So I drove a different Delorean last night...

[Kenny_Z]

I visited Bigben84 last night to help with his Delorean's brakes. Afterwards we test drove both cars. I can't believe how different they were. I swear I couldn't get Ben's Delorean into first gear. I don't know what it was but the shifter felt softer than Red's. Both the clutch and accelerator were also soft, they didn't take much effort. Overall the car didn't feel as aggressive as Red. Ben asked if I'd put a new clutch in her since I'd bought her since she grabs a lot harder when letting off the clutch. I hadn't but I wonder if the pressure plate on mine has a different tension rating. We compared VINs awhile back but I don't remember Ben's. I know his is older and has the gas flap hood. I want to say it's in the 2500-2700s. We've still got some work to do to bleed Ben's brakes. I've never worked with a car that had brakes this stubborn. Even replacing the entire rear lines of my van didn't require this much bleeding.

I'm positive that Red has an exhaust leak. I thought that was the case but hearing a stock exhaust that was so much quieter than mine helped me realize it. On the upside, when I finally put on a new exhaust set up it may even quiet the car down a bit. ;)

[Bitsyncmaster]

I've done the same thing when I'm helping another owner do some work. We swap cars to do a test drive. So far I have not noticed much difference other than where the clutch grabs and the shifting is a little harder to get into some gears. But that probably is all in what I'm use to.

[Jonathan]

I'm positive that Red has an exhaust leak. I thought that was the case but hearing a stock exhaust that was so much quieter than mine helped me realize it. On the upside, when I finally put on a new exhaust set up it may even quiet the car down a bit. ;)

Yay, once you've heard a "before and after", that manifold leak sound is unmistakable.

Here's my before, the after is in my vids list on YouTube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2yvgO3lNkE

[Kenny_Z]

Yay, once you've heard a "before and after", that manifold leak sound is unmistakable.

Yep, your before sounds exactly like Red. I have all the gaskets and bolts I'll need. I am just not looking forward to that job. I'm really considering doing an exhaust upgrade at the same time just to not have to go through it twice.

[Jonathan]

Yep, your before sounds exactly like Red. I have all the gaskets and bolts I'll need. I am just not looking forward to that job. I'm really considering doing an exhaust upgrade at the same time just to not have to go through it twice.

I decided that was a job I was willing to let my check book handle. And I'm glad I did after stopping in to check on the progress my mechanic was making while the car was over there. I think it all went pretty well in terms of getting things apart and not snapping off any studs or whatnot. The main challenge though was related to some PO who obviously did some manifold work in the past and had butchered two of the holes where studs needed to thread into. And they were both the holes at the very rear of the car/engine (i.e. closest to the muffler if I'm describing that right). They must have got in over their heads and likely had the wrong tools, and the holes were way bigger than they were supposed to be, cross threaded, and all that jazz. My mechanic fixed it up with a combination of heli-coils and JB Weld. I'm not convinced I would have had the same results if I had attempted this in my driveway. Money well spent in hindsight.

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[opethmike]

As someone who has removed the stock exhaust, trust me Jonathan, you are VERY right that avoiding doing it yourself is a good call. Horrible job. Easily the biggest pain in the ass portion of my engine upgrade work.

[Nicholas R]

I decided that was a job I was willing to let my check book handle. And I'm glad I did after stopping in to check on the progress my mechanic was making while the car was over there. I think it all went pretty well in terms of getting things apart and not snapping off any studs or whatnot. The main challenge though was related to some PO who obviously did some manifold work in the past and had butchered two of the holes where studs needed to thread into. And they were both the holes at the very rear of the car/engine (i.e. closest to the muffler if I'm describing that right). They must have got in over their heads and likely had the wrong tools, and the holes were way bigger than they were supposed to be, cross threaded, and all that jazz. My mechanic fixed it up with a combination of heli-coils and JB Weld. I'm not convinced I would have had the same results if I had attempted this in my driveway. Money well spent in hindsight.

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Really??? I'm pretty sure JB weld isn't good past about 450-500 degrees. When I had a PRV and had my UK SS Exhaust, my headers eventually turned blue from being heat tinted. SS begins to heat tint blue at at least 550 degrees. Heck there's another thread right now where someone is talking about their exhaust glowing red (carbon steel glows red at around 900 degrees). That sounds like a recipe for future exhaust leaks to me. I dont trust JB weld anywhere on my car, let alone the exhaust system.

EDIT:

I actually went to their website and this is in the FAQ section. Just some food for thought man. I know the job is already finished but it may be something you want to check up on periodically.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5726/jbweld.jpg

[Jonathan]

Nick,

Do you think the JB Weld precaution you copied there was more intended to warn against using their product right on the manifolds or catalytic converters themselves? Like if you had some hole or something right in the middle of the metal? The spot my mechanic used some sort of liquid metal product on (I had assumed it was JB Weld, but maybe I'll go back over to him and confirm what he used) was within the threaded stud hole in the engine block. It is all one big merry piece of metal once it is together, but technically it is not directly exposed to exhaust gases (or heat). The heat would have to transfer from the gas to the metal and through that thickness of metal to get on the other side of the gasket to where this liquid metal surrounds at least some portion of one of the studs. Not sure what the temperature breakdown is across a certain distance of metal, but it would not be at the full temperature that the manifolds see.

In any event, you're right, it is something worthwhile checking on. Perhaps as I poke around somewhat frequently looking at whether my shift computer harness is not touching the exhaust, or are there any new leaks, or whatever, that I also give a look at that spot of concern. There is very little to see though of course, unless you take things apart. I could though keep an eye out for any evidence of new exhaust soot at that corner.

And also like you said, the job is done, and so is me worrying about it. I wouldn't tear into it just on speculation. So for now it stays as is. Thanks for pointing that out though.