Re: What to do about hole in frame...

["Dave Swingle" <swingle@xxxx>]

It should be cut out and have a patch welded in. You should assume 
that most of the frame is load-bearing in some way and should be 
fixed properly. Bolting or riveting a patch in a structural area is 
not generally an acceptable repair. Riveting can be strong if done 
correctly (not pop rivets) but it just creates even more pockets to 
hold moisture and rust again. 

He's right, it's thin sheetmetal and the welder will have to know 
what he's doing. The key is find a good welder. It's like welding 
normal automotive outer body sheet. Afterwards both sides of the 
weld need to be coated/painted.

Another point - I've NEVER run across a car, DeLorean or no, that has 
a half-dollar-size hole rusted in it anywhere without there being a 
lot more rust in other areas that you just haven't found yet. Keep 
looking. Especially inside the front crossmember between the lower 
control arms, the front spring towers, under the steering rack etc.

Dave S

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "supermattthehero" <supermatty@xxxx> 
wrote:
> On my car I have a rust hole in the frame about the size of a half
> dollar. It is located on the rear part of the frame, on the
> underside, at the wide section beneath the passenger-side rear
> suspension mount area. Any recommendations how to take care of 
this?
> One gentleman I spoke with said this part of the frame is not load
> bearing, so I should just scrape off the rust and coat it with POR-
15.
> He also said that its very difficult to weld the DeLorean frame
> because the metal is so thin.