DeLorean Eagle Premier engine swap
In an earlier post, “Mystery DeLorean Turbo Engine Spotted“, we were initially unable to identify an engine that had been swapped into a DeLorean, replacing it’s stock PRV 2.89 liter V-6.
Now we have identified it, and we also have an example to share here: http://www.customdelorean.com/Site/Heaths_Engine.html
Here’s the one we spotted at a local car show (right after our camera battery died and we had to fall back to a cell phone):
This was a really interesting find, especially because it was sitting right next to a stock DeLorean. We’re always intrigued by engine swaps and examined this one in detail. Apparently the Eagle swap is very popular, and it usually the basis for a later addition of a turbo system.
Here is the engine of such a swap detailed on the site “Custom DeLorean“. In fact, we believe it to be the exact same car as we spotted, even though it was spotted in Austin Texas rather than California where it was built.
This is actually a slightly larger version of the same PRV engine, as used in the Eagle Premier from 1987-1992. This is a 90-degree V-6, with chain-driven cams, and is odd-fire. It’s an easy swap into a DeLorean, requires minimal swapping of parts, and is a stronger base for a build-up. As in the turbo in the above picture, from CustomDeLorean.
Jay Leno tests a remanufactured DeLorean
Scandal, drug deals, and international warrants – that’s the down side of John DeLorean. But his car legacy remains: over 9000 built in two years and over 7000 surviving. And now the revived DeLorean Motor Company can rebuild one for you: http://www.delorean.com/
Jay Leno tests one such rebuilt car:
Mystery Delorean turbo engine spotted
Here’s some pictures of a DeLorean car show we attended in September. The Alamo Draft House sponsored the show, along with a showing of Back to the Future.
All of the DeLoreans were customized to varying degrees… not always to the greatest taste:
In this example, a much-needed set of modern seats, steering wheel, and a shift knob were added. Very nice.
DeLoreans are certainly very distinctive – even if we hadn’t known a show was taking place, we would have spotted these a mile away. Incidentally, all the cars had minor bumps and nicks in their stainless steel bodies. and the plastic bumpers were all faded. Nonetheless, they were well preserved for their age.
At this point our camera battery died – right when it got interesting. So we had to switch to the cell phone camera.
Here’s a stock DeLorean engine – a 2.895 liter PRV (Peugot-Renault-Volvo joint venture) 90-degree V-6.
And here’s an entirely different engine transplanted into the car, and turbocharged with a home-grown design. We were initially unable to identify it, but have since been told that this is an Eagle Premier engine.
1981 DeLorean reassembly, restoration, and twin-turbocharging!
Here’s a great site for an enthusiast to look over carefully. The author bought a totally disassembled 1981 DeLorean. By totally, I mean even to the point of the alternator being broken down into individual pieces. It’s back together now and running well. The author has named the car ‘Project Vixen”.
The reassembly, the restoration, and the mid-point addition of a twin-turbocharger system took 5 years to complete. With many heartbreaks along the way: unexpected dot-com job changes, a freon explosion, an engine fire, countless technical gremlins, and the sinking feeling that the project might never be done. If there is a constant throughout the long months and years, it’s his cute girlfriend who appreciates old cars herself and patiently stuck it out to the end (she’s a keeper!). And the end result was cross-country drive to a national-level DeLorean car show their work was proudly shown.
Even if a DeLorean is not your own idea of what to restore (and I think it’d make a great project car), the trials and tribulations would be very similar. As you know, I’ve set my heart on a 240Z restoration… if and when the proper one comes along one day (there have been 2 near-misses so far). Many readers out there are starting similar projects over the winter months and will benefit from sites like this one. And you may want to think twice about what you’re getting into….
This is one of these cases that I’ve discussed in my blog before… for those of us who are into track events, where dynamic and maximum performance is everything, a old car like this would never work well on the track (only a tiny handful ever does: I can think of one early Z with a GT-R engine I’d like to have). No structural integrity, no brakes, not enough horsepower, technically obsolete, no room for appropriate tires, crude suspension, tough parts availability, on and on. If you’re hung-up on these issues, you won’t find love with a project like this because you’ll never be satisfied with the results. There is nothing worse than a love/hate relationship with a car (or a person). So you have to learn to grow beyond a single dimension and to appreciate “her” for what she is. If that means she only goes out for the occasional Sunday drive, well then sit back and enjoy her company. There is certainly more to life than driving at 10/10ths on a racetrack, and when you rebuild a car yourself and get the dirt under your own fingernails, you can appreciate that much more.
Jump to project site: http://www.projectvixen.com
Additional Reference: DeLorean Motor Company: http://www.delorean.com
CarScoop rocks again with a rotary-powered DeLorean!
Carscoop scored well yesterday with a W-12 powered VW GTI.. Cool, but not something any of us would be likely to build.
But today’s post on a 3-rotor Wankel powered DeLorean hits home – this is something that we could do, and something that we would want to do. DeLorean prices aren’t too bad… and as Carscoop says the 130-HP Renault motor is pointless. DeLoreans have long needed an alternative. This swap provides that, as well as the Porsche transaxle needed to make it work.
Continue at link: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2007/05/delorean-with-300hp-mazda-rotary-engine.html