So THATS how you Lower a DeLorean...

[Ryan King]

So, long story short, my friend Chris (Chris 16409 here on the forum) got in touch with another local DeLorean owner here in Fresno. So we cruised over in my car to meet the owner and the car for the first time.

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Nice guy, in his late 40's, got the car from his Father-In-Law (VIN #2385) and is looking to get into the hobby. (Which is great!) Car needs a few minor things to be a good daily runner, Black Interior 5-Speed.

Anywho. Chris and I both noticed the car's front end was awfully low. The owner said, to his knowledge, the car had the front end "adjusted to lower spec". Well, upon further inspection under his jack cover...we found these hidden in the front part of the pontoon....

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100 POUNDS OF LEAD. FIVE POUNDS PER BAR
No joke. The whole front end of the car raised up about and inch or so after these were removed. I have NEVER seen this before. I know springs would get cut down, modified, or clamped back in the day. Never have I seen anything like this. I just had to share it...

And here I thought I'd seen it all.......

-Ryan

[vwdmc16]

Ha, thats a easy and cheap method. Helps with the weight balance too huh?

I recall reading on Tamir's Vixen Resurrection website that he filled the trunk with 200lbs of Dirt or something of the sort in 50lb bags to break in the new springs before a DCS. Always thought that was creative.

[dvonk]

100 POUNDS OF LEAD. FIVE POUNDS PER BAR

haha, awesome. melt those bad boys down to make some bullets! :gunfire:

[WelmoedJ]

Filling part of the trunk with heavy stuff is what used to be done over here to help old Beetles stay on the road :)
Using kurb stones or a sack of mortar has been an often used practice with rear engined European cars.
The result is about the same: better steering, not going straight-on in a wet curve, no squirly behavior at higher speeds.
Old tricks for newer cars, huh?

[Kenny_Z]

One time I had to pick up some paver stones for my parents. My only functioning car at the time was the DeLorean. I think I only had about 70lbs in the front but the handling difference was very noticeable and I liked the stance. Lifting the stones over the LFF was nerve racking. It didn't help I had an audience that was asking questions about the car.

[Domi]

Awesome discovery :yesss:

[Dangermouse]

There has to be a coke joke in there somewhere.......

[Bitsyncmaster]

Bet that fix cuts a second or two off the 1/4 mile ET.

[LordFly]

My front end is way to high. Is that lead for sale? :wrenchin:

[Ryan King]

There has to be a coke joke in there somewhere.......

The owner actually said, "too bad it's bit coke, coukd be been worth something."

[Farrar]

My front end is way to high. Is that lead for sale? :wrenchin:

Tools, spare parts, floor jack, and jack-stands... put all that in the trunk, and the front end should drop by about two inches. ;)

[David T]

For the series the Dukes of Hazzard they would fill the trunks of the jumping cars with cement to make the cars fly level. When they hit the ground the back of the cars would bend and break off. You never saw that on camera. All that lead is worth a few bucks in scrap.
David Teitelbaum

[Dangermouse]

The owner actually said, "too bad it's bit coke, coukd be been worth something."

He said what? :p

[Rich]

So did the owner get this idea from Porsche? 45 years ago?

LINK: http://www.edmunds.com/porsche/911/history.html (http://www.edmunds.com/porsche/911/history.html)


For enthusiasts, even more exciting news for '67 came with the introduction of the 911S — for Super — available as both a coupe and a Targa. Porsche threw some spark curve and timing changes into the regular 911 engine, bumped the compression ratio up from 9.0 to 1 to 9.8 to 1 and the result was an output jump to 180 horsepower in the 911S. The S also came with a new set of gears in the five-speed transmission; a set of gorgeous, unmistakably Porsche, Fuchs five-spoke alloy wheels; a rear anti-sway bar; and ventilated disc brakes. There was also, in a fit of inelegant engineering, a 24.2-pound weight fitted to the front of the S in an attempt to help the car's weight balance.

This ballast was fitted inside the left and right sides of the 911S front bumper. Later models had better solutions....

[Ryan King]

He said what? :p

Totally screwed that up on my iPhone. :p