[DML] Re: Stainless Frame Features

[Bryan Pearce <bryanp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All:

Great to meet a bunch of you at DCS 2006!

I feel compelled to respond to, what seems to be, an attack on our  
Stainless Steel frame solution for the DeLorean and the effort that  
was required to make this product available to the DeLorean  
community.  While I applaud the effort put forth by John Dore on his  
restoration, I am offended by his comments.  John fails to realize  
the amount of time and effort required to build a stainless steel  
frame for our cars.

Three paragraphs from John's posting talk about loss of design  
features in the Stainless Steel frame.  John states that "In my  
opinion, it doesn't take much effort to keep these little design  
features...".  Let me be very clear that John's opinion in this  
matter reflects his lack of understanding for the fabrication  
process.  John should have realized what he was saying when typing  
the words "stamped design".  If it were our desire to produce the  
stainless frames using a stamped design, at the quantities we are  
producing, the cost per frame would easily exceed $90,000 per frame.   
If we were producing thousands of frames, the cost would be more  
reasonable.

John's second attack on the stainless frames is that you really don't  
need the stainless frame to get the added benefit of strength.  While  
I agree that you can weld in thicker than original material in key  
areas, this is not a complete solution.

I usually don't post commercials to the DML, but in this situation, I  
believe it is warranted.  The improvements of the PDC Stainless Frame  
are:

1.  Stronger overall design using thicker material for construction.   
This results in a frame with much less flex than the original.   
Drivers comments comparing the stock DeLorean frame to the stainless  
steel frame are like comparing night and day.  You can really drive  
the car like a sports car.  One driver commented that the DeLorean  
with the Stainless Frame handled as good or better than his current  
model BMW.

2.  The front crumple tube is removable for easy replacement in the  
event of damage.

3.  The inner diameter of the front shock towers have been made  
slightly wider to eliminate spring noise.

4.  The center section has been engineered to allow for changing a  
frame from a manual transmission to an automatic or an automatic to a  
manual.

5.  The new trailing arm mounting system eliminates forever the  
problem with broken trailing arm bolts and lost spacers.

6.  The rear of the frame is a bolt on section which can be removed  
to allow easier servicing or removal of the engine.

As a a final note, it is important to mention that John's financial  
account of the amount of money required for the "galvanizing  
approach" is lacking some serious analysis.  John's posting would  
lead you to believe that complete frame repair and galvanizing cost  
only $1,200 US.  In order for this to be true, you would have to  
assume that the tools and supplies he used did not have any cost.   
Further, you would have to assume that John's or your time and  
expertise is worth NOTHING.  I know a significant amount of time was  
spent on this frame restoration.  If you lack the ability to perform  
this work yourself, you will have to pay someone to do it.  The big  
problem with this approach is that you have no idea, up front, what  
each individual frame will require.

In 1992 I researched the options available for my DeLorean with a  
seriously rusted out frame.  The stainless steel option was and  
remains the best choice.  While it sounds as if John's frame turned  
out just fine, I am aware of other galvanizing projects that did not  
have a positive outcome.

Last Fall I worked with John to determine shipping and other costs to  
get a Stainless Frame sent to him.  I felt that we had positive  
interaction so I am confused about this attack on my product and the  
effort to produce it.

-- 
===============================================
Bryan Pearce
Pearce Design Components
2N629 Jefferson St.
West Chicago, IL  60185
Phone:   (630) 293-0945
Fax:     (630) 293-0944

DeLorean Part Fabrication
===============================================


On Jun 23, 2006, at 7:11 AM, John Dore wrote:

> The other thing about the stainless frame that I just realised the
> other day, is that the stainless steel frame loses out on a lot of
> the design detail features of the original frame. For example, the
> front frame extension in the stainless frame appears to be missing
> the edge strip on the top and bottom plates (in the center of the
> frame extension). Its hard to explain, but take a look at the
> pictures of the stainless frame on the website
> http://www.deloreancarshow.com and then compare them to the pictures
> of the front of my frame, and you will see what I mean.
>
> There are other areas on the stainless steel frame where again,
> design features are lost, such as the plate under the engine cross
> member with the ribs stamped into it. Or, the pressed holes on the
> bottom of the front frame extension, through which you bolt on your
> steering rack, are now just flat holes. Basically, it seems anywhere
> where there was once a stamped design, it has been replaced by laser
> cut flat pieces. I know that you can argue that these little
> features "are not needed", and that the frame is strong enough
> without them...
>
> In my opinion, it doesn't take much effort to keep these little
> design features, especially for a such a high price tag, and its nice
> to keep the frame looking as original as possible.

> If you're
> thinking that the stainless frame has the additional benefit of extra
> strength over the original frame, you can always do as I did, and
> weld in thicker than original metal in key areas.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





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