How to maintain your Delorean for less than $500 a year and put 10,000 miles on it

[DMCMW Dave]

The directions say that the setting height should be measured at 5.5 inches, and that the car may need to be jacked or weighed down to accommodate that height before making any adjustments. The height is measured at the front crossmember, and at the crossmember underneath the engine. Since your car has stock springs, you should be somewhere near 5.5 inches anyway.

Have you ever tried that? To get a stock car to 5.5 inches in the front takes about 400 pounds in the trunk, and the car will look exactly like a lowered car. This is a place where I don't believe the manual, because if you follow it you'll find your front tires don't last very long.

[David T]

All too often I have found you are lucky to get what you pay for. In the case of getting something for nothing you cannot expect very much. Quantity (having them align the car many times) cannot always make up for quality (doing it right the first time). For something as important for safety as a good alignment , maybe you should find a better shop. Aligning a car is not "Rocket Science". You should be able to find a shop that can do it right the first time. If the car won't hold an alignment that is a sign of worn parts. A bad alignment can cause dangerous handling characteristics and severe tire wear (so can bent or worn parts). Before taking the car to a shop you should:
Empty the car of all the "junk"
Check tire pressures
Check that the steering wheel is centered when driving straight on a flat road
Check if the car leads or pulls to either side (no brakes and no hands on the steering wheel)
Check each tire for wear
Fill the fuel tank to 1/2
There should be no play or looseness in the steering or vibration

All 4 wheels must be checked and adjusted if necessary. A 4 wheel alignment ranges form $80 to $150 depending on where it is done and by who. Can be done in as little as 20 minutes and can take as long as an hour or more if parts have to be replaced.
David Teitelbaum

[stevedmc]

All too often I have found you are lucky to get what you pay for. In the case of getting something for nothing you cannot expect very much. Quantity (having them align the car many times) cannot always make up for quality (doing it right the first time). For something as important for safety as a good alignment , maybe you should find a better shop. Aligning a car is not "Rocket Science". You should be able to find a shop that can do it right the first time. If the car won't hold an alignment that is a sign of worn parts. A bad alignment can cause dangerous handling characteristics and severe tire wear (so can bent or worn parts). Before taking the car to a shop you should:
Empty the car of all the "junk"
Check tire pressures
Check that the steering wheel is centered when driving straight on a flat road
Check if the car leads or pulls to either side (no brakes and no hands on the steering wheel)
Check each tire for wear
Fill the fuel tank to 1/2
There should be no play or looseness in the steering or vibration

All 4 wheels must be checked and adjusted if necessary. A 4 wheel alignment ranges form $80 to $150 depending on where it is done and by who. Can be done in as little as 20 minutes and can take as long as an hour or more if parts have to be replaced.
David Teitelbaum

Did you read what I said about suspension work? I bring the car in for an alignment anytime I do anything suspension related. Would you replace your steering wrack without getting an alignment afterwards?

[stevedmc]

Total expenses to date: $304.6016 Miles Driven: 1,946
Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 - 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 - Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500 - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 - 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $49.25 (including tax)
Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 - 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012 - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,000 - Total Cost: Free (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) - April 21, 2012 - 46,025 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)

Over the weekend I had a little fun with the car. Saturday I drove about 200 miles in one day and had a blast. About 120 miles into my driving I decided to stop at Firestone for a free alignment as I have a lifetime alignment plan on the car.

I also got tired of looking at my sagging black piece of plastic in the binnacle. I went into Lowes and bought a small bag of black screws which ended up being too short. I believe I paid $1.21 for the first bag of screws. Normally I wouldn't return such an item for a refund but for the sake of this thread I walked back into Lowes with my receipt in hand and asked for a refund of $1.21. I then went back to hardware and bought bag of longer black screws that worked perfectly.

[Farrar]

Have you ever tried that? To get a stock car to 5.5 inches in the front takes about 400 pounds in the trunk, and the car will look exactly like a lowered car. This is a place where I don't believe the manual, because if you follow it you'll find your front tires don't last very long.

No, I haven't tried that. I have never aligned my car... Then again, I haven't driven it much the past two years. I do know that on stock springs, with all of my toolboxes and a floor jack in the trunk, it did look like a lowered car, and was also incredibly difficult to steer at low speeds.

So the workshop manual also says 5.5 inches? (I was quoting the later TSB.) Now I have the urge to go back to the workshop manual and see what they changed with the TSB, or whether it was simply a more detailed explanation. I love looking into history.

[stevedmc]

I have never aligned my car

I was going to offer you a free alignment at Firestone until I saw them documenting my mileage, vin tags, and license plate numbers.

[Farrar]

I was going to offer you a free alignment at Firestone until I saw them documenting my mileage, vin tags, and license plate numbers.

Thanks, but the shop literally down the street from where I live charges $89+ for a front-end alignment, which is a fair price in my opinion. If I can get the engine to quit missing...

[Michael]

We are at the end of April and you have not even broke 2,000 miles. You better get on it if you are going to clock 10k by the end of the year.

[stevedmc]

Total expenses to date: $304.6016 Miles Driven: 2,646
Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 - 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 - Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500 - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 - 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $49.25 (including tax)
Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 - 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012 - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,700 - Total Cost: Free (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) - April 21, 2012 - 46,725 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)

The purpose of this post is to correct a mistake I made with my mileage. The current odometer reading is beyond 46,725. The mileage entries in my previous post were wrong.


Edit: I should be beyond 47,000 by the end of the week.

Total expenses to date: $360.5016 Miles Driven: 2,794
Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 - 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 - Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500 - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 - 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $49.25 (including tax)
Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 - 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012 - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,700 - Total Cost: Free (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) - April 21, 2012 - 46,725 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)
Expense # 18 (installed adjustable alternator bracket) - April 24, 2012 - 46,873 - Total Cost: $55.90 (including shipping from McMaster)

Last night the parts for my expensive McMaster alternator bracket arrived. I installed it last night and it was very nice and easy to install. I love tightening my belt with just a wrench. Super easy!

Total expenses to date: $384.4216 Miles Driven: 2,923
Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 - 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 - Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500 - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 - 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $49.25 (including tax)
Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 - 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012 - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,700 - Total Cost: Free (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) - April 21, 2012 - 46,725 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)
Expense # 18 (installed adjustable alternator bracket) - April 24, 2012 - 46,873 - Total Cost: $55.90 (including shipping from McMaster)
Expense # 19 (front wheel balance) - April 26, 2012 - 47,002 - Total Cost $23.92 (including tax/fees)

Last night I went to Meineke and had them balance the front tires for $10.50 a tire plus tax.

[stevedmc]

Total expenses to date: $408.8932 Miles Driven: 3,159
Expense #1 (Radiator Leak) - January 7, 2012 - 44,079 Miles - Total Cost: $117.83 (including tax)
Expense #2 (Radiator Leak) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $7.40 (including tax)
Expense #3 (Replaced windshield wipers) - January 15, 2012 - 44,386 Miles - Total Cost: $17.54 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Oil Change) - January 21, 2012 - 44,643 Miles - Total Cost: $24.4616 (including tax)
Expense #4 (Reinstalled steering column bushing) - January 22, 2012 - 44,693 - Total Cost: $1.35 (including tax)
Expense #5 (bought coolant and water) - February 20, 2012 - 45,000 - Total Cost: $11.88 (including tax)
Expense #6 (replaced rear interior light) - February 23, 2012 - 45,500 - Total Cost: $31 (no tax and free shipping courtesy of Farrar)
Expense #7 (replaced heater control valve) - March 4, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: $10.39 (including tax)
Expense #8 (bought more coolant/water) - March 7, 2012 - 45,766 - Total Cost: 23.65 (including tax)
Expense #9 (glued rear view mirror to windshield) - March 16, 2012 - 45,772 - Total Cost: $1.57
Expense #10 (604 Manifold and Shipping to Captain Carburetor) - March 22, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $179.65
Expense #11 (7mm Helicoil Kit) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $49.25 (including tax)
Expense #12 (throttle cable) - March 23, 2012 - 45,840 - Total Cost: $4.20ish (I lost my receipt)
Expense #13 (new wire connector) - April 14, 2012 - 46,123 - Total Cost: $0.25ish (part was laying around)
Expense/Deduction #14 (removed 604 manifold/carb) - April 15th, 2012 - 46,200 - Total Cost: -$179.65 (selling it)
Expense #15 (installed new crimp on throttle cable) - April 16th, 2012 - 46,220 - Total Cost : $1.51 (including tax)
Expense #16 (alignment) - April 21, 2012 - 46,700 - Total Cost: Free (I have a lifetime alignment plan)
Expense #17 (reinforced black lip of binnacle with black screw) - April 21, 2012 - 46,725 - Total Cost: $2.32 (including tax)
Expense # 18 (installed adjustable alternator bracket) - April 24, 2012 - 46,873 - Total Cost: $55.90 (including shipping from McMaster)
Expense # 19 (front wheel balance) - April 26, 2012 - 47,002 - Total Cost $23.92 (including tax/fees)
Expense #20 (oil change) - April 29, 2012 - 47,238 - Total Cost $24.4716 (including tax)

Today I changed the oil with 7 quarts of Supertech 20W50 from Wal-Mart ($19.48 with tax) and a Bosch oil filter from Hervey ($4.9916 - It was part of a 6 pack I ordered last year for $29.95).

On another note, I have decided to take the plunge and order a set of Ed's LCA outriggers from DMCMW. I'm going to give Julie a call tomorrow and spend $340 (plus shipping) just because I want to. So it looks like I'm going to be way beyond $500 for the year.