FRAMING JOHN DELOREAN - ON VOD
www.framingjohndeloreanfilm.com
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Guy with a DeLorean
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"Former Delorean owning Guru"
When I pull mine out, I sincerely hope to find an equally easy crack to fix. I'm hoping it isn't along a long seam or at one of the nipple areas......
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fluid bottle
Good write up, nice pictures.
Paul Cerny
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Senior Member
Is the original bottle material thick enough that you could just re-seal the crack by using a putty knife to "melt" the two edges together when the bottle is warm enough?
Dermot
VIN 2743, B/A, Frame 2227, engine 2320
I don't always drive cars, but when I do, I prefer DeLoreans
http://www.will-to-live.org
No-one is to stone anyone, even, and I want to make this absolutely clear, even if they do say "carburetor"
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Guy with a DeLorean
I don't recall the exact thickness of the bottle in that area but I'd guess somewhere between 1/16" to 3/32". The thickness varies in different spots bottle because I think they were blow molded.
You could probably get away with heating up the bottle in the cracked area and using some type of flat edge to fuse it back together. Or a hot soldering iron tip might do the job once you heat everything up and start to work the edge closed. I figured another layer of solid material over the crack was a good insurance policy that I wouldn't be going back in there again a few months later to make another repair. It wasn't much additional work to add the patch and it gave it some additional strength vs the original part in that weak corner area.
However, I'm pretty sure that my bottle cracked because the PO had to go in there and change out the original washer pump. When he reinstalled everything the bottle was not seated correctly and compressed and flexed in that corner as the bolts were tightened. If you are careful reinstalling everything there should be no compressive load on the bottle and there should be no reason for it to suddenly crack.
Last edited by Mark D; 09-20-2012 at 05:52 PM.
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"Former Delorean owning Guru"
No luck. My crack is on the other side of the bottle, right in one of the compound corners....very challenging. I tried the milk jug trick and the bond just wasn't all that good despite a good cleaning and softening of both plastics. I tried a few times. I also tried simple melting/blending with a hot screwdriver. Still it leaks. The more I try, the more I'm stressing the surrounding plastic too. This isn't surprising after 31 years or so; despite popular perception plastic does indeed degrade and start to breakdown. I think we'll be seeing more and more of this.
Rather than patching the outside and fighting hydraulic pressure, I'm thinking I could line the interior of the bottle to seal the leak and help prevent others. I either need to be able to inflate something like a balloon inside, or more likely, pour in some kind of liquid polymer and form an interior skin. But what?
Other than that, has anyone found any other bottles that fit the space? How about an IV bag type of setup (flexible)?
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Senior Member
I almost hate to suggest it but what about that "as seen on TV" black Flex Seal stuff. If it actually works then you could coat the outside of the bottle.
Why not test it out on a plastic milk carton that you cut an slit opening with a knife to simulate a crack. Spray the stuff on, follow the instructions and see if it still leaks in 6 months?
Dermot
VIN 2743, B/A, Frame 2227, engine 2320
I don't always drive cars, but when I do, I prefer DeLoreans
http://www.will-to-live.org
No-one is to stone anyone, even, and I want to make this absolutely clear, even if they do say "carburetor"
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"Former Delorean owning Guru"
Interesting idea...
Just tried again with more patching, more melting...nope. The original plastic has lost a lot of its elasticity and is more brittle. Consequently it doesn't really melt back to itself very well and the patch never really integrates to it. Just kind of sits on top and can't stop seepage.
Last edited by Spittybug; 09-23-2012 at 04:00 PM.
Owen
I.Brew.Beer.
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Senior Member
There is a gas tank sealer used for fiberglass gas tanks that may work. You just pour it in and slosh it around and let it dry. That was used on a lot of experimental (home built) airplanes.
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Senior Member
Originally Posted by
Spittybug
Rather than patching the outside and fighting hydraulic pressure, I'm thinking I could line the interior of the bottle to seal the leak and help prevent others. I either need to be able to inflate something like a balloon inside, or more likely, pour in some kind of liquid polymer and form an interior skin. But what?
How about fiberglass resin? Make sure the crack area is at the bottom, so that gravity causes it to fill the crack....
I dunno, just the first idea that popped into my head.
Or maybe POR-15?
Thomas
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