I couldn't defile a poor 300zx like that. That's like putting a Ford 302 into a Camaro. I only say this because I have a TT Z32 myself. Loyal to the VG30DETT.
Looks like you got a nice clean swap going on though. Can't hate that.
That's actually pretty amazing. I can't believe there is a hater in that thread. His words are obviously from someone who has never driven a DeLorean, and believes that the owner somehow defiled it. I'm a little confused of how exactly putting a very strong (and actually reliable when you don't beat on it) Toyota powertrain is 'defiling' a car when it's now likely a lot more reliable than it was new?
Some people seriously need to keep their two cents and not throw it in.
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12:02 PM
avengador1 Member
Posts: 35468 From: Orlando, Florida Registered: Oct 2001
i'm wondering if that tranny could swap into a fiero. It would obviously require the space that the gas tank currently occupies, but a fuel cell can take care of that.
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03:38 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25242 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
That's actually pretty amazing. I can't believe there is a hater in that thread. His words are obviously from someone who has never driven a DeLorean, and believes that the owner somehow defiled it. I'm a little confused of how exactly putting a very strong (and actually reliable when you don't beat on it) Toyota powertrain is 'defiling' a car when it's now likely a lot more reliable than it was new?
Some people seriously need to keep their two cents and not throw it in.
I knew a guy several years ago who had a Delorean. I'd let him drive my Fiero once in a while, and he would let me drive his Delorean. He used to tell me about the other guys in the Delorean club and forums that he was on.
Not saying Deloran (on here) is like that, but there seems to be some kind of perception from many in the Delorean crowd that the DMC is somehow on the same level as say... a Ferrari or a Lamborgini.
Granted, they didn't really make very many of them... less than 9,500 over the two years I think, right? But... they really weren't that expensive. They were actually considerably less expensive than say a higher end BMW (which wasn't even of the same calibur that BMW is now) and considerably less expensive than a Porsche 944. I think they sold for around $23,000 back in ~1981. When the company went bankrupt... you could even buy them for SIGNIFICANTLY less money... in the teens actually.
When Back To The Future came out... it elevated the car to an iconic status... and many people "do up" their Deloreans much in the same way that 76-77 TransAm owners do with Smokey & The Bandit. The Delorean was honestly nothing more than a kich' type of car during the early 80s. Much like the Fiero, it was a development in new technology. The Fiero and Delorean are actually more similar than people realize. They both have medium displacement V6s (I think both are 2.8s) and they're both either offered with a 5-Speed or a 3-Speed. They both weight roughly the same, and both are somewhat slow in the quarter mile.
Can't say I get it, but for a lot of Delorean owners... this is the closest they'll ever come to owning what they perceive to be a "supercar." To THOSE individuals, it's about image... not about the car.
Personally, I'd love to own one, but I have neither the time, or the space for it. If I did own one, I'd probably keep it stock too. But I wouldn't presume to criticize someone for upgrading the engine. Especially if they make it look stock otherwise...
No harm meant for Delorean on here... I know he's not one of "that kind."
I couldn't defile a poor 300zx like that. That's like putting a Ford 302 into a Camaro. I only say this because I have a TT Z32 myself. Loyal to the VG30DETT.
Looks like you got a nice clean swap going on though. Can't hate that.
The VG motors are great!! I love them, but, once you get into the higher HP range the VG's start going downhill. All those little things that make the motor amazing start to malifunction and are just no longer reliable. With the Toyota powertrain, and a Haltech Computer, were looking at minimal problems. Nothing like 900HP for a fraction of the cost.
Nick
EDIT: BTW if you ever need anything parts wise or maybe some work done just let me know! My roommate is a genius when it comes to them.
[This message has been edited by spud321x (edited 07-05-2010).]
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: I knew a guy several years ago who had a Delorean. I'd let him drive my Fiero once in a while, and he would let me drive his Delorean. He used to tell me about the other guys in the Delorean club and forums that he was on.
Not saying Deloran (on here) is like that, but there seems to be some kind of perception from many in the Delorean crowd that the DMC is somehow on the same level as say... a Ferrari or a Lamborgini.
I believe it's more of a rarity thing than anything else. I've driven a very good example some time ago, and I honestly was not impressed. A local dealer received one for a trade-in (amazingly enough) and I knew a guy there who got me a chance to take it around. They actually ended up selling it for 15K and there was nothing wrong with it and it was an all-around driver. It was very similar to driving a V6 Fiero, albeit to me there was a slight bit more kick in it, but nothing in the realm of earth shattering.
I do agree that the cars are very interesting, and from an ownership standpoint there is nothing wrong with a DeLorean at all, but I am with you that the car is far from being in the status of 'exotic'. Unique for sure, but not something I would classify as 'exotic'. I mean we're talking about a car that could barely hold with a Ferrari 308 of the day.
I don't know. I personally feel that the 2JZ put into this car has for me really increased value. One, this DeLorean is not one that has a drivetrain that has sat, so you don't have to worry about problems of it having sat for a decade. Second, yes you can find replacement and tune-up parts for DeLoreans, but would you seriously want to have to contact the three or so DeLorean restorers in the U.S. for parts? With that 2JZ, you can go to your local O'Reilly's or AutoZone and be rolling after a tune up in no time, not waiting on replacement tune-up parts to be shipped. Third, the car is now a real driver - something that you could potentially drive for years to come, put around 100k or so on, and still sell the car with a unique swap in a unique car. To me, the whole package screams genius.
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04:53 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25242 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
I believe it's more of a rarity thing than anything else. I've driven a very good example some time ago, and I honestly was not impressed. A local dealer received one for a trade-in (amazingly enough) and I knew a guy there who got me a chance to take it around. They actually ended up selling it for 15K and there was nothing wrong with it and it was an all-around driver. It was very similar to driving a V6 Fiero, albeit to me there was a slight bit more kick in it, but nothing in the realm of earth shattering.
I do agree that the cars are very interesting, and from an ownership standpoint there is nothing wrong with a DeLorean at all, but I am with you that the car is far from being in the status of 'exotic'. Unique for sure, but not something I would classify as 'exotic'. I mean we're talking about a car that could barely hold with a Ferrari 308 of the day.
Yeah... I think it had 170hp, but the one I drove (automatic) was really a turd on acceleration.
The 308 was a pretty formidable car for the time though... shouldn't even really be compared with the Delorean. The Delorean ran like a low 16 second quarter mile time... I think the slowest Ferrari 308 still ran at least a flat 15 in the quarter. Most of them ran mid 14s.
If I owned one, I'd probably want to upgrade it as much as possible while still keeping it visually stock... maybe do some sort of stroker conversion on the engine... I dunno.
I would prefer a Northstar powered Delorean myself. You can't beat the wow factor of that one.
Well, I can... Waste of a good engine,unless he wants to make a sleeper out of it. Then it's OK. Since the engine has an unusual exhaust note, nobody would ever guess what was in the car unless they looked under the hood.
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05:21 PM
htexans1 Member
Posts: 9115 From: Clear Lake City/Houston TX Registered: Sep 2001
Well, I can... Waste of a good engine,unless he wants to make a sleeper out of it. Then it's OK. Since the engine has an unusual exhaust note, nobody would ever guess what was in the car unless they looked under the hood.
One engine I would love to tinker around with. Replaced a few, but never got a chance to go inside one Definately one of the better sounding V8's.
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06:17 PM
82-T/A [At Work] Member
Posts: 25242 From: Florida USA Registered: Aug 2002
Well, I can... Waste of a good engine,unless he wants to make a sleeper out of it. Then it's OK. Since the engine has an unusual exhaust note, nobody would ever guess what was in the car unless they looked under the hood.
Hahah... well, I'm probably the biggest Lotus fan on here there is... except maybe you...
That Lotus V8 is pretty nice... but honestly, if there's no Esprit to put it in, then the Delorean is as good as any car. Especially since the the chassis on the Delorean is derived from the same design that was more or less used on the Esprit (at least in spirit... heh).
Truth be told though... I think I'd much rather see that engine in the back of a 1979 Commemorative Edition JPS Esprit...
The VG motors are great!! I love them, but, once you get into the higher HP range the VG's start going downhill. All those little things that make the motor amazing start to malifunction and are just no longer reliable. With the Toyota powertrain, and a Haltech Computer, were looking at minimal problems. Nothing like 900HP for a fraction of the cost.
Nick
EDIT: BTW if you ever need anything parts wise or maybe some work done just let me know! My roommate is a genius when it comes to them.
Honestly, the VG is no more or less reliable than the 2JZ or any other motor at high HP levels like that. Once you start making a lot of power, things start to break, no matter what motor it is. The VG however, costs a lot more to make a lot of power, and is a lot more difficult to work on. You have to pull the motor to do a lot of things that you can easily do to and inline 6 while still in the car. I would have gone with a RB26 instead though. Skyline>Supra (in my humble opinion )
I'm pretty well equipped and capeable when it comes to working on my Z32, but thanks for the offer. I could use a part or 2 though. Ask if he has a pair of the stock molded rubber hoses for the recirc valves. I need to get rid of these bov's i have and my hoses were all dry rotted.
[This message has been edited by Genopsyde (edited 07-05-2010).]
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07:15 PM
turboguy327 Member
Posts: 1692 From: Webster, NY USA Registered: Feb 2007
There arent many better engine choices to make huge power with over a 2J. They can easily touch 700 hp on stock internals. Can even use the stock head gasket at over 900. I would put a 2J in everything I could if I had the money.
Not only was the 2JZ a potentialy very powerful motor it was a very reliable one to because it was built to be so strong. It was also used in the V6 solara Lexus SC300 and the IS300. as well as a few other vehicals from toyota motor company. Shame they dont build them like they used to.
If I owned one, I'd probably want to upgrade it as much as possible while still keeping it visually stock... maybe do some sort of stroker conversion on the engine... I dunno.
I think they do stroker builds... something like 3.1L or 3.2L upped on the stock block. Can't recall exactly, but it's an option if you have any of the new official DMC dealers restore your DeLorean.
The Northstar has its own section over there.
Definately one of the better sounding V8's.
