Re: [DML] Re: Driving DMC on salted roads --- Plasti Dip

["Tom" <dmctom@xxxxxxxxx>]

Claude,

I believe you over estimate the flexibility of the body and the importance 
of the door to provide overall stiffness.
After hearing all those stories about cracking a windshield when lifting a 
car with the door open I was always very careful when jacking the car up. I 
always made sure the door was closed and that I didn't leave anything inside 
the car so I didn't have to open the door with the car up in the air. 
Recently though, I have proved this not to be true. It's more of an urban 
legend.
My car is currently sitting with it's frame removed. To make things even 
worst the rear window glass is missing after my workshop accident. I've 
heard stories that the rear window is also a structural piece and needs to 
be in place for safe door operation. I tried keeping the doors closed for 
when I was in the process of frame removal afraid the windshield might 
crack. As it turns out the frame has NO effect at all. I did some tests and 
with the frame removed I've lifter the body on one corner to see if that 
will affect the operation of the door. There was absolutely no change.
I can safely open and close the doors with the car supported on just two 
corners. There is no change in geometry of the body. If there was the door 
would bind and would be difficult to open/close. Since I didn't notice ANY 
change I can safely say that the operation of the door does not have any 
effect on forces present on the windshield.
I will do some more testing as I have two cars with cracked windshields. I 
will try to lift the car and twist the body with the doors open to see of 
there is any effect at all. But, I am not afraid of cracking my windshield 
anymore. I work on my frameless car with the doors up without any fear.

YMMV, of course...


Greetings from Poland!
Tom Niemczewski
Vin 6149 plus 2418, 3633, 5030, 16473, 17086
Google earth: 52°25'17.66"N, 21° 1'58.40"E
www.deloreana.com

-----Original Message----- 
From: cbl302@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2014 4:41 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Driving DMC on salted roads --- Plasti Dip

With the majority of Delorean frames in uncertain states of rust..is it 
really worth risking a cracked windshield..with the door(s) open  and 
jacking up with a homeowner floor jack on ONE corner of the car..you are 
most definitely stressing out the structure of the Delorean..and anything 
can happen.

claude
1024
bric

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, <jamettee@...> wrote:
>
> Claude,
>  While the doors are definitely a structural part of the car, you can most 
> definitely lift the car off the ground with the doors open. I've done it a 
> number of times on my 2-post lift & I have also seen pictures of the DMC 
> shops with cars on lifts with doors open. I don't make it a habit on my 
> car & only do it when I still need access to the interior, but it can 
> definitely be done.
>
>
>  I've also jacked a car up at 1 point with a jack to change a wheel. 
> Granted the doors were closed when I did this, I don't believe it would be 
> much different with the doors open. There may have been a few instances of 
> cracked glass, but I believe it is a myth that's greatly been exaggerated 
> in the DMC community.
>
>
>  Justin Mettee
>  VIN 02075
>
>
> ---In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, <cbl302@> wrote:
>
>  Wayne.. most of the flex has to do with the frame flexing/twisting.. if 
> you jack up a delorean with the door(s)open...as some owners had found out 
> the hard way..when they found that their windshields cracked when they 
> jacked up their deloreans with the doors open..even cases where the rear 
> window cracked/broke..the doors act as a rigid part of the built in safety 
> cage and integral part of making the delorean frame and black body into a 
> rigid structure. NEVER jack up a delorean with the doors open..not even 
> with one of the doors open.
>
>  Also that is one of the reasons why Lotus had to use toll booth 
> windows..if you had/have a one piece window that could open..you would 
> lose some of the integrity that was engineered into the doors..since the 
> majority of the weight of the delorean door is on the lower half, below 
> the window...no matter how the delorean door was structurally engineered 
> the vertical side pillars on the doors,especially where they bend towards 
> the roof will ALWAYS be the weak points...and they truly did a lot of 
> engineering to overcome that problem..but still...they will bend in the 
> right situation.
>
>  Claude
>  1024
>  Bric
>




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