[DMCH James]

Originally posted by Patrick C.:
I also recently read in an old Car and Driver, that the first 500 doors were actually stamped in the USA. It didn't disclose where though. I found that interesting (assuming it is true). Maybe those dies still exist somewhere today.

Some time ago, I spoke with the company that did these dies, for the whole car, and the kirksite was melted down and re-used many, many years ago. I was actually looking for a left front fender die - and that's also how I learned a kirksite replacement die for the fender can be made for $30-40K.

James

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SuperMattTheHero:
Seeing how I've removed my car's body from the frame. I'd like to second this question which was previously asked...

"What process and materials do you use for protecting the inside of the frame rails (i.e. is it actually coated internally too in order to prevent it from rusting from the inside out?)"

You mentioned "...Then it is baked to "burn off" any epoxy in the internal areas of the frame that were inaccessible to the sandblaster."

The million dollar question is, how are these areas re-treated if they've been stripped to the bare steel?


James.
You never did answer Matts question. I'm curious, so how are the inaccessable areas of the frame coated internally to prevent rust? I don't have a million$, but the nearly 40 large I paid for this car should be good enough. What do ya say?
Thanks, Christian

[John Dore]

Hi all,

As a person with a galvanised DeLorean frame, I'd be very interested in the long term durability of a powdercoated frame, and so would love to see DMC Houston reply to this thread.

When I was debating going with galvanising or just powdercoating, I posted many times to various newsgroups, trying to find out how durable powdercoating was over time, I never got a written/public response from any of the vendors. No one was prepared to say how long it would last, or what precautions were taken on the inaccessible areas of the frame to stop rust from forming there.

In the end I went with galvanising, and also sprayed some zinc rich paint on the external lower surfaces of the chassis, and as best I could into the internal areas, to give a little bit extra protection to the galvanised surface. So far, it is holding up extremely well, and my car is not garaged (in rainy Ireland).

When I do my next frame off restoration next year, I will galvanise again, and also apply a few coats of epoxy paint over the entire chassis, inside and out.

The way I see it, if you powdercoat a frame without opening up every section to remove every trace of epoxy and surface rust beforehand, rust is going to come back pretty soon. It will soon begin to travel under the powdercoat, just as it did under the original epoxy.

Has anyone with a powdercoated frame any pictures taken 1 year after the car was back on the road? 5 years later?

Thanks,
John

[Nate]

Originally posted by James Espey:
...and that's also how I learned a kirksite replacement die for the fender can be made for $30-40K.
James

Just for more numbers. We (@work) had to have a kirksite die made a couple years ago for a prototype-body panel, for us it ran total around 55,000USD for a 125,000stroke-life Kirksite die (@1000labor hours). The 2nd die (same) cost about 34,000USD.

-Nate
11501

[John Dore]

hi again,

Come on, someone must have pictures of a powdercoated DeLorean frame after it has been used for a year or 2!

DMCHouston, do you have any of your restored cars back in the shop for service at the moment, that you could take a pic of the frame to show how well the powdercoating is holding up?

What kind of anti-corrosion warranty is offered with your restored DeLoreans?

Have you considered galvanising + painting your frames in future?

Thanks,
John

[DMCH James]

Back in the office after being out for a couple days with sporadic email/web access.

Christian, I know that Stephen has spoken with you in regards to the questions about how the interior cavities of the powdercoated frames are treated. A detailed answer will be forthcoming after the holidays.

John, I don't have any refurbished cars in the shop at the moment. Most of them, as you might imagine, are shipped outside the Houston area and don't return for service. I do have one local owner who comes in from time to time for routine maintenance, and the next time it is here, I will try and remember to get some photos of it.

We offer a 6 month, 6,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty on the cars. There is no other provision for corrosion - much like the original DMC.

We have approached several galvanizing companies here in the Houston area and ALL have had reservations about performing such a service. Such is the downside of a litigious society. We have not discounted the possibility of offering it in the future, but only if safety and liability concerns are adequately addressed.

James