Do these staples do anything?

[bdmiko]

While I have the engine out of the car I would like to clean up the engine compartment and repaint. All along the fiberglass seam there are these staples, some are obviously bent like the ones in the picture and not holding much and some are in OK but the tops of the staples are sticking out of the fiberglass. Is there any reason to leave these in place?
45613

[content22207_2]

They hold your car body together.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Chris 16409]

Toby from DMC-NW told me the staples were used hold the body together just while the fiberglass resin was curing. The staples aren't critical for the structural integrity of the body.

[content22207_2]

Page 214 of Celebrating the Impossible: two body halves are glued together (fiberglass resin was long cured).

If you trust 35 year old glue to hold your car together, pull the staples out.

Conversely you may want to add some modern day fasteners (think roof box).

Bill Robertson
#5939

[bdmiko]

The folded staples aren't holding much so they will probably come out.




Conversely you may want to add some modern day fasteners (think roof box).


Any suggestions about fasteners? I searched for roof box fasteners but did find much.

[content22207_2]

I'd probably use 3/16 pop rivets with backing washers.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[bdmiko]

I'd probably use 3/16 pop rivets with backing washers.

Thanks, I may give that a try.

[81dmc]

I haven't seen any cars splitting in half driving down the road lately...

If for some wierd reason that were to happen, I sure in hell don't think those puny little staples (or rivets) will do anything to stop it.

[DMCMW Dave]

That 35 year old glue is infinitely stronger than 35 year old rusty staples. They are superfluous at this point.

If you try to separate any of those glued body parts, the glue NEVER lets go of the fiberglass. The fiberglass on one side of it will tear away from itself.

[Elvis]

I remember 15 years ago that somebody mentioned the separating was an issue.

Never saw one or heard of it anymore. Dave - did you ever see one or heard about it ?

[sdg3205]

That 35 year old glue is infinitely stronger than 35 year old rusty staples. They are superfluous at this point.

If you try to separate any of those glued body parts, the glue NEVER lets go of the fiberglass. The fiberglass on one side of it will tear away from itself.

That really should have been a page in the brochure:

At DeLorean, we use a lot of glue and wood. Don't freak out though, it works fairly well. Every emergency kit includes a jack, spare tire, Elmer's glue stick, a stapler and wood saw.

I remember the first time i actually noticed the parcel shelf wood I had a small panic attack. It was only after the transaction was complete and I thought we had been ripped off... until i did some googling. I even had a copy of the DMC technical inspection sheets when i first looked at the car - but of course they don't mention anything about wood.

[DMCMW Dave]

I remember 15 years ago that somebody mentioned the separating was an issue.

Never saw one or heard of it anymore. Dave - did you ever see one or heard about it ?

Only the steel roof panel. I know a guy who split one on purpose and it was very difficult.

[Farrar]

Wood used to be a fairly common material in auto construction. Think of it as the original "carbon fiber."