DeLorean Mailing List - 12/01/95
DeLorean Mailing List - 12/01/95
Subjects:
New DMC, starting problem, belt caps
RE: Recalls
RE: Factory dings?
RE: Body dies
Hello Fellow Owners
Angle Drive and Speedometer Cable
Body Dies and where upon they reside
Re: JZD's address
Goodyear NCT tires 4-sale
Re: NCT Tires
--------------------------------------
From: ChrisAU79(AT)aol.com
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 11:30:57 -0500
To: dmcnews(AT)goodnet.com
Subject: New DMC, starting problem, belt caps
My thoughts, for whatever it's worth, on the failure of DMC.
The biggest problem with the DeLorean Company was that John DeLorean spent
too many years with GM and in the atmosphere that is Detroit. He couldn't
comprehend a demand of less than 30,000 units per year. Look at the size of
the plant he built and then compare that to Lotus or any number of other
specialty manufacturers. If he had built a plant to produce 5,000 units per
year I think he would still be in business, and the lack of performance could
have been dealt with in ensuing model years, thereby increasing demand. In
business you always want to have one more customer than capacity. Another
problem was the location of the factory. If your market is North America, why
the hell build the factory in Europe? Goes back to size. Start small, build
the plant where the market is and increase capacity as the demand grows.
Re. starting problem.
If the car starts fine when cold, but won't when hot, the problem is almost
always the "Fuel Accumulator". What this thing does is keep the pressure up
in the fuel delivery system when the car is shut down. If the pressure falls
the heat in the engine compartment causes the fuel to boil, creating a kind
of vapor lock. I've not taken one of these apart but they usually contain a
spring behind a diaphragm and a backflow check valve. The diaphragm has
probably failed.
Re. belt caps.
Suppossed to be a snap fit. Doesn't work. Glue them on with silicone (black).
From: Rob Hook
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 12:17:56 -0500
To: "'Delorean Mailing List'"
Subject: RE: Recalls
I'm going to look at a DeLorean for sale in my area in a few minutes.
The owner stated that the previous, original owner had all of the
recalls for the car performed. Where can I get a list of the recalls?
I'd like to be able to check on them to be sure. How about a
description of the most important ones and a way to spot them if there
is no 'list' anywhere. Thanks...
--Rob Hook
From: Rob Hook
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 12:20:47 -0500
To: "'Delorean Mailing List'"
Subject: RE: Factory dings?
I've noticed on several of the cars I've looked at, a small nick of some
kind on the left front fender. It's about the size of the profile of a
quarter and is always in the same place on the car. It's just above and
to the front of the wheel opening. Has anyone else noticed these? It
looks like something that would happen if the factory equipment used to
handle the fender was missing a rubber boot or something.
--Rob Hook
From: Rob Hook
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 12:16:10 -0500
To: "'Delorean Mailing List'"
Subject: RE: Body Dies
If I'm not mistaken, the salt water will have very little effect on the
body dies. The Smithsonian has several airplane engines which were
recovered from under the sea. The presentation (this was several years
ago) said that the crust formed on them acted as a protectant. The only
thing they had to do to restore them was remove the crust and polish the
metal. I suspect that the body dies are in the same situation. Does
anybody know how far down they are?
--Rob Hook
From:
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 16:39:52 -0600 (CST)
To: "DeLorean Mail List"
Subject: Hello Fellow Owners
I just wanted to send a brief note to tell all subscribers that I am
really excited about subscribing to this list. I had heard of this lists
existance a short time ago, but am now a subscriber. I am a DeLorean nut
and have been through many trials with my car, most recently, having the
frame rust out and collapse. If you have heard about the Stainless Steel
frames, it is my father and I that did the design work and produced the
first one for my car and then rebuilt the car onto it. Needless to say,
I am very familier with the DeLorean inside and out. I love finding out
more about the car and look forward to participating in these discussions.
Happy motoring,
Bryan Pearce
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Michael Chase Clark)
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 23:07:09 -0600
To: "Delorean Mailing List"
Subject: Angle Drive and Speedometer Cable
Hello everyone once again!
I am on to diagnosing another not-totally-unexpected problem with my "new"
DeLorean. The speedometer/odometer failed about 80 miles away from home.
The speedometer started the trip flopping all over the place, but then
slowly became more stable as the trip progressed although it always
underestimated the actual speed (I was passing cars easily on the
Interstate when the gauge read 55 mph). Based on my computations, the trip
was right out 2,000 miles, but the gauge only shows about 1,850 miles
(after figuring in the extra 80 miles when it broke).
Anyway, I was wondering about the best way to diagnose the problem. From
what I can tell the angle drive has one cable connecting to the lamba
counter followed by another cable from the lamba unit to the speedometer
itself. So it seems that the problem could be either the angle drive, one
of the two cables or within the lamba counter itself.
I know that the angle drive and speedo cable are the most likely causes of
the failure. How do I tell if the angle drive has failed. And if by chance
it is a cable, how can I tell which cable is broken.
BTW, I think I have traced the not-starting problem to the Volvo RPM relay
and have a new one on the way. It should be here Friday or Monday so I can
test that out and let everyone know if it worked or not.
As always, thanks alot people!!
~ Chase
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Michael Chase Clark)
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 23:24:26 -0600
To: "Delorean Mailing List"
Subject: Body Dies and where upon they reside
I recently obtained a copy (maybe two) of Stainless Steel Illusion and was
reading about the body dies. To quote the book (written by John Lamm
shortly after the failure of DMC) "The fiberglass underbody was only one of
thousands of parts that went into the construction of a De Lorean, but it
was one of the few actually manufactured at the factory." It continues
later "And then there was that terribly important element of the De Lorean,
the stainless steel body panels, stamped by Lapple (FRG) in West Germany
from sheets that were cut and brushed by BSC Stainless of Sheffield,
England."
If I interpret these statements correctly, the body dies would have resided
in West Germany not at the DMC factory. If this is correct, then how did
the English government ever get hold of the dies and subsequently turn them
into the U.K.'s equivalent of a "coral reef"?
Just a thought rambling through my head.
BTW, it took an investment of $110 million just to get to the point where
the first car rolled down the assembly line. It would be unwise for anyone
to believe it would be possible to begin production again successfully
without a huge investment of capital. Federal regulations have changed and
various components of the car would have to be re-engineered to meet
current safety standards and possibly EPA and MPG guidelines. If JZD
himself has not been able to restart production, then likely only someone
with the clout and cash of Bill Gates or Ross Perot could accomplish it
today.
But if it ever is done, I would want to see:
1) A more powerful engine
2) No British electronic components (i.e. Lucas parts)
3) Complete leather interior (no simulated-leather vinyl on dash and doors)
From: BMims(AT)tyler.net (Bobby Mims)
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 1995 23:14:02 -0600
To: dmcnews(AT)goodnet.com
Subject: Re: DeLorean Info 3x a week!
Thanks for the invitation to join the news letter. I have a 1981 DeLorean
and love it. I've got some transmission governor problems and hope that
some of the the newletter can address some of the automatic transmission
issues and the governor. Also, where can I get manifold gaskets and
exhaust gaskets. My exhaust system and muffler are good but the gaskets
have failed. My DeLorean has only 28,570 miles and is in good shape except
for some upholstery problems and the aforementioned. Pleae put me on the
distribution.
By the way did someone say that they had located John Z and had an address.
What's the chances of his signing on with the newletter?
From: bttf(AT)Traveller.COM (Back to the Futureô...The Fan Club)
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 17:33:02 -0600
To: "Delorean Mailing List"
Subject: Re: JZD's address
>With all the discussion about it recently, I called JZD this afternoon and
>asked him if he had a particular address he would be willing to make
>available to those on the internet who are interested in attempting to
>contact him. He said sure (BTW, he added that I should tell you
>all to "send money" - you can judge for yourself whether or not he was=
joking)
>and asks that any correspondence be directed to this address:
>
>John Z. DeLorean
>Lamington Road
>Bedminster, NJ 07921
>
>So there it is. This will be posted on the DeLorean Mailing List home page,
>so maybe this list will get less of those "What's JZD's address" posts.
>
Well, now that the address has been printed and Mr. DeLorean has given his
blessing, the book that I mentioned before ("1995-1996 Star Guide") lists
the street address as "567 Lamington Road", in case anyone wanted to know
the actual street number.
To Be Continued...
Stephen M. Clark, President
Back to the Future=99...The Fan Club
11101 Cardinal Drive
Madison, AL 35758-5803
Voice/Fax: (205) 230-6288
E-mail: bttf(AT)traveller.com
URL: http://www2.traveller.com/~bttf/
From: "ROBERT KERMAN"
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 95 03:15:47 UT
To: "'dmcnews(AT)goodnet.com'"
Subject: Goodyear NCT tires 4-sale
I have 2 Goodyear NCT rear tires (original from my Oct 1981 Delorean).
They are in 'excellent' condition with 12,410 miles on them. For some reason
the NCT front tires wore out faster and yet these rears are in concorse
excellent shape! Since I had to buy new fronts and could not find any
excellent front Goodyear NCT's, I bought all new 4 Yokahama's.
My 2 rear Goodyear NCT's are for sale to serious concorse Delorean owners
only to the highest offer within a reasonable period of time. Please make
your offer to:
CC Robert D Kerman e-mail KERMAN(AT)msn.com
From: mikasa(AT)goodnet.com (James Espey)
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 06:40:25 -0700
To: "Delorean Mailing List"
Subject: Re: NCT Tires
>From: marv930(AT)ix.netcom.com (Marvin Sterling)
>Subject: Tires & Manuals
>
>The original, and still available tires, are Goodyear NCT's, they are
>HR rated ... the original spec's were going to use Pirelli P7's but
>the NCT's were deemed better. Reprints of the manuals are available
Marv's post not withstanding - I gave up looking for NEW Goodyear NCT's
some time ago as every Goodyeard dealer I called had none and all of them
told me they were no longer manufactured. If they're still available, Marv,
please let me/us know where, so I can get some. I keep looking for a car
for sale that has the original tires, but those are few and far between out
here.
James
From: mikasa(AT)goodnet.com (James Espey)
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 06:40:29 -0700
To: dmcnews(AT)goodnet.com
Subject: Re: Reviving a stored car
>From: Mark Harris
>Subject: Stored Delorean
>
>Is there a authoritative source of information about bringing a Delorean
>back to running condition that has been sitting as parked for several
>years? If so, could someone point me in the correct direction, I'd
The DeLorean One catalog (800-DMC-HELP) put out by Ed Bernstein has a
section in the back that goes into some detail about what to do with such a
car, but I think it assumes that the car was properly stored to begin
with...
James
End of DMC-News Digest #045
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