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Friday, 12 April 1996 Volume 02 : Number 100
In this issue:
Subscriber count as of 4/10/96
Swedish Auto no longer in the DMC business!
re: So...( what would they be like today)
JZD
Clutch Slave, A/C
Battery trouble
Looking for DeLorean
Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
buy radio
Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
Advice on Cheap DeLoreans
Celebrities and DeLoreans
Lost Issue & Auto Transmissions
[none]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: James Espey
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 96 19:21:11 -0700
Subject: Subscriber count as of 4/10/96
In response to someone who asked - the DeLorean mailing List now has 246
subscribers.
James Espey
List-Owner, DMCNews
------------------------------
From: jory bell
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 00:16:52 -0700
Subject: Swedish Auto no longer in the DMC business!
I was sad to learn that as of tomorrow (4/12/96) Swedish Automotive will no
longer be in the Delorean business. All parts inquiries will be referred to
PJ O'Grady, who purchased whatever constituted SA's DMC business.
I was sad to see this happen, as Tim at Swedish was quite helpful in a down
to earth fashion I have not found at the other DMC houses. Their prices
were quite competetive.
- -jory
------------------------------
From: aerostar(AT)ccia.com
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 09:38:04 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: re: So...( what would they be like today)
RedGTV6(AT)aol.com asks:
If J.Z.D.'s company was still alive today, what kind of cars do you
think he'd be selling now? Would there still be gullwing DeLoreans?
Eric sez:
There was some some mention of the DMC-24; a four door luxury sedan in a
few books. I have never seen an artist's rendering, so it probably never
got very far. Imagine a four door gullwing car. Due to structural concerns,
this would be a true four door, instead of a long single door on both
sides. Too bad it never happened, since we might have a few "my four door
can beat your two door" posts here. At any rate, this would have been the
only four door gullwing vehicle ever (correct me if I'm wrong).
Where did the idea of the DMC-24 come from? Probably from JZD himself: back
in his days at Pontiac, he had an idea for a Pontiac limousine to compete
with the offerings of Ford (Lincoln stretch that drove JFK, LBJ around).
The fun part is: what would a 1996 DMC-12 look like?
Well, around 1985 the front end would have been streamlined. The grille
would have been tweaked and peaked for the addition of flush headlights.
But just not yet.
In 1987 the front grille may have disappeared altogether. We could see
flush headlights, or maybe retracting. The rear end will see some softening
too. Picture the 1988 Firebird.
Welcome to 1992. The overall design would see a general softening with all
new body panels, but still with a low and wide design.
New for 1997; the redesigned DMC-12! Plenty of ellipses to go around. Loopy
to the hilt. If it works for the Ford Taurus, why not us? Even the radio is
designed with an ellipse.
Well, maybe not. Sure, there would have been the obvious mechanical
upgrades, but I would hope that the original DMC-12 design would have found
a place in a 1997 showroom without too much messing around with.
Eric
------------------------------
From: 00dnslater(AT)bsuvc.bsu.edu
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 07:44:01 -0500 (EST)
Subject: JZD
If J.Z.D. were still making cars today, he would be making
EXPENSIVE exotics, probably resembling luxury Lotuses.
Nick Slater
------------------------------
From: Donald Bies
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 09:26:40 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Clutch Slave, A/C
My slave cylinder for the clutch is sprouting oil. Anyone know a
substitute part?
Also, the air conditioning is not quite putting out cool air. Since
the warm weather is approaching, I need to get it looked at/recharged.
Any suggestions before having the work done? What to look out
for/cautions/special needs?
Oh, and one more thing...intermittent wipers. I don't mean the
setting, I mean that occasionally they work and occasionally they don't.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Don Bies
bies(AT)kerner.com
------------------------------
From: Virginia Mason Hodges
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 12:34:50 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Battery trouble
Dear friends on the net,
Just recently I have been having trouble with the
battery. I'm pretty sure that the doors were completely closed
and all the interior lights were turned off, yet the battery
was drained in less then twenty four hours. This has happened
a couple times in the last two days. Has anyone had a similar
problem. I'm pretty sure it is not the battery.
Secondly, If anyone knows of a delorean for sale on the
east coast please let me know. My father misses the delorean
since I took it to school and is interesting in buying a second
one.
Sincerely,
Virginia Hodges
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 11:45:05 -0600
Subject: Looking for DeLorean
Hello all:
Some of you already know that I have received a tremendous offer on my 1981
DeLorean and am seriously considering it despite my love for the car. IF I
do work out a deal and sell it, I will be looking to buy another very
shortly afterward. I've already scanned the ads on the Web and picked out
about 10-15 possible candidates for my next baby and figured some of you
may know of others that are for sale but not on the Internet.
My dream would be to purchase another early-production 1981 DeLorean, low
mileage, one owner, 5-speed, black interior, no dents, no dings, no deep
scratches, no cracks in dash, seats or remainder of interior. And also with
all factory recalls and recommended updates performed and no mechanical
problems, as well as being lowered to originally-intended height and a
twin-turbo system. All this for $20,000 or less.
This may not be possible, but now that I have gone through purchasing one
last year, I am going to be a much more knowledgable buyer this time
around. Buying blindly worked once before, but I don't believe in pushing
my luck too often in a single year.
Thanks!
~ Chase
Stormrider Media Productions
Chase Clark, Co-Owner
P.O. Box 105301
Jefferson City, Missouri 65110-5301
Voice/Fax (573)635-0622
Email: stormrider(AT)socketis.net
------------------------------
From: "M.Burns"
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 16:52:34 -0700
Subject: Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
Hi. First time recipient to the digest (or any listserv for that matter) so hope this
first post gets through. I have an '82, bought used with approx 15K miles (broke and
replaced speedo cable so mileage not exact). Incidently I work in Lakewood (Cleveland)
Ohio about 200 yards from DeLorean Cadillac. Chuck is John's brother I think. Even see
a couple of DMC's sitting there on occasion. Don't know if they are there for service or
sale(?).
Expect to have a number of questions over the next few weeks. Hope the group can help
me. My wife bought the car against my wishes years ago ago, then put it in the barn,
and I don't spend a lot of time with it.
I'm refitting a constant velocity joint rubber boot and have wonder if these complete
assemblies were standard for some Renault, or Puegot, or ? Have not seen them in the
Delorean One catalog. Anybody know about the availability or expense if the joint goes
bad and I want to replace it? Also would like to know if I have a droopy door is it
more likely the gas strut or a matter of adjusting the torsion bar?
Thanks
Milt in Ohio
------------------------------
From: "M.Burns"
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 16:52:34 -0700
Subject: Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
Hi. First time recipient to the digest (or any listserv for that matter) so hope this
first post gets through. I have an '82, bought used with approx 15K miles (broke and
replaced speedo cable so mileage not exact). Incidently I work in Lakewood (Cleveland)
Ohio about 200 yards from DeLorean Cadillac. Chuck is John's brother I think. Even see
a couple of DMC's sitting there on occasion. Don't know if they are there for service or
sale(?).
Expect to have a number of questions over the next few weeks. Hope the group can help
me. My wife bought the car against my wishes years ago ago, then put it in the barn,
and I don't spend a lot of time with it.
I'm refitting a constant velocity joint rubber boot and have wonder if these complete
assemblies were standard for some Renault, or Puegot, or ? Have not seen them in the
Delorean One catalog. Anybody know about the availability or expense if the joint goes
bad and I want to replace it? Also would like to know if I have a droopy door is it
more likely the gas strut or a matter of adjusting the torsion bar?
Thanks
Milt in Ohio
------------------------------
From: Shela Barker aka Scarlet
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 02:22:42 +0000
Subject: buy radio
Disregard above name. This is Thomas again...I am looking for a Craig
radio for my '81. The tape player doesn't have to work, just the
display and the lower radio stations(80.'s). Do not bother me if you
want over $170 (lets be realistic here!). Mail me at
tpm3(AT)dana.ucc.nau.edu
------------------------------
From: Delornut(AT)aol.com
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 17:49:20 -0400
Subject: Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #99
Re fuel distributor woes:
The fuel distributor is NOT rebuildable. All bosch books specificaly spell
out the fact you should not disassemble it. New ones run closer to $1000 than
$500 if you can find one. I'd suggest scrounging through the salvage yards
for a used one out of a late seventies through early eighties 2.8 liter, B28F
Volvo engine. Make sure it's a car with the Lamba system. Bosch fuel
injection parts are pretty much shelf items so it's very possible that other
six cyl. cars using the K-Jetronic fuel injection with the Lamba sensor would
work. I have heard of someone experimenting with a Porsche distributor to try
for more fuel delivery with a turbo charger.
DeLornut
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 18:40:35 -0600
Subject: Advice on Cheap DeLoreans
Dan:
I was crazy enough to buy a red 1981 DeLorean (VIN#1529) sight-unseen for
$9,000 in November. It was a very big gamble and I expected to have to
spend $5,000 to make it reliable enough for everyday use. I immediately
spent $2,300 for a new clutch and other little items. Since then I've spent
about $700 more and place the cost to finish the restoration at
$2,000-$3,000.
I am now in the market (perhaps) for another DeLorean and have come to
realize that most any DeLorean will cost $15,000 or more if you want it as
an everyday car. As a collector's car that will rarely be driven and kept
for eons, a cheaper one might not be too bad if you enjoy tinkering with
them. But it will eventually cost $15,000 to $20,000 before you're done
with it.
I would avoid any that have had major engine problems or body damage. The
front fender on the driver's side cost $4,000 nowadays I have heard. Plus,
if the SS304 panels have been dented very much, they may not be repairable
and the fiberglass body beneath them is likely to have been damaged as
well.
~ Chase
Stormrider Media Productions
Chase Clark, Co-Owner
P.O. Box 105301
Jefferson City, Missouri 65110-5301
Voice/Fax (573)635-0622
Email: stormrider(AT)socketis.net
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 18:43:59 -0600
Subject: Celebrities and DeLoreans
BTW, In reference to your last question...
Johnny Carson invested $500,000 in DMC and received a DeLorean for free.
The Ducellier alternator failed on him when he was driving it home after
receiving it! Definitely, was not good for public relations to have one
break down on the nation's leading late-night figure at that time.
Oh, don't forget 70's film star Troy McClure on The Simpsons also drove a
DeLorean, albeit a paper and ink one.
Stormrider Media Productions
Chase Clark, Co-Owner
P.O. Box 105301
Jefferson City, Missouri 65110-5301
Voice/Fax (573)635-0622
Email: stormrider(AT)socketis.net
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 1996 21:58:59 -0600
Subject: Lost Issue & Auto Transmissions
Well, Issue #98 from Monday never completed the journey to my mailbox and I
was wondering if someone would be so kind as to send my a copy of it via
email. I'd get it from the web site, but we all know James has been busy
and therefore hasn't updated the archives in a while. But that's OK.
Also, I was curious about how prevalent the problem with the computer that
governs the transmission in automatic DeLoreans are? I keep reading about
the computer going bad (sometimes within a few hundred miles of being
replaced). I have been considering purchasing a "secondary" DeLorean which
my girlfriend could drive from time to time, but am very cautious about
doing so because of this problem. It seems like it may be simplier and
cheaper in the long run to buy another 5-speed and teach her how to drive
it.
Yes, yes, the purchase of three DeLoreans within a year's time would be
outrageous, but like I said earlier, the offer on my present one is REALLY
good.
~ Chase
Stormrider Media Productions
Chase Clark, Co-Owner
P.O. Box 105301
Jefferson City, Missouri 65110-5301
Voice/Fax (573)635-0622
Email: stormrider(AT)socketis.net
------------------------------
From: DAdams42(AT)aol.com
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 00:20:17 -0400
Subject: [none]
ry Bell's question about starting problems:
Occasionally, my D will not start. If I let it sit, sometimes it will fire.
The only difference that I can detect is this: when things are working fine,
and I give it a short crank (and let off before it fires), you can here the
fuel pump churn for a little bit. When things are not working, you don't
hear the pump. After doing a bit of sluething in the manuals, I learned that
the fuel pump won't pump if the computer doesn't think the motor is turning.
It learns this via a magnetic pickup on the distributer. After tracking
wires around, I was led to the brainbox behind the driver's seat, under the
rear deck. Of course, it started working when I got that far. So now, if
I'm out somewhere and it won't start and I don't hear the fuel pump, I get
out, tilt the seat, lift the deck cover, knock on the box and jiggle the
connectors, and try again. It always works. One of these days, I'm going to
take the box out and clean all of the connections, etc. Just as soon as I
get some spare time... I don't know if this is the same intermittent problem
that you are having, but a sure way to tell is to listen for the fuel pump
after you let off the key. Get used to what it sounds like when it's
working, and compare to when it is not.
- ---dennis adams
madison, wi
------------------------------
End of dmcnews-digest V2 #100
*****************************
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