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Back to the future for Waterhead

I've tinkered with one and spent a bunch of time talking to a couple owners of those. They're shit. Front to back they're total and complete shit. Bad wiring, renault drivetrain, terrible brakes etc. But they look cool. If I was going to tinker with one it'd get a bug or porsche drivetrain swap. Most anything is more reliable and has more potential for power than the shit that's in it now. :laughing:
 
DWT said:
I've tinkered with one and spent a bunch of time talking to a couple owners of those. They're shit. Front to back they're total and complete shit. Bad wiring, renault drivetrain, terrible brakes etc. But they look cool. If I was going to tinker with one it'd get a bug or porsche drivetrain swap. Most anything is more reliable and has more potential for power than the shit that's in it now. :laughing:
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They not known to be great cars, but I think you're over stating it. I'm on the Delorean forum for several years and I've heard of most of the problems. The drive train is not powerful, but is fairly reliable. This particular car has 93,000 miles in forty years. The guy I bought it from has owned it since 86'. He has never had an issue with the running gear.

The reason he parked it was the fuse box melted. (Common problem) it's been parked for two years and now the gas has turned to varnish. The fuse box thing doesn't look that hard to deal with. (He didn't let it go too far.) The fuel issue is another thing. I pulled the pump yesterday and I've never seen fuel get that bad. I wouldn't believe the two year statement except it had 2020 plates on it. (He said he parked it in 2019 right after he renewed the plates.)

This guy was 80 years old and quite interesting. He had full documentation and magazines/newspapers with artical s about Delorean. He thought he was going fix the car, but he was too frail to do it. Quite honestly, I could probably sell it for twice what I paid the way it is. If I get it running, it will be worth 3-4 times my money. He did not know the value and he didn't use computers. Advertising in that stupid newsletter was crazy. I was expecting it to be in terrible condition at the advertised price. I never go look at something without having the cash on me, but I knew I wasn't serious because I have too many projects. The minute he opened the garage door, I knew I was buying it. I was scared to leave it overnight. (He wouldn't take a deposit) He said "if you say you'll be here tomorrow, I'll hold it. I've takin two other peoples names and numbers since you called". This is definitely the best automotive deal I've ever made by far.

I hate to postpone work on the HEMTT, but I have to get this driving.
 
TatonkaII said:
So you ripped off an old guy. Nice. :flipoff2:
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I would say I got a fantastic deal, but that remains to be seen as I don't have it running yet. I did pay full asking price, so not like I beat him up. I also paid in $100 bills. He said he hates people that don't pay cash. So we both were happy.
 
WaterH said:
They not known to be great cars, but I think you're over stating it. I'm on the Delorean forum for several years and I've heard of most of the problems. The drive train is not powerful, but is fairly reliable. This particular car has 93,000 miles in forty years. The guy I bought it from has owned it since 86'. He has never had an issue with the running gear.

The reason he parked it was the fuse box melted. (Common problem) it's been parked for two years and now the gas has turned to varnish. The fuse box thing doesn't look that hard to deal with. (He didn't let it go too far.) The fuel issue is another thing. I pulled the pump yesterday and I've never seen fuel get that bad. I wouldn't believe the two year statement except it had 2020 plates on it. (He said he parked it in 2019 right after he renewed the plates.)

This guy was 80 years old and quite interesting. He had full documentation and magazines/newspapers with artical s about Delorean. He thought he was going fix the car, but he was too frail to do it. Quite honestly, I could probably sell it for twice what I paid the way it is. If I get it running, it will be worth 3-4 times my money. He did not know the value and he didn't use computers. Advertising in that stupid newsletter was crazy. I was expecting it to be in terrible condition at the advertised price. I never go look at something without having the cash on me, but I knew I wasn't serious because I have too many projects. The minute he opened the garage door, I knew I was buying it. I was scared to leave it overnight. (He wouldn't take a deposit) He said "if you say you'll be here tomorrow, I'll hold it. I've takin two other peoples names and numbers since you called". This is definitely the best automotive deal I've ever made by far.

I hate to postpone work on the HEMTT, but I have to get this driving.
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Did he start babbling to you about your future while hitching a ride the fuck out of there on a flying time travel train?
 
You're gonna do a thread as you tear it apart, right?

Because not everyone gets to see one of those!
 
Was it the Ruralite? Also what'd you pay?:flipoff2: Damnit now I'm going to be reading those ads again! :smokin:
 
[486 said:
;n301306]I'd bet it's something done after it gets crashed
the brushed finish is hard to replicate I guess
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I'd bet it's easier to replicate the brushed finish than to make a wiggly polished surface look good.

When I was a kid, a dude in town had a red DeLorean.
He got pissy when I asked how bad it had been wrecked :laughing:
He got pissed when I said, "no that's not factory paint - it's been wrecked" :flipoff2:
 
WaterH said:
They not known to be great cars, but I think you're over stating it. I'm on the Delorean forum for several years and I've heard of most of the problems. The drive train is not powerful, but is fairly reliable. This particular car has 93,000 miles in forty years. The guy I bought it from has owned it since 86'. He has never had an issue with the running gear.

The reason he parked it was the fuse box melted. (Common problem) it's been parked for two years and now the gas has turned to varnish. The fuse box thing doesn't look that hard to deal with. (He didn't let it go too far.) The fuel issue is another thing. I pulled the pump yesterday and I've never seen fuel get that bad. I wouldn't believe the two year statement except it had 2020 plates on it. (He said he parked it in 2019 right after he renewed the plates.)
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Pull starting it with a train works well if I remember correctly.
 
So are you an actual DeLorean geek or is this more of a flipper/resale once unfawked deal?
 
I went to high school with a kid whose dad bought one, drove it home, and parked it, in showroom condition, and kept it stashed-away that way. 27 miles on it, ten-ish years off the showroom floor last I saw it (a while ago). I imagine it might be worth more now than it cost new, but I don't know numbers on either side of the new/now spread. At least it isn't rusting away.
 
Old hoarder type guy down the road from me had 2 or 3 of them sitting in his driveway. They are probably still there. That was 25+ years ago. His fucking yard was packed full of shit.
 
subybaja said:
You're gonna do a thread as you tear it apart, right?

Because not everyone gets to see one of those!
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I don't know about "tear it apart", if I come across something interesting, I can snap a pic. Right now I'm cleaning the fuel tank out. (Not much to look at) Of interest in a pita way, You must remove the intake manifold to remove the distributor cap. WTF! I might be machining something to change that in the future.

FlexyTJ said:
So are you an actual DeLorean geek or is this more of a flipper/resale once unfawked deal?
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I plan to get it running and will probably drive it for awhile. But I don't imagine I'll keep it more than two years.
 
WaterH said:
I don't know about "tear it apart", if I come across something interesting, I can snap a pic. Right now I'm cleaning the fuel tank out. (Not much to look at) Of interest in a pita way, You must remove the intake manifold to remove the distributor cap. WTF! I might be machining something to change that in the future.



I plan to get it running and will probably drive it for awhile. But I don't imagine I'll keep it more than two years.
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Dont hack it up. And if you do decide to sale it, PM me. Always wanted one
 
ConwayMuddy said:
Dont hack it up. And if you do decide to sale it, PM me. Always wanted one
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Someone already pointed out one built as a power boat, which is dumb, but to sail it would be even dumber. He has also posted that he will likely sell it in a couple years, so whatever you're trying to communicate here, it's been covered.:flipoff2:
 
ConwayMuddy said:
Dont hack it up. And if you do decide to sale it, PM me. Always wanted one
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No hack on this. (Unless it's factory hack) I will keep it stock unless the engine is shot. Than it will probably get an LS. Pretty sure it won't be for sale for a couple years, maybe longer.
 
ExWrench said:
I'd bet it's easier to replicate the brushed finish than to make a wiggly polished surface look good.

When I was a kid, a dude in town had a red DeLorean.
He got pissy when I asked how bad it had been wrecked :laughing:
He got pissed when I said, "no that's not factory paint - it's been wrecked" :flipoff2:
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Was that the nice candy apple red?
 
I worked at a Delorean distributor back in 86-87 and got to work on a few of them.
There a was a sweet candy apple red car that had been painted after it got rear ended hard by a Chevette, very, very minimal damage to the DMC but the Chevette was destroyed.
They were definitely cool in their own way. The gullwing doors could be opened fully when parked 12” from a wall.

I was out refueling one and some random dude walking by casually said “now there’s a car that can follow a white line” I was young and naive and didn’t make the connection until a few days later🤪
 
Vinman said:
I worked at a Delorean distributor back in 86-87 and got to work on a few of them.
There a was a sweet candy apple red car that had been painted after it got rear ended hard by a Chevette, very, very minimal damage to the DMC but the Chevette was destroyed.
They were definitely cool in their own way. The gullwing doors could be opened fully when parked 12” from a wall.

I was out refueling one and some random dude walking by casually said “now there’s a car that can follow a white line” I was young and naive and didn’t make the connection until a few days later🤪
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Maybe this one? I've never seen a painted one but damn it looks good.

1982-delorean-5-speed-turbo-candy-apple-red-low-miles-lowlow-reserve-1.jpg
 
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