What have you done to your DeLorean today?

[DMCflux]

WOW, 2K already. That's great to here. I'm about cross 1K for the season.

Which Hose blew as seen at the Compressor TOP or BOTTOM? (Assuming 32 year old Original Hoses). I would expect the HIGH Side Hose to Fail (COMP to CONDENSER) before the LOW side hose gives up (EVAP to COMP)

Top, compr to condenser. The steering column rubbed through it (common problem I'm told). The protective pad in between the hose and steering column was attached on the wrong side, and as I took a turn I heard a pop and pshhhhhh.

[DMC5180]

Top, compr to condenser. The steering column rubbed through it (common problem I'm told). The protective pad in between the hose and steering column was attached on the wrong side, and as I took a turn I heard a pop and pshhhhhh.

Okay, the High pressure side. Not necessarily common, but your the 3rd person I've heard of it happening too.

[jawn101]

Finally, some closure. Went out to check on it in the garage this morning. No oil at all on the floor overnight after running the motor for 20 or so minutes last night. Feeling cautiously optimistic, I reinstalled the heat shields, impact absorber, rear fascia, taillights and lower engine cover. Basically put the whole car back together. Fought yet again with the DMCH reproduction radiator duct. I swear that thing hates me. It doesn't fit for crap!

Drove about 20 miles around town to really warm things up. Aside from a high idle (throttle arm not returning fully to rest, if I blip the pedal I can usually get it back to an even 750) it felt and ran great. Could probably use some air in the tires.

Cleaned up the whole garage and put down brand new cardboard under the drivetrain. I'll check back in a few hours and over the next couple of days to make sure it stays clean. I think it will this time!!

Tomorrow I'll try and figure out that throttle arm issue. It never happened before and nothing really changed.

[DeLorean03]

Finally, some closure. Went out to check on it in the garage this morning. No oil at all on the floor overnight after running the motor for 20 or so minutes last night. Feeling cautiously optimistic, I reinstalled the heat shields, impact absorber, rear fascia, taillights and lower engine cover. Basically put the whole car back together. Fought yet again with the DMCH reproduction radiator duct. I swear that thing hates me. It doesn't fit for crap!

Drove about 20 miles around town to really warm things up. Aside from a high idle (throttle arm not returning fully to rest, if I blip the pedal I can usually get it back to an even 750) it felt and ran great. Could probably use some air in the tires.

Cleaned up the whole garage and put down brand new cardboard under the drivetrain. I'll check back in a few hours and over the next couple of days to make sure it stays clean. I think it will this time!!

Tomorrow I'll try and figure out that throttle arm issue. It never happened before and nothing really changed.

Good for you, bud. You've been putting some serious time into that. Happy for you, man !

Throttle - move the throttle spool by hand with the engine off - listen for the idle speed microswitch to "click." If NOTHING was messed with at all before you did all your engine work, you may be able to get away with just turning the idle speed microswitch inward in a bit more to make the screw longer and have a better chance of tripping the microswitch.

Possible worst case scenario - the throttle cable itself is starting to stick.

[jawn101]

Good for you, bud. You've been putting some serious time into that. Happy for you, man !

Throttle - move the throttle spool by hand with the engine off - listen for the idle speed microswitch to "click." If NOTHING was messed with at all before you did all your engine work, you may be able to get away with just turning the idle speed microswitch inward in a bit more to make the screw longer and have a better chance of tripping the microswitch.

Possible worst case scenario - the throttle cable itself is starting to stick.

Thanks! Been a long job but I owe most of the kudos to the local guys, especially Clint...

And yeah, we tried all that fiddling with the spool and cable. There is a factory paint mark on my idle screw and I know it's not been disturbed. When the idle sticks high, you can turn the throttle spool backwards a tiny bit by hand and the microswitch will engage, lowering the idle. I think it might actually have been the arm itself, as I normally remove it from one end only - typically from the throttle body itself. This time I took it off at both ends and was cleaning it up. It's possible I knocked one of the ends so it's too short now, or perhaps turned the whole rod around when reinstalling it. Though I don't think that would make any difference.

On a related topic, does anyone else notice their air cleaner box doesn't quite line up? Mine has trouble lining up the three bolt holes when it's pressed down onto the mixture unit. I have to kinda feather things into place. It does go eventually, but...

[DeLorean03]

Thanks! Been a long job but I owe most of the kudos to the local guys, especially Clint...

And yeah, we tried all that fiddling with the spool and cable. There is a factory paint mark on my idle screw and I know it's not been disturbed. When the idle sticks high, you can turn the throttle spool backwards a tiny bit by hand and the microswitch will engage, lowering the idle. I think it might actually have been the arm itself, as I normally remove it from one end only - typically from the throttle body itself. This time I took it off at both ends and was cleaning it up. It's possible I knocked one of the ends so it's too short now, or perhaps turned the whole rod around when reinstalling it. Though I don't think that would make any difference.

On a related topic, does anyone else notice their air cleaner box doesn't quite line up? Mine has trouble lining up the three bolt holes when it's pressed down onto the mixture unit. I have to kinda feather things into place. It does go eventually, but...

There's a reason it has two adjustable ends - very tiny changes in it make a decent difference. I have been surprised the recent fiddling I've done with mine how a little change can make a substantial difference.

[DMC81]

I know this is not a big deal for most of you guys but I was pretty proud of my self since it was my first time doing this. lol

[jawn101]

I know this is not a big deal for most of you guys but I was pretty proud of my self since it was my first time doing this. lol

Might wanna loosely thread the fuel bolts back into the distributor to keep crud from getting inside. Good job!

[DMC81]

Might wanna loosely thread the fuel bolts back into the distributor to keep crud from getting inside. Good job!

Thanks for the tip, I did put a piece of tape over each hole thinking that would be ok.

[DMCMW Dave]

Top, compr to condenser. The steering column rubbed through it (common problem I'm told). The protective pad in between the hose and steering column was attached on the wrong side, and as I took a turn I heard a pop and pshhhhhh.

The hose is supposed to be zip-tied to the brake line (?!?) at the factory. It is often rotted away by now. An unfortunate design flaw. We see many cars come in with a metal splice in that exact spot that was likely installed in the mid-1980s rather than replacing the whole line.