radio, will stick on my Aluzinc is on the roofhatch.

How is this possible if the sides and the front/back is steelbased?


/Chris

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

Maybe you got a one-off custom? A weak magnet? I don't know. I really can't imagine Volvo or the military making an all aluminum body. It would have a lot less structural integrity and much weaker doors since it wasn't designed to be that way from the beginning. All I can say for sure is that I never saw one like that in Sweden/UK or here. My own 303 was a fresh military re-furb and it was a new body with lots of steel except for the parts listed above.

[ranicotra]

My aluminum panels are a bit beat up. I know it shouldn't matter . . .

But, does anybody know where to source replacements ?

[VinceAtReal4x4s]

Unless the supplier I listed in the parts post might have one (I doubt it), it'd be easier to have them made at a good sheet-metal fab shop.