Day 3

Day three was almost as productive as day two was (so far, not done yet!). So far I have gotten the lower door panels and door handles dyed, door pillar trim dyed, door headliners out, driver side quarter panel and seats out, and am getting ready to start recovering the seats as soon as I am done writing this post. All I have left is to get the passenger side quarter panel out, and get the rear panel out and dye it and the quarter panels. Should be about an hour or less, then I will be ready to start putting things back in. I will probably do the carpet first, then the seats, then quarter panels, then door panels & trim, then dash/console/knee pads, then headliner. I'm hoping that it will only take a few hours tomorrow before I'm done. That may be a bit optimistic, but I am fully planning to be done before the day ends tomorrow! That is of course assuming that I can get the seats both recovered tonight. I guess time will tell. I should at the very least be MOSTLY done tomorrow.


My re-dyed door panel with the reproduction DMCH door pulls. The color is PERFECT!


Wow, it's no wonder these speakers sounded like SHIT! You can see the ground through them, and chunks fell off when I took it out!!!


It came complete with a dead spider!


I'm guessing these will sound just a little bit better, LOL!


Seat is out. Much easier to take out than I thought it would be.


No seat or quarter panel.


Just to give you an idea of the scope of this project. Everything you see is part of this project.


My parents are gone this week, so I kind of took over their living room!! I wouldn't have had enough space at my place for everything, so it worked out perfectly! :) I have even added more stuff since this picture!

Day 2

I finally got my knee pads, center console and upper door panels dyed black today, and they turned out even better than I was hoping for! They look awesome, and they match perfectly with the factory black parts!


How the interior looks at the moment!


The factory Craig speakers from the dash. They still work, too!


The first pieces waiting to be dyed.


Before and after on the knee pads.


Another before and after example.


My re-dyed center console with factory black arm rest. They match perfectly in person!


My VIN plate painted and installed on my new DMCH dash!


The steadily growing pile of parts to be installed. Without knowing, could you tell which ones are original factory parts, reproductions or re-dyed? I can't!


My new shifter ball. It's brushed stainless and looks AWESOME!

Tomorrow I am going to dye the few remaining parts, and get everything installed! I also have a new mini-project I'm starting. Since I am installing seat warmers, I am trying to figure out how to modify some factory window switches to act as the hi/lo temp on/off switches for them. It shouldn't be too hard. Unfortunately I can't just use the dummy switches, since then it would just be on/off and you couldn't choose the temp setting. I just got my used switches in the mail yesterday, so I will start looking into that tomorrow.

I have more pictures, but somehow I forgot my camera AGAIN, so I'll post some more pictures tonight.

Day 1

Today I finally started on the interior! I got a late start, unfortunately, so I didn't get as much done as I would have liked. So far I have removed the binnacle, all three knee pads, center console, glove box, and started taking the dash out.


I have also removed the A/C panel since this photo.

I ordered a used black console cover/arm rest which arrived today. It's not perfect, but at least now I don't have to try to dye my cracked gray arm rest. I have a feeling that wouldn't turn out too well (or last too long, either). It came with another ashtray, cigarette lighter and lighted ring, which I will probably end up selling since I already have a spare ashtray and cigarette lighter.

I bought four new speakers today to replace the rapidly deteriorating factory Craig speakers, so once I get the new dash put in I'll have brand new Infinity speakers in front! I don't know if I'm going to get to the quarter panels tomorrow or not, so the rear speakers may have to wait for my next days off.

So tomorrow I hope to finish taking the dash out, replace the heater core, re-dye the knee pads, door panels and center console, and install them along with my new dash, binnacle, glove box lid, front speakers, console arm rest, shift boot, shift knob, left and right door escutcheons and door pulls! I'm also hoping I'll have time to start re-covering the seats! I may not finish, but I would like to at least start on them.

I got some good "before" shots today, but I left my camera in my car. I'll post them along with my updates for tomorrow! For now, enjoy these:


Freshly washed!

Umm...

One of the previous owners of my car installed two dummy switches and wired them up to...um, who knows? Well today I finally figured one of the two out. The antenna on my car is the powered version in the rear quarter panel. I thought I was going to have to replace it, because it only worked sometimes. It was driving me crazy! Today as I was leaving work I decided to listen to my radio, which I don't do too often. The antenna didn't come up, and hadn't for about a month. As I shifted, my elbow accidentally hit the dummy switch, and I heard a noise from behind me. It took me a few seconds to figure out, but the antenna had come up! I guess one of the POs wired the antenna to the dummy switch so that they could lower it if they wanted. I can't really think of any time that that might be useful, but at least now I know why it didn't work and what that switch does. Now I just need to figure out what the other switch is wired up to...

As of yesterday, I have officially driven my DeLorean over 3,000 miles since April! It's running great for the most part, and I am only 300 miles from hitting the big 5-0(,000)! I should celebrate! I wonder if the people at the grocery store could put a DeLorean on a cake for me.

Yesterday, I had a car come up from behind me honking like crazy, then when they got beside me they got all embarassed. They said that they thought I was a friend of theirs, because I guess their friend has a DeLorean, too! Didn't have time at the stoplight to ask the friend's name. I also had a guy standing and staring at my car when I got out of the grocery store this morning, and proceeded to have a five minute conversation about my car. Not unusual, except it was 7am and people usually don't care that early in the morning. I also found out that there is a D for sale in Estes Park! I was planning a short drive up there anyway tomorrow, so I might see if he'll let me stop by and see it. Not that I'm interested in buying it, but I always like to see the local DeLoreans for sale.

I finally have the perfect opportunity to work on my car these next three days, so I am going to take full advantage of it. It really shouldn't take that long, I just need to actually get on it. Hopefully I'll finally be done with everything by Thursday! Wish me luck!

49,000 miles

49,000 miles and counting as of today!

I also got my A/C parts yesterday and today, and my new seat covers were shipped out today! I definitely have my work cut out for me the next couple of weeks, but I'm very excited to get it all done! I promise some updates as soon as I get started. :)

Update

As of today, I have put over 2,000 miles on my DeLorean since I got it running again! Other than the brake problem (which was my fault) it hasn't had a single problem and has been running great!

Sorry for the lack of updates, but there haven't been any. It has been 100+ degrees here for over a week, so I haven't really been able to work on it like I need to. Hopefully it cools down some the next few days so I can get some work done. I want this thing to be perfect by the Highland Festival in Estes Park, so I have about a month and a half. Need to get working soon!

Updated To-Do list

Replace fuel tank parts
Fix or replace A/C system
Replace heater core
Paint/detail engine and compartment
Paint louvers and install 3rd brake light
Paint bumpers/trim
Install Black Side Stripe
Replace plastic door handles with my new metal ones from DMCH
Fix eyebrows
Re-brush stainless
Replace dash/binnacle
Replace seat covers
Fix E-brake
Install new door struts
Adjust passenger door torsion bar
Install Toby TABs
Refurbish rear suspension
Buy and install electric trunk release
Wire electric trunk release
Replace door lights/dome lights with LEDs
Fix passenger rear brake light
Replace passenger side tail light lens
Fix driver side door ajar switch
Fix or replace wiper switch
Replace speakers
Replace dome light fixtures
Replace old cigarette lighter with my new (NOS) one from DMCH
Replace ashtray with newer 1983 style
Hook up Sub-Woofer
Install stereo hook-up for iPod
Replace pressure regulator O-ring (again)
Adjust to fix stalling issue
Adjust to fix idle problems
Replace spark plugs and wires
Replace Gas Cap
Replace vent fan motor
Rebuild Mode Switch
Replace shocks
Replace steering column bushing

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