Fall Tech Session, Brake Work

At the fall tech session, I wanted to have Dave S look at my brakes. I’ve compared my brakes to other Deloreans, and there is way too much travel in the brake pedal. I’ve bled them in the past, and they don’t feel spongy.

Dave found that the front right caliper was separating! We were able to bolt it back together, which restored some firmness to the pedal. We bled the brakes, so now I have fresh fluid. I was also told I could lengthen the rod coming from the brake booster. I’ll do that another time.

I also found a local brick-and-mortar store that sells Castrol GT LMA brake fluid!

Cost: Castrol 32oz GT LMA Brake Fluid (1) $16.99 plus tax

New Steering Wheel

After spending most of the 1990s baking in the Georgia sun, my stock steering wheel had its leather peeling off:

Recovered steering wheels go for nearly $300. The new Momo steering wheels being offered cost $300, and looks great in DMC (Houston) Electric Delorean:

I found an alternative. This imitation wheel costs $35 on eBay:

Bought it:

DMC (Houston) sells a steering wheel adapter, but I tried to find a less expensive version. I bought a GM style steering wheel adapter off eBay. However, I found it needed to be cut down and new holes needed to be drilled:

Without the proper tools, and with car show season approaching, I opted to buy the more expensive adapter from DMC Midwest:

Everything installed:

I plan to create a DMC logo for the center of the wheel. This project ended up being more expensive than I planned. In the future, I plan to resell the GM steering wheel adapter on eBay.

**UPDATE 8/10/2013 **
DMC-H sold out of their steering adapters, creating a demand. I sold the GM steering adapter to another Delorean owner in Greece, who really wanted an adapter. The owner understood he would need to do some serious modifications to the adapter.

Costs:

Item

Vendor

Price

Shipping

Tax

Steering Wheel Adapter

DMC Midwest

69.95

12.99

5.42

Evo Style Steering Wheel

eBay

35

0

0

GM Chrome Steering Wheel Adapter

eBay

29.99

6.99

0

  

  

 

subtotal

160.34

GM Steering adapter Sale

  

52.00

  

  

Paypal Fee

  

-2.33

  

  

Shipping

 USPS

-20.45

  

  

  

  

  

Total

131.12

Screened Fresh Air Intake

The cabin’s fresh air intake will collect acorn tops, seeds, leaves, and other debris. One suggestion is to put a screen over it:

http://www.ohiodeloreans.com/gallery-TipsTricksMods.htm

I removed the windshield grill, and vacuumed out debris:


I had some scrap fiberglass screen on hand, and set it with a few dabs of RTV.

 

 


After reinstalling the grill, I’ll trim the screen. I also cleaned the fragile, broken grill:


I also discovered I was missing all but one of the rubber stands used to hold up the windshield grill. I found some nylon bushings at Ace Hardware that are the exact height:


Costs:

Screen: On Hand
RTV: On Hand
Nylon bushings: (7 @ $0.33) $2.31 at Ace Hardware

Maintenance

I added a missing O Ring between the airbox and the air metering unit:


I replaced the tired looking lock module breaker with an updated one. I updated the electrical connections to ring terminals, and eliminated some T-Taps:


New door and hoods struts.

New Cooling Fan Breaker.

Costs:

Seal O Ring

DMC Midwest

$ 1.50

Luggange Comaprtment Struts

DMC Midwest

$ 39.95

Door struts soft lift in pairs

SpecialTAuto.com

$ 69.95

Door Lock 25 Amp Breaker

SpecialTAuto.com

$ 2.95

Cooling Fan 40 Amp Breaker

SpecialTAuto.com

$ 2.95

Ring Terminals

Menards

$ 1.00

   

$ 118.30

(taxes and shipping not included)

 

Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushings

I’m trying to reduce vibrations while driving. It was recommended to try some poly sway bar bushings.

Old bushings, new ones:


While I had the sway bar out, I POR 15 painted it:


Old paint flaking off?


Can’t tell, but it’s now glossy black:


I crossed some threads reinstalling the bolts to the sway bar in the crumble tube. I reinstalled the bolt, and it went in a little rough. Ugh.

 

Costs:

Bushings for end (set of 4): $75.00
Bushings for clamps (set of 2): $34.00
POR15: On hand

Fuel Pump Woes

I discovered late last year that my car refused to start. I confirmed I had spark, and dumped some fuel in the intake, and the car almost started. I confirmed I had power at the pump, so I decided to finally swap it.

Old fuel hoses, recommended to be replaced:

Kinked pickup hose I found:

Old vinyl-ish cover, new rubber cover

The kinked pickup hose was probably chocking the pump:

Old fuel pump support ring:

New pump, boot cover, hoses:

New pickup hose, old kinked hose

Newly replated ring, old ring

Old pickup screen:

Everything installed, checking for leaks. Found one, so I had to remove it all, use new washers, and reassemble:

Reference:

I didn’t get many new pictures reinstalling everything. After replacing the pump and hoses, the car still wouldn’t start. I checked voltage at the pump again, and was getting some wonky voltages. I grounded the pump directly to the frame, and sure enough, my fuel pump came to life, as did the car. For now, I’ve left the pump grounded to the frame, which is not recommended since it bypasses the inertia switch (major safety concern).

I also I previously had bought the fuel pump and new hoses in April 2011. See the previous blog post for those costs.

I bought another fuel hose and clamps to someday replace the hose near the accumulator. I also bought a hot air damn, so the radiator fans wouldn’t blow hot air over the fuel tank. I meant to make my own, but decided against it due to the time involved. In retrospect, I should have made it.

Quantity

Item

Vendor

Cost

1

Fuel Filter Screen

SpecialTAuto.com

$16.95

4

12mm x 1.5 copper sealing washer

$1.40

1

Radiator Air Dam

$59.95

  

Shipping

$11.80

1

Fuel Pickup hose

DMC Midwest

$41.95

1

Fuel Hose

$7.50

2

Fuel Hose Clamps

$3.30

1

Fuel Pump Support

$5.00

  

Tax

$4.48

     

$152.33

 

Brakes

I found out my reservoir was causing a fluid leak, and not the Brake Master Cylinder after all. I was able to find a brake master cylinder with reservoir at NAPA for over $314, however opted not to buy it. Similar new units on eBay were around $200. DMC Europe sells a new Reservoir, but I decided against overseas shipping and currency conversion. I tried to find a better deal. Sure enough, Amazon turned up this gem:

The Centric unit “Includes Reservoir And Cap, Brake Sensor Switch.” I choose free shipping, and waited about a week for it to show up. It arrived, and sure enough, the Brake Master Cylinder did *not* include the reservoir! I sent it back for a full refund. I lost about 2 weeks with that purchase. The price has since been raised more than $25.

I explored a few local salvage yards without any luck. Then, miraculously, I was able to purchase a NOS Girling Brake Master Cylinder with reservoir on eBay. Here’s the unit I purchased:

My D’s reservoir and the new reservoir compared:

My old yellow tank’s build date is between 1978 and 1980. The new tank looks to be made sometime around 1983 or 1984.

I installed the new(er) tank with my old cap, all mounted on my new brake master cylinder. It held fluid! No more leaks!

I ended up reselling the NOS Girling unit (without the reservoir) on eBay.

While waiting for my Girling unit to arrive, I also went on a buying spree and bought another Saab Reservoir and a complete Saab Brake Master Cylinder with Reservoir on eBay.

The Saab reservoir would need different grommets since the tank connections are larger. Also, there aren’t any mounting points for the Saab reservoir. My old unit left, Saab unit right:

I also found a local parts store that carries Castrol GT LMA, albeit the 12oz bottles.

Now I’ve got lots of spare parts. Hopefully I can sell some more on eBay:

Costs

Vendor

Cost

Shipping

Tax

Fees

Total

Amazon.com

Centric Brake Master Cylinder

-43.25

0

-$43.25

Amazon.com

Return Centric Brake Master Cylinder

43.25

0

$43.25

eBay

NOS Girling Brake Master Cylinder with Reservoir

-$49.26

-$10.49

-$59.75

eBay

1987 Saab 900 Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir

-$12.95

-$7.25

-$20.20

eBay

Saab 900 Brake Master Cylinder with Reservoir

-$29.95

-$12.95

-$42.90

eBay

NOS Girling Brake Master Cylinder

$57.66

-$11.00

-$7.46

$39.20

-$83.65

Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts

(5) 12oz Castrol GT LMA Brake Fluid

-$12.45

-$1.03

-$13.48

So far, $83.65 to find a working reservoir. Hopefully I can recover some more money if I sell some parts on eBay.

More Winter Maintenance!

Projects Completed:

  • Install Transmission governor clamp
  • Change Final Drive oil
  • Change Transmission Oil
  • Change Engine Oil
  • Install Dynamat
  • Replace rusted ground bolt on rear bulkhead
  • Replace fuse in headlight switch
  • Added Dynamat
  • Replace Brake Master Cylinder
  • Replaced last two 30-year-old coolant hoses
  • Unblocked my air ducts
  • Flush the coolant

To do:

  • Replace leaking Brake Fluid Reservoir
  • Bleed Brakes
  • Put all interior pieces back in
  • Replace fuel pump
  • Replace fuel pump boot

Here’s more pics. I should buy stock in Castrol:

Filling the final drive:

Cleaning the reservoir, new Brake Master Cylinder ready:

New BMC and old reservoir:

Bench Bleed kit:

It now appears the reservoir is leaking, and possibly the old BMC wasn’t…

Unsuccessfully bleeding the system, still leaking fluid:

Bleeding the calipers:

I added up all the receipts I had, and guessed on the other items:

Vendor

Item

Cost

Shipping

Tax

Total

Meijer

Antifeeze

$10.49

  

$0.91

$12.27

Distilled Water

$0.87

Autozone

Sta-Bil

$5.99

  

$0.49

$6.48

Autozone

1 Quart Coastal DexMerc ATF

$3.49

  

$0.29

$3.78

Advance Auto Parts

Castrol 20W-50 1 Gallon

$13.99

  

$2.31

$30.29

Castrol 20W-50 1 Gallon

$13.99

Pep Boys

Castrol GT LMA 32oz

$8.99

  

$2.39

$31.35

Castrol GT LMA 32oz

$8.99

Castrol Gear Oil

$5.49

Castrol Gear Oil

$5.49

Pep Boys

Castrol GT LMA 32oz

$8.99

  

$1.11

$14.59

Castrol GT LMA 12oz

$4.49

Amazon.com

Dynamat 4 Sheet Kit

$49.98

  

  

$49.98

Amazon.com

Dynamat Bulk Pack

$138.37

  

  

$138.37

DMC Midwest

Brake Master Cylinder

$124.95

$12.83

$9.68

$147.46

DMC Midwest

Fuel Pump Boot Cover

$29.75

  

$11.65

$162.00

(2) Fuel Hose

$15.00

(4) Fuel Clamp

$6.60

Fuel Pump

$99.00

Amazon.com

Scotch Brite Stainless Pads

$24.90

$6.55

$0.00

$31.45

PJ Grady

Automatic Transmission Clamp

$25.00

?

?

$25.00

O’Reily Auto Parts

Brake Bleeder Kit

$8.99

  

?

$8.99

Amazon.com

Motive Pressure Bleeder European

$47.49

  

  

$47.49

Total

$709.50

 

Old Radiator Sold!

I replaced my radiator last year with a newer improved all-aluminum model. My old plastic-tanked radiator was still functional. I found someone online looking for a radiator, and they were interested in mine.

Just before shipping:


Costs/Profit:

Radiator

$75.00

Paypal Fee

($2.48)

UPS Shipping

($35.19)

Profit:

$37.33


Not too much profit. I need to find a different shipping method.
The new owner said the radiator is installed and working.

Winter Projects!

Last picture before winter maintenance:

Adding some Dynamat. Looks like just about 20lbs.

Stripping the interior:

So that’s why my airflow is so off:

Probably not a good idea to store parts on the hood:

Nasty looking, deteriorating foam

 

 

Garbage. I weighed it at some point, but forgot what it was.

Replaceing my headlight switch fuse:

Interior Parts store in my basement:

I noticed some red marks on the Dynamat. It turns out, I was making them. Dynamat is sharp!

Dirty, rusted ground. Time to split a nut:

My pump has been buzzing, and my boot cover has been leaking. So I bought new ones:

Under the computer…

My computer has been missing this bracket on the transmission, and the part is unavailable. I finally got one! I don’t know if I’ve ever been so happy to buy a piece of metal. Thank you, Rob!

Leaky Brake Master Cylinder? I found fluid on it, and corrosion on the booster:

Another project! Replace the leaking Brake Master Cylinder: