Help DeLorean rust issue...what to do?

[lamboman]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forums here...not new to delorean's though.I have a delorean with some frame rust and wondering advice on what to do...fix or try and find another car with better frame?.It is hard to see the car like this but i dont know if it is fixable without removing body or if it would be too costly or can i get a new frame...not sure where?.The frame is good on the upper area just to lower areas that are bad.

[lamboman]

more pics...

[rundmc]

My limited instincts tell me that's a frame-off job at best, but I will be interested to hear what the more experienced people say when they chime in.

[Delorean Industries]

That is just about as bad as it can get. All of the normal spots are rotted. I would be looking for another car at this point. I"m sure that the current car needs a minimum of a frame swap plus everything attached to it.

Where are you located?

[jawn101]

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forums here...not new to delorean's though.I have a delorean with some frame rust and wondering advice on what to do...fix or try and find another car with better frame?.It is hard to see the car like this but i dont know if it is fixable without removing body or if it would be too costly or can i get a new frame...not sure where?.The frame is good on the upper area just to lower areas that are bad.


Sweet crackers, that's the worst frame I've ever seen. There are frames out there but you're not getting away easy on this one....

[lamboman]

I am located in Canada...what years of salt will do i guess...most was like this before i owned it but price was worth the purchase even as parts.

[Delorean Industries]

I am located in Canada...what years of salt will do i guess...most was like this before i owned it but price was worth the purchase even as parts.

What is the over all condition? We would be interested if it was deamed salavagable.

[lamboman]

Well i need to decide what i am doing with it first before deciding on a sale...I is good enough shape to put restore into if the frame was good.

[David T]

From all of the damage that can be seen you can figure what you can't see is at least as bad and probably worse. IMHO it would be more efficient to reframe the car rather than try to repair this one. Depending on the condition of the rest of the car, unless you can buy it REALLY cheap I pass on it. Just trying to move this car could cause the frame to collapse. If you do decide to tow the car be VERY careful where you pull on it and where you tie it down to the trailer. Do not trust the normal hooks and loops. Go around as much as you can. Not just the frame. A reframe costs a lot more than just the frame. You have the expense of trucking, all of the labor to disassemble and reassemble, and a LOT of parts that you will be replacing just because you have it all apart. Maybe you can get lucky and find one that was in an accident that didn't damage the frame much or maybe one that was in a fire.
David Teitelbaum

[Cory W]

I am located in Canada...what years of salt will do i guess...most was like this before i owned it but price was worth the purchase even as parts.

It will only get worse. Unless you can get your hands on a frame, parts just may be what you're looking at. They are out there, but you will likely have to do something to any frame you find.

Where in Canada are you? That will help people who may know of or have a frame, plus the vendors, know where you are and who may be able to best assist.

[DeLorean]

you need a new frame there, rust rust rust.

[lamboman]

I am on the east coast canada...i could get a frame from maine or quebec or ontario no problem if something was available.

[jawn101]

I am on the east coast canada...i could get a frame from maine or quebec or ontario no problem if something was available.

What about from Ohio? ;)

Just be prepared, this isn't a small or cheap job you're considering.

[Kenny_Z]

You're going to have to pull the body but you might be able to get away with having a frame shop build a replacement. They should be able to get all the measurements off that one. I don't know how popular shops like that are in Canada. Odds are a frameshop frame would be a thousand times better than any replacement frame you could get for the same price.

I'd ask some local hot rodders to see if they know of anyone that would tackle it.

[WelmoedJ]

One question hasn't been asked here:
Are you able to do a frame-off yourself?
If so, do you have the facilities (sufficient space for car and parts) and tools (hoist, jack, stands, etc)?

It isn't easy but you can do it yourself and save a lot in labour.
After the frame is bare, you can decide on how to proceed (new frame, rebuild).

[congerz83]

Why do I think there will be a lot of owners checking the undersides of their vehicles today?:eek5:

[Kukem]

Wow! Now I will really have to be extra vigilant when I get one to make sure there is no road salt around! Where on the East Coast are you located?

[Dangermouse]

That's pretty rotten, right there. No way you could repair that on the car. As the above have said, a frame off/replacement is the way to go. Sorry.

Please post a picture of the car, taken as you would normally take a picture for ebay, or whatever.

I would be nice to illustrate how a nice looking car, from the top, can need severe remedial work from below.

[Patrick C]

Isn't Josh Bengston selling SS frames?

[lamboman]

I am able to do the frame replacement here no problem...i have the skills and tools/garage.But finding the frame will be the question.The stainless frame would be an option but i dont think there made anymore?.I dont think i would put a stainless frame on this car anyways.I am looking now for a decent car to replace that has a good frame.But if i can find the right deal on a used frame i will look at that too.

[rundmc]

DMC Europe is developing a new frame - at least, I recall seeing a picture of it a few months ago.

[stevie67cars]

See this thread for some pics of the new Stainless frame I fitted to an owners car in Ireland recently:

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?3399-Restoration-including-fitting-of-Irish-stainless-frame

Stephen
#10213

[lamboman]

That is a really great job.

[lamboman]

I think i am going to find a new car with cleaner frame.Is there any cars currently for sale in canada?

[Nicholas R]

Is it out of the question to do a frame swap? A body frame separation took me about 6 hours. I'd say after they were apart, it would take ~15-20 hours to take parts off of one frame and put them on the other. The difficult part would be all the additional things you would want to address since you have the opportunity. Lots of jobs are a LOT easier without a body and are hard to pass up. Doing it over a weekend ends as soon as you want to order a replacement part.

[17076]

off the top of my head there are at least 6 cars for sale in Ontario. However these are all generally in excellent shape and not candidates for parts. There was a candidate for a possible donor frame that was purchased about 4 months ago north of Toronto. It was VIN 16654 and had a tree growing out of the passengers seat.

The Ontario Club -ODOC- does not know where 16654 has ended up.

[stevedmc]

You really need to replace that frame. I know I'm going to get some smack for saying this, but you should contact Bill Robertson before you spend any money on it. He might have a creative idea to avoid spending tons of money. I seriously doubt he would have a suggestion but it wouldn't hurt to ask for his opinion.

[jawn101]

He might have a creative idea to avoid spending tons of money.

Without any commentary on the 'who', I am scared to think of what a creative idea to fix that much rust without spending a ton of money could possibly be.

[Cory W]

Any "band-aids" that anybody would apply to THAT frame would never pass a Canadian Safety Standards inspection.

I'm maintaining my Replacement Frame stance. It's the least costly option if the rest of the car is complete and intact.

Have you called any of the vendors to see if they have anything sitting around? the worst that can happen is they say "no, we don't have anything" when asked. In no particular order:
-P.J. Grady, West Sayville NY
-DeLorean Performance Industries
-Dave Bauerle
-DMC Florida
-DMC Midwest (Illinois)
-DMC California
-DMC Houston
-DMC Northwest (Washington)

Dropping a line to individual geographic clubs (DMA, Florida, Southeast, Midwest...) may also help you find a frame...you never know what somebody may have or know about.

[stevedmc]

Without any commentary on the 'who', I am scared to think of what a creative idea to fix that much rust without spending a ton of money could possibly be.

Thats why I said he really needs to replace the frame. Bill might have a school bus frame he could use though.

[MartyP]

Hi Lambo !

I<m in Quebec. Just wondering if you are close to me.

[DMCMW Dave]

I'm maintaining my Replacement Frame stance. It's the least costly option if the rest of the car is complete and intact.

.

That's really the big "IF". Generally when you see a frame like that, the rest of everything underneat the car is in the same shape. Given the cost of importing parts into Canada, in the long (and maybe even short) run you'd be better off with a whole other car.

I've seen (and done) a few frame-restoration/replacements, and it's WAY more than the 16 hours work someone mentioned, and the cars we did were cars where the frame rot was very localized either due to a bad spot of epoxy from the factory or an accident causing the epoxy in a small area to come loose long ago. Or a good rolling donor chassis was located.

A long-shot option is a donor car. If you can find a fire-damaged car that was in good shape before the fire, often the rolling frame is the only good part. You don't see these often. Generally an accident hard enough to total the car also bends the frame so crash-cars are not usually good candidates.

[Cory W]

That's really the big "IF". Generally when you see a frame like that, the rest of everything underneat the car is in the same shape. Given the cost of importing parts into Canada, in the long (and maybe even short) run you'd be better off with a whole other car.


You don't need to tell me twice about bringing parts u here, and I've never had to deal with anything "oversize" at this point :) I'd probably make a "vacation" out of picking up locally anyhow...I'm funny like that.

If he buys another car, it may be interesting to figure out what the current one is actually worth in its current state to offset the purchase....or would it simply become a parts vehicle for personal use?

[stevedmc]

My source says this:

"Most of those pics are of the engine cradle, which is actually the easiest area to fix. He needs to post pics of his shock towers, and where the upper links/rear shocks attach.

Somebody has already repaired the crumple extension once before."

[lamboman]

School bus frame?

[sean]

School bus frame?

Tongue in cheek.

[stevedmc]

School bus frame?

You've seen the D Rex haven't you? Why couldn't something like that be done with a school bus frame and suspension?

[lamboman]

Shock towers are in good shape and mid frame area seems good with a little surface rust (por 15 would clean up).The front crumple tube is more surface rust then anything but looks very bad.Either way the crumple tube can be replaced for about $1375.00 USD.The rear engine cradel is the worst and the more concerning problem.But the upper towers are fine and really just the lower cross section and suspension mount point...If i had the body off i think it would be possible to fix up but i dont really have the time to do this right now.I think i would be better off with another car.I can do all mechanical and welding no problem...Just time....

[stevedmc]

And I quote, "You don't have to take the body off to work on the engine cradle -- just remove the rear suspension:
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/417400_339194539459136_100001057778755_1016647_124 4207069_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407973_339194622792461_100001057778755_1016649_230 068868_n.jpg "