Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

DeLorean Intake Manifold

DeLorean intake manifold. Fast and fluffy, ready to go. Only $600. Call...

"With his wildest thoughts, did John DeLorean ever imagine this?" I thought to myself as I relaxed in the 40C temperature of our cedar sunroom, feet resting on my DeLorean's intake manifold, which was doing Ottoman duty.

Only a day earlier I was hard at work with a friend, president of one of the many DeLorean owner's clubs. Together we unbolted, unplugged and tested various things. Finally, with the problem within our grasp, we decided to pull the 16-lb. aluminum manifold.

Once removed, we gained access to two very important parts of the engine: the ignition distributor and the "valley of death" or VOD. (A post on that to follow). Realizing we could not possibly finish the repairs without some new parts, we packed it in.

DeLorean intake manifold. All shots. Comes with 6-month supply of food. Only $600. Call...I have ordered a set of o-rings and gaskets from the DeLorean Motor Company and am awaiting their arrival. In the meantime, I thought it would be a great idea to shine up the manifold.

I went into the backyard with a deadly can of GUNK Engine Brite, made from the tears and nightmares of environmentalists. As I sprayed the heavy duty engine degreaser and scrubbed with a toothbrush, the blackened manifold slowly turned a bright silver.

All around me the grass withered and died, and as I hosed off the patio a celebratory rainbow appeared in the petroleum-based run-off. I let the manifold sit outside to dry off for a few hours, then brought it inside for protection, as a new one would run me nearly $600 U.S. plus shipping if it somehow "went missing". That's nearly $37 per pound.

Well, I guess it's not that bad. With Gold around $900 per pound, I'm glad I don't have one of the ultra-rare solid gold DeLoreans*.

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*Just kidding. I totally wish I had one. Oh, and the gold DeLoreans only had gold plated body panels, not engine parts.

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8 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

That intake manifold looks like... well something else that looks it.

If they made a new DMC 2009 model with the tech of the day would the fans be offended or elated?

5:11:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

There are definite mixed feelings about "new" DeLoreans. I think it would be pretty exciting, but nothing could replace the classic original.

12:28:00 AM

 
Blogger Becky said...

I want a gold DeLorean too! Yes make those environmentalists cry, Boooowaaaahahaha! And their fictitious global warming nonsense. Its like one day Al Gore woke up and said I'm going to make up this massive lie to try and get people to be more environmentally conscious. Actually he may be really delusion though. Its probably an illness that shouldn't be treated so lightly. Instead most people harbor his delusions, sigh...

10:32:00 AM

 
Blogger Velvet Ginger said...

It looks like it would make a cool teeter-totter!
Ellie & I saw a DeLorean on the road on one of our adventures when I vacationed with her, only the second "real-life" one i have ever seen! they just rock!

3:36:00 PM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Ah, many memories of using Gunk on my GM cars, Martini! That stuff is really amazing. I really prefer your car to the gold plated ones. What intrigues me to no end is what John would have modified in that car's design had circumstances been different. He was a genius. Oh, if we could only go "Back to the Future" with John and do some things over. That is the car lover in me speaking! Smart idea on ordering the O-rings too! Exciting!!

2:11:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

The o-rings and gaskets arrived today. I'm still waiting for a few parts but I'll be hard at work soon.

11:19:00 PM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Hows it been goin? I have vin 4590 im getting ready to dig into alot of things on

2:49:00 AM

 
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6:37:00 AM

 

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