My stock D is going to Danny at DMC Monday. What upgrades should i have him do?

[artisticent]

I'm having Danny finish up a few things on my D to get it running. I'll be handling all the cosmetic stuff but what else should I have done while the car is there? I'm sure he will suggest a few things but from every day D drivers, it would be helpful to have them done while its there.
Thanks
Nathan

[ccurzio]

It might help to know what's already been done (if anything) to it so you don't have a thread full of people making guesses at things that have already been taken care of.

My thoughts right off the bat?

Check the clutch master and slave cylinders to make sure they're in good shape.
Upgrade the clutch line to the stainless steel version.
Upgrade the RPM Relay to Dave's solid state version.
Replace the coolant overflow bottle with a metal version.
Upgrade the fan fail wiring.
DMC Recalls

The rest of the stuff is just common-sense car shit. Oil change, tune-up, tire inspection/rotation, brake inspection, fluid check and top-off, battery test, replace air filter, replace fuel filter, check for leaks.

[artisticent]

I'll def have the reg maintainance stuff done, the car is an auto fyi. So I'm guessing 3 thru 6 on your list. Any suspension upgrades?

As much info on the car as I have for now are in my pics. Also in the paperwork the PO has a $556 receipt from deloran one for a combination fuel kit. Part #d612413.
That is the only upgrade I know of other than all the work that went in to cleaning up the motor and replacing top end gaskets in the motor

[artisticent]

Some pics. Don't even ask about the taillights. Horrible mod lol.

[artisticent]

More

[artisticent]

I added a couple pics of my good friend Frankie who has a paint less dent removal company who also knows stainless very well and removed some tiny dings for me this evening. I have always been very happy with his work, quite impressive every time I see the results.

[Jonathan]

Hey, good luck at DMCCA. I like the blue hoses in your engine bay. I always thought that was a nice touch on the cars I've seen that with.

Your engine bay pictures... do you have your air intake housing/assembly? Or am I missing something?

Like Chris said, look at getting the stainless coolant bottle. You can read up on it here. Many feel the plastic one fails over time from getting brittle, but the jury is still out on whether that is really happening. It's a nice cosmetic upgrade anyway. Same with the bulkhead connectors cover in the right hand corner.

I would have them look at ensuring your recalls are done, as the de-ice recall doesn't look to be there, nor a paint dot on the back wall indicating the front end recall one was done either.

A good value for your money would be the $199 relay and fuse upgrade kit. It comes with replacement relays and fuses, including the RPM relay. Not the one Bitsync Dave sells, but a new factory one. Keep the old one as a spare. It will come with the fan fail inline fuse wiring too.

And maybe one other area to focus on that isn't in the pictures, is your brakes. Have them do a real thorough inspection of these and then rebuild, turn, or replace whatever it is that isn't in good condition. If you can't stop when you need to, nothing else on the list really matters that much :)

[Rich]

I'll def have the reg maintainance stuff done, the car is an auto fyi. So I'm guessing 3 thru 6 on your list. Any suspension upgrades?


Yes, three suggestions re suspension.

1. I might have missed any reference to the trailing arm bolts being OK. If you don't know for sure then have Danny give the TABs a look. Safety item.
2. In that same category have him go over the entire front end for any safety items, including tie rod ends, ball joints.....
3. Eibach springs all around will get you a significant handling improvement and will get the car back where it belongs in terms of ride height and spring rates. Headlight adjustment follows that. Shock replacement or upgrade is a matter of debate. Of course, if any of the 4 shocks are bad you have to get a new set as this is arguably a safety item as well.

Do #1 and #2. #3 is your option depending on the other priorities in this project car.

[Nicholas R]

Hey, good luck at DMCCA. I like the blue hoses in your engine bay. I always thought that was a nice touch on the cars I've seen that with.

Your engine bay pictures... do you have your air intake housing/assembly? Or am I missing something?

Like Chris said, look at getting the stainless coolant bottle. You can read up on it here. Many feel the plastic one fails over time from getting brittle, but the jury is still out on whether that is really happening. It's a nice cosmetic upgrade anyway. Same with the bulkhead connectors cover in the right hand corner.


The top half of the intake with the sensor plate is removed. You split it by removing the socket head cap screws around the outside. No biggie.

[stevedmc]

Have him replace your engine with an LS1.

[Jonathan]

The top half of the intake with the sensor plate is removed. You split it by removing the socket head cap screws around the outside. No biggie.

But you don't run without it though, right?

[artisticent]

Wow all Great. Yes my motor needs assembly, hoses, fuel dist. No worries.
My list so far for Danny :
Check trailing arm bolts
Tabs
Ball joints
Tie rod ends
Eibach springs upgrade (if price isn't too horrible)
Stainless steel coolant bottle
Relay, fuse upgrade kit/rpm relay.
Fan fail wiring.
D recalls.
Louvre brace.
Check entire brake system


That's my list so far.
Does the recall work get handled in the same way as any car recall. Danny fixes any recalls for free?

[artisticent]

Johnathan,

No I def don't run it without the motor complete. We started on the enging cleanup a few weeks ago. The cooling system was horribly rusted, some metal pieces corroded, gaskets dried out. Front main seal etc. That's all done now. Danny will need to install new hoses, replacement muffler as mine is hollow inside. I'm expecting to spend up to1500- 2k on random stuff. Can't go higher than that yet due to the fact I just bought the car.

[stevedmc]

Does the recall work get handled in the same way as any car recall. Danny fixes any recalls for free?

Delorean Motor Company went bankrupt nearly 3 decades ago. The people currently using the name are NOT Delorean Motor Company.

[TTait]

Just have Danny go over the car and make suggestions. When you get his list you can stop back here and ask any questions about what you can DIY.

Tom

[artisticent]

STEVEDMC,

Right that's what I thought. So my question specifically was do we pay to have the recall work done?

[jfirios]

When I first got my car, I went to the DMC site and bought almost every upgrade kit they had. Did the whole stage 2 upgrade, the power upgrade (Wires plugs etc) the relay upgrade, the headlight upgrade, the suspension and break upgrade. and all the new hose and gasket upgrade. I think that is always a great place to start.

[artisticent]

Wow, what was your first bill roughly

[Jonathan]

Hey Art,

Just a note on "free" recall service work. It is now again known as "DMC" but it is not the same company as the original one in the 80's. Yes, same car, leftover parts inventory, similar logo, and access to the history, but they are definitely not obligated to do any work on the cars for free.

It's not like taking your Pontiac in to a GM dealership and having them do a free of charge safety recall. We're driving orphan cars if you look at it that way and the parents left this world long ago.

Now, I would guess if you dropped your car off to the franchise and told them to make it better, you would get a pretty good rate on recall work shop hours, but it won't be free.

Does that make sense?

[artisticent]

Yes that makes perfect sense. I'm hoping that Danny is kind with what I am charged. I have a budget so I guess its a matter of how many cool things can I have done for the amount I can spend. I'm super crazy excited though. I'm chomping at the bit to drive this car.

[DeLorean03]

Ok, I'm just going to politely say it: there are certain things on that list you need to do yourself.

For example, the RPM/relay/fuse upgrade - THAT is something you can do yourself and is a great place to start "building your confidence." At first, it'll seem a lil' scary, but all it is is pulling each fuses and replacing each fuse - the RPM relay is the only one of its kind and is "idiot proof" meaning someone even like me can install it - the RPM relay only fits in one way so you can't "install it backwards." Finally, the relays are all the same with the exception of the Lambda relay, and there is only one of its kind in the relay compartment too.

Another is the installation of a new coolant bottle. While it may be a bit of a messy job, it isn't too over-the-top, and it is a job nearly all of us have experience with and can help you walk through at a great price: free.


I'm just trying to save you a small chunk of change - those particular jobs are a GREAT place to start for learning how to restore/work on a DeLorean. This is a bit blunt but true so I'll just say it: if you're going to pay for them to do that then you might as well make sure your checkbook writing pen has plenty of ink in it.

Hope I didn't come off as an a-hole; I just don't want to see you become dependent on a shop for things you can definitely tackle yourself.

I'd have them make sure my coolant hoses were solid and safe (not dry-rotted or big like a balloon). Make sure your auto-transmission governor is routed safely away from the DeLorean's exhaust system (can lead to nasty troubles if the wiring of the governor melts). Make sure your A/C works.

Other than the things everyone else has listed and the ones I chimed in on, you should be pretty solid. Also , the de-icing kit in California...? I dunno about that one - when will it EVER get cold enough in California for the throttle cable spool to freeze on him?

Also, does your alternator say "Motorola" or "Duceller" (both stock alternators) anywhere on it...? If so, another thing to consider DIY and replace.

[artisticent]

That's great advice. I am definitely categorizing what I can do myself. I'm in agreement with the items you mentioned I can do myself too.

[Ryan King]

Save your money and do it all yourself. Learn about the car. DMC-CA charges around 110 dollars an hour.

[Spittybug]

+1 on the DIY. I buy parts from the vendors as I need them, and have indeed gone for service when it was something I didn't have equipment to do myself, but part of the joy of ownership is in rolling up your sleeves and resurrecting a 30 plus year old machine and making it obey your commands! Where better to learn such skills than on the "toy" car and not the daily driver? (assumption on my part). Invest in the manual, use these forums and get wrenching.

[stevedmc]

You will be a lot happier if you take the time to learn your car. There is a huge difference between a do it yourselfer and someone who relies on the mechanic for nearly everything.

When my car breaks down (rare) I fix it myself on the side of the road faster than a tow truck can possibly arrive.

My last roadside repair involved a busted heater control valve. I bypassed it, filled the system back up with coolant, drove to Autozone for a $10 part, and finished the work at home. The whole inconvenience took less than an hour.

[jfirios]

I agree with learning to do a lot of the work yourself. Then again it is also a matter of if you have the right tools in your garage to do it and the extra equipment. Some things are just a pain in the butt to get to and easier if the car was on a lift or on jack stands. It is also something to consider, if you like in my car, were doing some upgrade and a bolt shears off. Which in my case it did when replacing the exhaust, but luckily it was at a garage getting done. I would have been screwed because I don't have the correct tools to fix that new issue.
Just something to also think about when people say, just do it yourself and learn the car. Danny is great, he will go through the car and give you a wish list. I am still working through mine. Most I am doing myself but bigger engine work I would rather let the experts who have the right tools do it than me half assing it and possibly making a bigger issue with the car.

Oh yeah, the first bill was big, cost about 6 grand for all the upgrades and labor for installs. But i had the money saved up for it and got it all taken care of at once.

[David T]

Other things to do:
Replace upper. right muffler bracket
Check age of tires with date code. Replace if over 7 years old
Load test battery, replace if over 5 years old
Flush brake and clutch systems
Pressure test cooling system
Grease front end
Pull fuel pump and inspect tank and internal parts

The more stuff you can do yourself the more money you can save BUT the big caveat here is you may need to buy some tools, you need a place to work, and if you mess up it can cost more than you were going to save. You need to have some confidence in your abilities. Start with small, easy tasks. If possible get someone who has some experience to help you, at least in the beginning.
David Teitelbaum

[artisticent]

Great advice on the DIY. I have torn down and rebuilt 911s and most of my own cars. The reality is I don't have the room to jack the car up right now and I need to get it running. Once I have a running car I can go where ever I want to work on it. I am very excited to drive.
Thanks to Don who came by on Sunday. Great to see your D and go for a drive in it. I know you have the stage 2 but dam I was really impressed. I think I was expecting these cars to be total dogs in the motor depot. I loved it.

[Delorean Industries]

Delorean Performance Industries sells complete parts packages to complete the upgrades yourself. Available at Deloreanindustries.com/shop

[DMC5180]

STEVEDMC,

Right that's what I thought. So my question specifically was do we pay to have the recall work done?

If Danny says he installs Recalls free I would take his word for it. You still have to pay for the Parts. The good thing here, Is your car is a very late build. You should already have them on the car. They would have been incorporated during assembly.