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Monday, 30 September 1996 Volume 02 : Number 179
In this issue:
Re: Fuel Flap and Grooved Hood
the homecomming
Re: Rob Grady
gas tank
Re: gas tank
Interesting new pieces of DeLorean memorabilia
Re: Rob Grady
parts
Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #177
Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #177
Re: parts
Oil Pressure Gauges
Re: Gas Filler Door
Re: Fuel Flap and Grooved Hood
Concourse Judging
Re: Concourse Judging
Oil Pressure and Idle Speed
Fuel Filler Door
Re: Avanti / Trunk Lid / Finding Parts
Getting keys made
My new radio
My dashboard
Re: Avanti / Trunk Lid / Finding Parts
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Marvin S. Sterling"
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 03:38:53 -0700
Subject: Re: Fuel Flap and Grooved Hood
Chase Clark wrote:
>
> Well, the answers are fairly obvious, but my DeLorean is an '81 model,
> VIN#1529. I do have the fuel flap and the two grooved stripes down the
> sides of my hood.
>
> Also, I have previously heard from others on the list without the fuel flap
> that their hoods have warped slightly at the edges from being opened and
> closed so often to gas up the car. With that being the case, I believe the
> fuel flap is a better engineering solution.
>
No only do you have the warping problem, which I thankfully don't have
but you cannot get gas in the rain unless you can find a covered station
which is hard to find in the burbs of NYC.
Regards,
Marv
------------------------------
From: JAlbin(AT)aol.com
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 13:20:11 -0400
Subject: the homecomming
Rob Grady (P.J. Grady, Inc.) picked up my car on the 11th of march ... with a
promise to get back to me in just a few weeks with an estimate. After a
month, I called him. After two and one-half months I nagged him .... Around
the first of june I told him I was tired of waiting ... I was going to ship
the car south (to Houston). Around the first of july he gave me an estimate
with a planned mid august delivery. Around the first of september the car
was "90 percent there" I threatened to pick it up two weeks ago ... he said
it could possibly be ready ...
This past friday night I stayed over in new york, with plans to pick the car
up bright and early on saurday and drive it home to washington dc. Rob
called the hotel and suggested maybe I should wait until noon. I caught the
10:08am from Penn Station to Sayville. Rob picked me up at the station and
his mechanic (Pat) completed some of the fit and finish items. I checked over
my three page (triple spaced) list of repairs I ha wanted ... all done. I
left west sayville midafternoon on saturday.
The first hour I kept it under 55mph listening for any little unpleasant
sound ... waiting for an unwelcome pull or tug. (I was also lost!) The
second hour, I was getting tired of being passed and moved it up to 65mph.
With two hours to go some where around Newark, Delaware I found it difficult
to keep it under 75mph (until I heard the alarm from my radar detector).
By the time I reach Bethesda, Maryland I had fallen in love again with my
iron mistress.
The moral: Rob Grady is not cheap, (I won't even tell my wife how much I've
spent) he can't manage his time worth a damm, but he does great work!
- - jim albin
------------------------------
From: James Espey
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 96 10:51:34 -0700
Subject: Re: Rob Grady
>The moral: Rob Grady is not cheap, (I won't even tell my wife how much I've
>spent) he can't manage his time worth a damm, but he does great work!
I've heard similar stories about Rob, and even HAD similar (though not as
severe) when ordering parts from Rob. My question to you, Jim, however,
is if you were able to ascertain just how busy the shop was/is at the
time you car was being done?
James
------------------------------
From: jason74(AT)juno.com (Jason T Brown)
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 09:14:12 PST
Subject: gas tank
Where is the gas tank located and how much does it hold? Where
is the filler flap or what ever you call it on the 82's and 83's? I
have always wondered that so when I get my delorean I can know where it
is.
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 13:16:10 -0600
Subject: Re: gas tank
> Where is the gas tank located and how much does it hold? Where
>is the filler flap or what ever you call it on the 82's and 83's? I
The gas tank is a triagular-shape tank wedged in between the "Y" of the
front frame frame. It is located beneath the lussgae trunk in the front of
the car and holds about 13.8 gallons by the manual. In order to add fuel on
an '82 or '83 you must lift the trunk lid to access the fuel cap.
~ Chase
------------------------------
From: James Espey
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 96 12:56:19 -0700
Subject: Interesting new pieces of DeLorean memorabilia
A few months ago I ran across two interesting pieces of DeLorean
memorabila, these being directly related to John Z. DeLorean and
Cristina. I finally got my hands on them and may be receiving more of
them. If you think you might be interested in one or both of these items,
email me and we'll talk.
James
**************************************
April 1984 issue, "Contemporary Christian Magazine". Cover story
interview with Cristina DeLorean, color cover shot of Cristina and 4
inside BW photos. Table of contents reads:"Cristina DeLroean claims that
husband John was framed -- and clings to me Lord for strength -- in this
exclusive interview.
October 1984 issue, "Contemporary Christian Magazine". Cover story
interview with John Z. DeLorean "His Fall, His Fight, His Faith". Nice BW
cover photo, 1 color inside and 4 BW inside Lorean photos. Table of
contents reads:"The jury found him 'not guilty' of conspiracy to
distribute cocaine. The accused now stands free -- and freely shares his
testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
November 1984 issue, "Contemporary Christian Magazine". Part two of
previous months cover story interview with John Z. DeLorean "His Fall,
His Fight, His Faith". In this issue, John Z. DeLorean discusses the
Justice Department, the press, his attorneys, Christian media and prayer.
------------------------------
From: "Marvin S. Sterling"
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 17:16:33 -0700
Subject: Re: Rob Grady
James Espey wrote:
>
> >The moral: Rob Grady is not cheap, (I won't even tell my wife how much I've
> >spent) he can't manage his time worth a damm, but he does great work!
>
> I've heard similar stories about Rob, and even HAD similar (though not as
> severe) when ordering parts from Rob. My question to you, Jim, however,
> is if you were able to ascertain just how busy the shop was/is at the
> time you car was being done?
>
> James
- -----------------------------
Jim,
I live about two hours from Rob's shop. Anytime that I have had the
fortitude to bring my D to him for "major" work I have seen no less than
10 -12 cars in the lot. The trouble is that he is the only true D
specialist on the east coast.
Regards,
Marv Sterling
------------------------------
From: jason74(AT)juno.com (Jason T Brown)
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 17:37:44 PST
Subject: parts
What parts are hard to find on a delorean. I was thinking of fixing one
up.
------------------------------
From: TEXASLDY22(AT)aol.com
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 21:28:10 -0400
Subject: Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #177
We have some new Delorean parts still in the oroginal boxes for sale. If any
one is interested; please e-mail me.
------------------------------
From: stormrider(AT)socketis.net (Chase Clark)
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 21:08:52 -0600
Subject: Re: dmcnews-digest V2 #177
>We have some new Delorean parts still in the oroginal boxes for sale. If any
>one is interested; please e-mail me.
I'm sure lots of people are interested depending on the parts. How about
listing them, along with prices if you have set them. If not, you might
want to put the items up for an email auction via the mailing list. Others
have done it before with success.
~ Chase
------------------------------
From: "Falcon"
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 21:02:12 -0700
Subject: Re: parts
Say, you den't something, or need a new pump, or some other screw...what do
you do?
- ----------
> From: Jason T Brown
> To: dmcnews(AT)world.std.com
> Subject: parts
> Date: Sunday, September 29, 1996 6:37 PM
>
> What parts are hard to find on a delorean. I was thinking of fixing one
> up.
------------------------------
From: WINGD2(AT)aol.com
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 01:22:48 -0400
Subject: Oil Pressure Gauges
As Bruce Benson mentioned in the last newsletter: A while back I played
a little with the oil pressure gauge thing. Mine was also pegged all the
time. In order to find out what was actually going on, I installed a 1/8 tee
into the sending unit connection and installed a manual pressure gauge. I
also installed a sending unit for which I had resistence ratings at variuos
PSI ratings. I then took readings from both the manual gauge and the dash
gauge at various RPMs. By comparing these readings, I was able to calculate
the correct required resistence ratings for the sending unit. The closest
sending unit I could find was a "WELLS" brand - model PS 136 from a local
Auto Zone store.
After installing this unit I again ran the test and found the dash gauge
now read correctly with the manual gauge. With the engine warm, I've got
15PSI at idle up to approx 70PSI at 2500 RPM. All these tests were run on
10w40 motor oil, which is what I run year round. I've also run these with
20w50 oil and found both gauges to be pegged at a much lower RPM.
This sending unit is also a slight bit smaller in OD then the original,
which helps with the oil filter thing. I currently run a stock Volvo filter
and it just clears the sending unit.
Naturally, all the normal disclaimers apply. Marty
Maier
------------------------------
From: malevy(AT)lucent.com
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 9:09:55 +0100
Subject: Re: Gas Filler Door
>My DeLorean is an '81 .. vin# 4181 and it DOES NOT have any indentations
------------------------------
From: malevy(AT)lucent.com
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 9:31:41 +0100
Subject: Re: Fuel Flap and Grooved Hood
>And I do not spill gasoline all over my hood either. Generally I
carefully
>insert the pump nuzzle by holding it upright until it is above the fuel
>line. I add fuel only slowly as it often shuts off at higher speeds
(must
>be pressure building up from curve or narrowness of fuel pipe down to
the
>tank). Once it is filled, I turn off the pump and let the remaining fuel
in
>the nozzle drain out before removing it. A pretty simple and non-messy
>approach in my opinion
The government of New Jersey thinks that majority of the general public
in New Jersey are too stupid to pump gas. For this reason we have highly
skilled and trained Gas attendants (Yea Right!). Some stations dont care
if you pump your own gas, while other yell and scream at you if you try.
100% of the time when I let the attendant fill the tank, gas gets all
over the place and stinks up the trunk. The smell gets sucked in to the
car, and it's a big mess.... To add to the fiasco, the tank is never
"Full" because they were filling it too fast. It is kinda cool when the
pump "pops" and the mini guiser of gas squirts out of the filler hole.
Marc
------------------------------
From: J W Hodgson
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 10:06:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Concourse Judging
James, The third place car in the Concourse had 40.5 points deducted, so
even the first place car must have had about 20 points deducted!
Name: J. W. Hodgson
Address: Mechanical Engineering Dept e-mail: jhodgson(AT)utk.edu
414 Dougherty Hall
The University of Tennessee voice: (423) 974-5294
Knoxville, TN 37996-2210 fax: (423) 974-5274
------------------------------
From: James Espey
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 96 07:42:04 -0800
Subject: Re: Concourse Judging
>James, The third place car in the Concourse had 40.5 points deducted, so
>even the first place car must have had about 20 points deducted!
Owwww! Talk about salt in a wound! I was 2 points away from placing in
the top three! Oh man, as if it just being Monday wasn't bad enough, now
I've got THIS to dwell on all day! Thanks for filling me in - anyone know
either of the other two finishers and what they're results were?
James
------------------------------
From: magriese(AT)VNET.IBM.COM
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 96 07:22:08 CDT
Subject: Oil Pressure and Idle Speed
With all this discussion regarding oil pressure, I paid a little
closer attention to mine over the weekend. At idle, my guage
is a little below the middle mark, at around 3500 rpm it is
about halfway between the middle mark and the top. Oil was
topped off, temp normal. The car has about 34000 miles on it
and it does not use any measureable oil between changes.
For those of you with slightly faster idle, take a look at your
throttle. Attached to the throttle recoil should be a small
bracket with a screw in it. This screw should contact an
idle sense switch directly below it. With your car at idle,
press on this switch (gently - it doesn't have much throw).
You should see an immediate drop in rpm. If this happens,
your fast idle can be fixed by adjusting the screw until it
contacts the switch.
Mike Griese
magriese(AT)vnet.ibm.com
------------------------------
From: magriese(AT)vnet.ibmc.om
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 96 08:05:41 CDT
Subject: Fuel Filler Door
I have a theory that the changes to the hood over the production
run was more of a cost reduction than anything else. Each
change made the hood less expensive to produce.
The comment about the hood deforming because of the fuel door
is probably true. If you have the fuel door, make sure you
open the hood from the center near the latch instead of on the
corner outside of the fuel door. This will put less torque on
the hood.
Mike Griese
magriese(AT)vnet.ibm.com
------------------------------
From: Mike Substelny
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 12:31:16 -0400
Subject: Re: Avanti / Trunk Lid / Finding Parts
AVANTI
James wrote:
>IMO, a company that still has market viability and relatively
>low start-up costs would be the former Avanti Motor
>Company. Right now the Avanti convertible is one of the
>hottest cars in status conscious So. Cal. All the tooling for
>the 2 door hardtop and convertible (and designs for a
>sedan, too, I think) is sitting in a warehouse, waiting for
>someone with approx. $3M to put it back into production.
In 1987 the Avanti plant moved from South Bend, Indiana to
Youngstown, Ohio. It's only an hour from my house, and I've
often thought of looking into it. The Cleveland Plain Dealer
recently ran pictures of the silent assembly line, with
half-finished Avantis at various stations. They were still
making the fiberglass bodied, Corvette-powered Avanti as
recently as 1991!
Unlike the DeLorean factory, which was dismantled with
some tooling dropped into the sea, I think the Avanti plant is
still sitting there waiting for someone with cash. BTW, I
think they actually did produce the long-body sedan for a
while, so that tooling probably exists already.
Much info about the Avanti, Avanti II, Avanti convertible, and
other stuff can be found at:
http://www.classicar.com/articles/studeart/studeart.html
Of course, if I had $3M I could find something better to do
with it. But running my own car company sure would be fun!
TRUNK LID
My car is an early 1981 vin#1280. My lid has the gas flap,
locking gas cap, and styling lines. There *is* a slight
warping of the lid in the same corner as the flap, which
makes that corner stick up about 1/16". I expect the warping
was the main reason for eliminating the gas flap, which robs
that corner of strength. A better alternative would have been
to run a rigid stainless member across the entire underside
of the top of the lid. Of course, this would have been an
expensive solution.
I have dribbled fuel on the stainless lid a few times. I was
very glad my car was not painted! A few drops of gasoline
had no apparent effect on the stainless whatsoever.
BTW I have never seen a visible "X" showing through my lid.
If washing the car is a factor, I want to point out that I have
*never* used stainless cleaner on my car. I always use a
mild solution of dish detergent with lots of fresh, clean, Lake
Erie water. My theory: If it leaves a fork clean enough to eat
with, it will leave a DeLorean clean enough to drive.
FINDING PARTS:
Jason T. Brown asked:
>What parts are hard to find on a delorean. I was thinking of
>fixing one up.
I always love an opportunity to let possible DeLorean buyers
know that the car is more practical than they think. I believe
this helps keep demand up.
Many of the original DeLorean parts were "off-the-shelf" and
can be replaced by parts sold for other cars. These include
Volvo, Jaguar, Lotus, and GM. It is wise to replace some
Lucas-built electricals with Bosch (anything beats Lucas).
Stainless steel body parts, frame, interior, and other
DeLorean-only parts are harder to come by, but even they
are available. For a price.
There are also alternatives. As you can tell from this list,
many people upgrade and customize the sound system,
tires, suspension, frame, interior, etc. Some companies (eg.
PJ Grady) sell certain replacement parts that are superior to
the originals. You have many options with a DeLorean. To
get an idea, read the back issues of the DML. Once you are
serious about buying a DeLorean you should join the DOA.
- -Mike Substelny
------------------------------
From: "Mr. THX"
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:18:54 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Getting keys made
Hi all,
I've had my car for about amonth, and I've been having one hell of
a time getting new keys made for it. If you tell someone it's for a
DeLorean they don't even bother TRYING to look for a replacement. I went
to Sears in Edison, NJ this past weekend and gave it another shot. The
attendent there took the time to look and found the following:
Geo 1990-94
Cole B65
This was a perfect replacement. Worked on the first shot. Hope
this helps anyone out there.
Mike
------------------------------
From: "Mr. THX"
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:24:29 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: My new radio
Hi all,
As I stated a few days back, I was having a CD player put in my
DMC. The installer at the Wiz in Union (Paul) was very knowlegable and got
the job done cleanly. Here's how it worked: the hole was cut while the
support was still in place. The bottom of the hole lined up with the
bottom of the previous middle hole of the shaft driven radio. With that,
there's more than enough room and support for the din-mounted radio. No
problem!
As for the electrical system, there was a problem. Apparently
there was some recall done for the electrical system due to radio
interference. There's some kind of black-plastic-shrinkwrapped doohickie
that's attached between the connector for the radio's electrical system
and the radio itself. Hooking up the radio to the power supply AFTER that
doohickie caused the radio to turn itsefl off at high volume. We had to
bypass the doohickie to get the radio to work at a reasonable volume with
no power loss. All we bypassed was the one main hot lead, the rest stayed
intact.
Hope this gives comfort to anyone thinking about replacing the
shaft radio. If anyone's thinking about using an RF CD changer, forget it.
I finally heard one and the sound quality is lousy. Do yourself a favor
and get the job done right.
Mike
------------------------------
From: "Mr. THX"
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 13:25:36 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: My dashboard
Hi all,
I finally looked under this ugly dashboard cover this weekend. The
dashboard above the instrument panel is shot to hell. What replacement
options do I have? I really hate this cover that's on there now.
Mike
------------------------------
From: Paul Parkanzky
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 14:22:18 -0400
Subject: Re: Avanti / Trunk Lid / Finding Parts
It is wise to replace some
>Lucas-built electricals with Bosch (anything beats Lucas).
(rant)
Hey, as a Brit. Car fanatic as well as a Delorean enthusiast, I've got to
say that although Lucas electronics may not be the most predictable,
reliable, safe, cheap, etc. etc. They often help to give the car its
romance. Although I don't currently own a DMC (I'm looking :) I've
restored a '74 MGB, and I must say that w/out the Lucas problems (More than
I can count), it would have been quite the boring, cut-and-dry job. I guess
it comes down to what you want the car for. If you want a daily-driver,
sure, jack it up and build a new car underneath and it will be as reliable
as a '95 Olds or any other newer car (but it will be that much less
Delorean); But I for one appreciate originality as well as the occasional
problem associated w/ owning and driving a real collector's item, even if
that does mean getting stranded at the side of the road on occasion.
(/rant)
Whew, sorry. Don't know what got into me.
Paul (typing w/the flame-proofed gloves) Parkanzky
**************************************
Paul Parkanzky KB8NPO
Lima Hall Rm 39
Ohio Northern University
e-mail: p-parkanzky(AT)onu.edu
Phone: (419)-772-1665
**************************************
------------------------------
End of dmcnews-digest V2 #179
*****************************
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