1982 Frame Off Restoration

[SupercoolBill]

I like how the mounting came out. Very rugged, I can access the plug in, and the adjustment knobs.






I quickly wired it in, threw a battery in the car and tested the stereo before we left for the night.
We started with radio. The speakers sounded pretty good but honestly to me it didn't sound any different than it did before. Could just be me though. I hope it sounds better after all I went through.

The sub didn't seem to be doing anything. Tam tried adjusting the bass and we got horrible static noise every time she moved the knob. She wanted to try a tape. It was only playing out of the speakers on one side for some reason. I pushed the direction change button and everything started working fine, not the sub still though.
I reminded Tam that tape players and cassette tapes were not as great as we remember them being. I played some music through the Bluetooth and it sounded good and everything worked properly...except the sub.
So I need to troubleshoot the subwoofer and see why it isn't working.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[SupercoolBill]

One thing that I have been wrestling with in my mind is do we replace the roof box now or wait and do it later.
Last year I had decided to wait to do the roof box for the following reasons:
1. It is a HUGE project. It is almost a restoration project in itself. Very time consuming and stressful.
2. Our roof box is in okay shape. As far as I can tell it hasn't started lifting anywhere, it is rusty inside but not rusted out, the doors are currently working well. Kind a "If it ain't broke don't fix it" thing.
3. We want to get this car on the road ASAP. We are burned out on this project. We are going on 4-years of it sitting in the HVAC shop. We need it running, driving, and on the road this spring.
4. If I replace the roof box I am going to also put a new windshield in the car. So...a whole another project and expense.

But....I am finding that there are several reasons to replace the roof box now for the following reasons:

1. Much of the interior panels that would need to be removed for roof box replacement are currently removed. And these are a pain to remove.
2. Most of the interior parts (seats, center console, etc.) that get removed to replace the roof box are currently removed.
3. The t-panel is currently removed
4. The interior roof panels, material is gross looking, smelly, and falling down. We would like to replace them but if we do we would just need to take them back down to do the roof box.
5. We already have a new S.S. roof box.
6. It would be nice to have the car restoration 100% done so we can move on with our life (Is it every really 100% done though?)

What do you guys think?
We are considering just removing the roof panels so it doesn't stink inside, leaving some of the interior and door gaskets off the car or putting the old ones back on for now and just driving it like that for one year then jumping on the roof box next year or the year after. Another option if we waited would be hiring a professional to replace the roof box and windshield.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[SupercoolBill]

Oh and in the spirit of "While you're in there" do we install door strut reinforcement plates also while the interior parts are out. The strut mounts seem solid for now.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[Helirich]

If it was me and I was burned out on the project, I think I would just do a rust prevention job on what you have. That may last for 20 years or more if it?s not bad now. On the other hand, the rest of your car is brand new.

[SupercoolBill]

If it was me and I was burned out on the project, I think I would just do a rust prevention job on what you have. That may last for 20 years or more if it?s not bad now. On the other hand, the rest of your car is brand new.

Yeah that's what I am thinking.
I just bought a new scope camera. I'm going to get a good look in there again. If it isn't toast then I will spray some 3M body cavity wax in there. I already have a can of it with the long application tubes with different spray tips on them.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[glockworks21]

skip it. get it running and driving and enjoy it for awhile!!

[Bitsyncmaster]

Save it for another winter project. That big project would probably not let you drive it in 2026. It's not that much work to remove things again.

[SupercoolBill]

Talked to the wife this morning.
I am going to scope the roof box again. If it doesn't look horrible I am going to order:
Roof interior panels, top of doors gasket & rivet kit, full door gaskets kits and maybe a carpet kit.
If DMCH had seat covers in stock I would probably order those also. Other options are D-go which has two options which I struggle with then L-seats is also an option.

I will probably end up ordering a Wolfshead wheel also. We really wanted to rent or borrow one but I can't seem to find one to rent or borrow so we will end up buying one then use it once.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

[JETS 81 DMC]

Here is a tread with some options for re-graining tools that are less expensive. Also some warnings on the use.

https://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1...m%20them%20yet.

Some info on re-graining and tools in this link:
https://www.noroads.com/delorean/328...turize%20metal.

You, Tam and the pups have been making some great progress.

Thanks again for all the time you take for your very detailed posts too.

[Josh]

Some may disagree, but it is not worth the effort/risk of doing a roof box until you have through rust (rust holes in any of the sections). Otherwise, just rivet down the rear section, spray some sort of rust prevention into the center section, and check back in a decade.