questions about turbo and reliability

[EKap]

Thinking about purchasing a Delorean. Saw this car on auto trader for under $18,000.


"VIN 1776, still stainless exterior with black interior, and turbocharged PRV 6 cylinder engine with EFI & megasquirt"

Anyone familiar with EFI and megasquirt? What does this mean and is this something to stay away from?

Eric

[Ikeaboy1]

I suppose it depends on who set it all up. EFI/mega squirt(que Peter Griffin laugh) is a modern fuel injection system meant to replace the antiquated K-jet injection the cars came with originally. As long as the installer knew what they were doing, the EFI conversion could make the car more reliable and efficient.

Assuming the car is in decent shape, and runs well, $18,000 for an EFI car sounds pretty good.

[jackb]

EFI is Electronic Fuel Injection, compared to K-Jet, which is mechanical fuel injection, and the way the car came from the factory. Most Deloreans have K-Jet still installed. Some people modify them with EFI or carbs.
Megasquirt is the program that runs the EFI.

[David T]

If the car has a M/S system, it has been modified. A LOT depends on how well it was done and how much was documented. Before buying such a car you would be well served to have it looked over by a Delorean specialist. You may find it difficult to find someone who can properly service the car and without documentation you wouldn't know what parts to buy for service. Unless you are very knowledgeable about this kind of stuff and like to "tinker", it can get very expensive very quickly to have anyone work on this car.
David Teitelbaum

[DMCMW Dave]

Assuming the car is in decent shape, and runs well, $18,000 for an EFI car sounds pretty good.

Yeah - there are a lot of "assuming" comments on this one. . . .

Assuming the seller isn't selling it because he never figured out how to get the MS-EFI Turbo combination actually running. . . :eek1:

[hollywood2311]

If anyone remembers Ed Ghesquiere (who did his own turbo install, and later installed the Toyota Supra engine into his DeLorean (http://www.zoommagazine.com.au/node/166)), he's the one who did the install. He took his time with it to make sure it was right. It starts and runs 100x better with his EFI setup rather than the K-jet that was on it.

[Ikeaboy1]

Then $18000 sounds like a deal. Ed's work on the Supra/Delorean was amazing. I'm sure his work on 1776 was excellent, too.

[congerz83]

and later installed the Toyota Supra engine into his DeLorean.


Just kill me now! :bang: If I'm ever able to do a conversion like that, shooting myself will be quicker and less-painfull. At least less painful than totalling a car like that. I could never be left alone with anything that fast! :dead:

[vwdmc16]

$18000 sounds much too low for a good car with such improvements, BUY IT!

[Jeff K]

Here is the ad

http://www.autotrader.com/find/used-DeLorean-for-sale-Greensboro-27401.jsp

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=316527689&dealer_id=67035173&car_year=1981&make_desc=DeLorean&distance=100&address=27401&origuri=%2Ffind%2Fused-DeLorean-for-sale--Greensboro-27401.jsp&model_desc=&search_type=used&cardist=99&standard=false

[EKap]

Thanks all for your comments. Very helpful!
I will call the owner to get more information.
Eric

[David T]

As much as it looks "Like a Deal" it should still be evaluated as to how well it runs and how well it is documented. In many cases the PO spends more on the car than he can ever sell it for. Sometimes it turns out good, sometimes "not so good". At the very least any potential buyer should completely understand what is is really buying. That may take a PPI (Pre Purchase Inspection) by someone who knows what he is looking at. It will be money well spent. You are going to take the car to him (or him to the car) either BEFORE you buy it or after. If it is after you buy it and you hear bad news it is too late.
David Teitelbaum

[hollywood2311]

As much as it looks "Like a Deal" it should still be evaluated as to how well it runs and how well it is documented.

I have all the photos and invoices from all the parts, as well as all the documentation from the previous setup (BAE turbo/K-Jet), not to mention I still have all those parts in a box that goes with the car. You know, just in case the next owner is clinically insane, and wants to put K-jet back on.

[David T]

Part of evaluating the value is what comes with the car. Parts, accessories, etc. It may turn out there is enough to return it to stock condition or the parts could be sold to recoup some of the acquisition cost. If the car is otherwise in nice condition and there is a ton of parts $18K might be a fair price. Again, unless the buyer is knowledgeable he should hire someone who is to help determine a fair value. Without actually seeing the car and driving it and seeing all of the parts it would be difficult for anyone to offer a fair price. This is not a stock Delorean and it is not being offered as one so any potential buyer must inspect it thouroghly so they know what they are getting into.
David Teitelbaum

[DMage]

Having seen Ed's engine work in the past, I wouldn't have any issues buying 1776. His work on his past cars - the eagle 3.0 turbo, the supra turbo - were impressive. I tried getting him to build a turbo on my car at one point but he wasn't taking any extra engine build jobs. :bigcry: