New Engine Mounts and Other Chaos

The disassembling of the engine's intake manifold has had a domino effect and today Joe and I found a series of other components that required removal. Before the coolant flush difficulties, I had intended to replace the engine mounts. Now with the entire upper half of the engine gone, it seemed like the perfect time to do so as the new mounts weren't doing anything pressing sitting in their bags. We ran into a few difficulties accessing the bolts, so since I had planned to replace the catalytic converter anyway, the muffler, CAT and brackets all came off as well.

It took some funky combinations of ratchets and extensions to get to the bolts attaching the CAT to the rest of the exhaust system. Once it was off the car, the work room was greatly expanded. The motor mounts were original and badly dry-rotted.

The new mounts are a welcome addition to the engine refurb' and tune-up. We also found a cracked mounting bracket for the muffler while in there, so it looks like it was good to get into it and sort everything out.

I also managed to get a plug-and-play upgrade into the vehicle - solid state fan relays to replace the cumbersome relay box. Made a lot of room in the fuse box.

 

Valley of Death Flooded with Coolant

The DeLorean's coolant flush has turned into a nightmare. It has revealed leaks at almost every junction of the car's cooling system, including a nice lake in the engine's Valley of Death. This has resulted in the complete (and unexpected) disassembling of the intake manifold, water pump, fuel injection system and other components so the valley can be cleaned and the cooling system refilled and retested.

2012 Winter Project List

So, here's a listing of what needs to be done this winter and I've also included a list of what has been done in the past three years!

To do list:

1. Replace engine mounts
2. Replace catalytic converter
3. Replace muffler heat shield
4. Test and recharge A/C system
5. Change belts and tighten
6. Flush transmission fluid
7. Install clutch bleeder kit, flush clutch fluid
8. Oil change
9. Test otterstat
10. Fix luggage compartment latch
11. Fix rear louvers latch
12. Replace engine light switch
13. Replace rear fascia
14. Replace vacuum cap on charcoal cannister
15. Recondition steering column ends
16. Replace seal cap on passenger side, lower body
17. Lower rear springs

Already done list:

1. Replace alternator - D110
2. Upgrade headlight switch - DMCNW
3. Recondition front suspension components
4. Re-grease all joints in front suspension
5. Lower front springs - DMCUK
6. Install Lower Control Arm Outriggers - DMCEU
7. Replace sway bar bushings - DMCH
8. Replace speakers, speaker wire and stereo head unit - Pioneer/Kicker
9. Replace oil pressure gauge sender - Special-T
10. Upgrade headlights - Sylvania Silverstars
11. Install cooling system bleeder kit - DMCNW
12. Upgrade cooling fans - DMCNW
13. Replace fan shroud - DMCH
14. Upgrade all shocks - Spax via Special-T
15. Replace brake pads - Axxis via Special-T
16. Replace caliper pins and springs - Special-T
17. Replace all rotors - Special-T
18. Coolant flush
19. Upgrade fan and fan-fail relays to solid state
20. Remove luggage net

Coolant flushed, fan relays upgraded! Lots more to do!

After a week of chasing leaks around the car, the coolant flush is finally done. I also installed solid state fan and fan-fail relays to replace a cumbersome fan relay unit. Pictures and more to come soon...Lots more work to do.

Coolant Flushed! Now I can wait five years before doing it again!

Took me the better part of the entire weekend, but I managed to flush and replace the coolant in the DeLorean. The process was messy and nerve-wracking. While I was working on it, I installed DMC Northwest's excellent cooling system air bleeder kit that was a real benefit when it came time to burp the system of the excess air.

There was a small amount of rusty sediment in the reservoir bottle, so I removed it and flushed it off the car. The real problem was flushing the system with water as it ended up all over my garage floor. I couldn't let the antifreeze into the storm drains, so I had to clean it up and bottle it.

What's next? Fan relays, new belts, otterstat testing and those engine mounts...Hurts my head thinking about that.

Winter 2012 maintenance begins!

Although hopefully nothing as intensive as last year's brakes and suspension upgrades, this winter is already shaping up to be a nice laundry list of work. This winter's projects include - 

• Coolant flush - (There's no delaying any longer!)
• Solid State Fan & Fan Fail Relays
• Otterstat check
• Engine Mounts Replacement
• Engine Bay light switch replacement
• Oil Change
• Transmission and Clutch Fluid Change
• Starter replacement (upgrade to 1991 Eagle Premier starter)
• Install clutch fluid bleed and cooling system air bleeder kits
• Have A/C inspected and recharged 

There's a lot of good intentions here. Hope they all get done...