Rock screen, spoiler, fan shroud - how does it all bolt together?

[Jonathan]

5 years of owning the car and I am still learning about it. I have never done any work on the front spoiler, rock screen or fan shroud, but after getting a much closer look at it, I think I will need to.

I've attached a few pictures here and hopefully what you can also see is that a) the rock screen is in bad shape and not connected to much, and b) the fan shroud doesn't appear to be bolted to anything either.

A new rock screen will be on a near future order, and I would plan on getting this one:

http://store.delorean.com/p-9705-powdercoated-rock-screen.aspx

I can see how it has 5 bolts welded to it on one side (the top side I think?) and 5 nuts on the other side, plus two, one on each end. The rock screen on my car is not bolted in place through any of the 7 nuts from what I can see. The mesh screen part is also broken apart from the "rim" around it in a few places. What I can't see is if the bolts pointing up are attached to anything. That's one of my questions... what order does all this go together, as from what I see on my car, you don't seem to be able to access all the bolts/nuts on the rock screen from the front.

If it means the fan shroud comes off from the back to attach the rock screen and then it goes on last, that would be okay as mine isn't looking like a single bolt is in place. It must be wedged in somehow as it has never moved to my knowledge and I don't have overheating problems with the car. Mine is the one piece and not the two piece like the current replacements are.

There are a few bolts in place but I don't see what they are connecting nor how you would get to both sides of them. One row of them are on the underside of the fascia, above the rock screen, but I'm not sure what they are holding in place.

I could take the lower spoiler off it would seem fairly easily as most of those bolts look accessible, and perhaps rusty.

Let me know if there is a simplified approach to this and an order as to how it all goes together. I'm sure once it is all apart and you can see the pieces, it will make sense, but it's hard to envision prior to getting it all apart. It'll be a good exercise anyway as it'll give me a chance to put things back together properly and fasten things tight and properly.

13996140101400914008140071400614005140041400314002 14001140001399913998139971399514011

[Mark D]

Your rock screen is in pretty poor shape so that's probably why it's a little confusing. From the pics it looks like every stud is broken off the bottom.

If you look at the parts manual at the DMCH store it shows how it should all go together.
http://store.delorean.com/c-313-8-5-0-front-bumperfasciagrille.aspx

These studs on the bottom of the rock screen go through the spoiler and are nutted from the bottom. The bottom of the radiator air dam is also sandwiched between the washers and the bottom of the fascia.

The top of the rock screen has holes that line up with tabs mounted to the fiberglass body, see pic below:
http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=14098&d=1350278736

The metal tabs that hold the top of the rock screen have square nuts welded on that the upper rock screen bolts thread into.

[Jonathan]

The metal tabs that hold the top of the rock screen have square nuts welded on that the upper rock screen bolts thread into.

Cool. That makes more sense.

So am I thinking you must take the lower front spoiler off to be able to get to the nuts and bolts on the top of the rock screen?

Which would make the order of installing everything: rock screen, then fan shroud, then lower spoiler? Or does the spoiler need to go in before the fan shroud? I was reading a thread Jawn was commenting on and it sounded like you can install a fan shroud alone without taking anything else apart. So maybe it can go in last?

[Mark D]

MSPaint to the rescue:


http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=14102&d=1350316954

And yes, you can remove the air dam (aka radiator shroud) without removing the spoiler. All you need to do is loosen the nuts on the bottom of the rock screen (purple). There are slots in the air dam instead of holes. You can see the slots in the picture I posted above.

I'm thinking removal of the spoiler, fascia, and air dam is in your is in your future though judging by your pictures. In addition to a new rock screen you'll probably need to repair or replace a few of the upper rock screen brackets (orange).

[DMCMW Dave]

It's not a welded nut. It snaps into a square hole.

Nice drawing work! I don't have the patience.

[DMCMW Dave]

So am I thinking you must take the lower front spoiler off to be able to get to the nuts and bolts on the top of the rock screen?

Which would make the order of installing everything: rock screen, then fan shroud, then lower spoiler? Or does the spoiler need to go in before the fan shroud? I was reading a thread Jawn was commenting on and it sounded like you can install a fan shroud alone without taking anything else apart. So maybe it can go in last?

No. The spoiler does not need to come off come off.

You do not need to remove the spoiler unless you are replacing it, or removing the entire fascia and bumper to get to those upper brackets.

PS there is an error in the drawing, the brackets wrap round the fiberglass tub and get riveted to it before the bumper is installed. In Mark's photo the bumper is still in place so you don't see the bracket attachments.

[Jonathan]

Beauty Mark! Thanks a lot for the drawing! That helps explain it. I think the best course of action is to get the new rock screen in hand, and then take the old one out and see what the condition of the nuts and bolts are. The winter season is right around the corner, so my car is about to be parked for a few months anyway. The timing of this will work fine.

Dave, do you have some of these rock screens available? And a big box to put it in to Canada?? I'll email you and Julee another list, but this rock screen will be on it at the very least. I am leaning towards the plain black powder coated one and not the stainless one. Partly because of cost, but also because I think I want it to stay black and not silver and shiny.

[Mark D]

Thanks for the additions and corrections Dave, I guess it makes more sense that the nuts snap in so you can replace if needed. Good point also that the mounting points for the brackets are not accessible without removing the fascia and bumper.

Jonathan hopefully your upper brackets are still in good condition so you don't have to go too crazy with removing everything off the front of the car to get to them. From your photos the bottom of your fascia looks warped a little but the new rock screen may help straighten things out. I don't recall of if it's possible to reach up behind the fascia and adjust the brackets by hand if they are bent.

I think this diagram below should be correct now based on Dave's feedback.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=14103&d=1350325674

[DMCMW Dave]

Beauty Mark! Thanks a lot for the drawing! That helps explain it. I think the best course of action is to get the new rock screen in hand, and then take the old one out and see what the condition of the nuts and bolts are. The winter season is right around the corner, so my car is about to be parked for a few months anyway. The timing of this will work fine.

Dave, do you have some of these rock screens available? And a big box to put it in to Canada?? I'll email you and Julee another list, but this rock screen will be on it at the very least. I am leaning towards the plain black powder coated one and not the stainless one. Partly because of cost, but also because I think I want it to stay black and not silver and shiny.

We have them in stock all the time. Be sure to figure out if/how many of the capture nuts you need.