Esprit frames were coated after they were assembled, avoiding the problems with welding zinc-coated steel. -- Mike -------------- Original message from "David Teitelbaum" <jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>: -------------- > I didn't say you couldn't build a frame out of galvanized sheet metal, > I only said there are enginering compromises which must be made. Later > model Lotus Esprit's all have galvanized frames. The zinc coating adds > weight and cost. It also costs more to weld. The tips on the > resistance welders must use a much more expensive materiel and they > have to be dressed and changed more often. There are also toxic fumes > that must be controled. The welds must be retouched after welding to > repair the zinc coating. You have to keep in mind that the costs of > building the car kept going up and it was taking them longer than they > had planned to get the first cars off the line. For all we know the > epoxy coated frame was only used to get things going and future plans > would have been to perfect the EPRM or maybe galvanize the metal > frame. What we have is really 2 years worth of production with a lot > of it in the beginning rolling prototypes! On most production lines > the product matures. They get better and better and cheaper and > cheaper to build. DMC did not have that. > David Teitelbaum > vin 10757 To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/