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

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Gullwing Grief - Hairdryer to the Rescue

1.21 gigawatts? I'll need one or two more inverters to handle that!

People are undeniably seduced by gullwing doors, whether they're on a lowly DeLorean or the supreme Mercedes SLS.

DeLorean doors, powered by a Grumman-aerospace torsion bar plus a strut, want to rise upward by nature. The only thing holding them down are the latches. And my latches are worn out. In the cold they don't catch and the doors launch upward.

Since I can't drive the car in the cold specifically because of this problem, I decided to have DMC Midwest replace my latches. I made all the arrangements, ordered parts, booked hotels and even plane flights.

But the ONE day I have to drive to Crystal Lake, Illinois is a terribly cold day sandwiched between all the nice the weather. And the main reason I'm going, ironically, is so the Swingles can replace my latches that don't work in the cold! This means that on my nine hour drive I would not be able stop. Not to eat, pee or even get gas.

Now here's the absurd part. In addition to these woes, my driver's window is broken and stuck in the up position. This means I have to open my door every time I pay a toll or talk to the border guards. But once my door is open, my goose is cooked.

Solution: A one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five watt hairdryer. To make this work I bought a super-badass 2000 watt inverter for $199. I attached appropriate cables, clamped it to my battery, and plugged in the purple hairdryer.

As ridiculous as this sounds, it works. Now I'm thinking of bringing my 1000 watt microwave too. After all, what's a road trip without burritos!?

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4 Comments:

Blogger awildermode said...

Ever try using a long rope/strap, loop it through the pull handles to keep the doors shut?

Have fun at DMC-Midwest, tell the Swingles I said hi.

5:43:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

My dad actually suggested that! But it would be pretty annoying with ropes across our laps and rattling doors. Plus this way I'm ready for the zombie apocalypse. Dave & Julee: I will!

6:03:00 PM

 
Anonymous Dan said...

BTW, Martini, Kill the Goat is back online...

3:20:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Thanks for the heads up Dan.

7:20:00 PM

 

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