Renault Engines? Alpine A310, cousin of the DeLorean.

[senatorpack@xxxx]

The Renault Alpine A310 is the cousin of the Douvrin V6 powered DeLorean. 
Some say that the Esprit is the brother, however the DMC and older A310's 
have similar versions of the 2.8 liter 2849cc alloy Renault V-6 PRV. (They 
have different compression ratios, horsepower and fuel injection systems.) 
Look closely for Volvo stamped on the engine wiring harness on both. 
The engines were assembled in the City of Dieppe, France. The PRV engine 
was a cooperative effort by the three car manufactures to produce a fuel 
efficient, reliable engine for the upper end of the three European car makers 
models. 
The PRV has proven to be very reliable in the DeLorean. Based on what I 
have experienced & read, the added on stuff like the Bosch fuel injection 
components and subsequent accessories i.e. Duceiller alternator (pronounced 
Duce-a-lay) in the early DeLoreans, are what give DeLorean cars a bad 
reputation for reliability. 
When the diagnosis is fuel contamination from bad gasoline, and the 
required fuel parts replaced, the DeLoreans will return to reliability. 
Generally, these fuel parts go bad just from sitting for who knows how 
long... 
However, the block and valve train are rock solid, IF the engine is 
maintained properly and is not overheated. Overheating can attribute to blown 
headgasket's and warped heads. (pressure test your DeLorean coolant and 
remove any air from the cooling systems and keep a close eye on the 
temperature gauge). 
There was an update in early 1981 for the PRV, which did not apply to 
production DeLorean automobiles. The early PRV versions before 1981 had a 
premature camshaft wear and oil flow problems. This was corrected before the 
DeLorean went into production. This information was substantiated by a 
retired Chrysler/Eagle engineer and P1800 collector I know.

There are several versions of the engine. Volvo B28F & B280F, Renault 
Alpine & R30, Peugeot 604, Eagle Premier & Medallion all used the PRV engine 
in the United States.
The Eagle cars of the USA used the PRV in the Medallion. The Eagle's are 
Renault cars, tagged as AMC/Eagle (when Chrysler purchased AMC/Renault in the 
1980s). However the Eagle's are electronic fuel injected, where the DeLorean 
is mechanical injection. Additionally, there are different displacements & 
subtle differences for each car that the PRV engines was used in. 
I remember talking to John Truscott at the DeLorean Factory in Ireland 
about the PRV. He did some extensive research on the PRV engines and their 
differences. Evidently, the version used in the DeLorean was the Renault PRV 
V-6, and the only car to use this exact Renault version. This makes the 
DeLorean PRV engine very unique.
A good friend, fellow car collector & DeLorean owner here in the 
Washington, DC area, was interested in the Renault use of the PRV engine. He 
explained how Bill Collins (DMC chief engineer) wanted to use the complete & 
available Renault Alpine A310 chassis, suspension and PRV V-6 engine for the 
DeLorean. (This would have made the DeLorean's arrival to the American market 
much earlier.) The Alpine weight is much less, is slightly longer, not as 
wide, with both having similar weight distributions.
John DeLorean contracted Lotus to do the reengineering of the 
prototypes, and you know the rest... 
Lotus did win the 1978 world Grand Prix with Mario Andretti driving. Team 
Lotus put a Renault V-6 normally aspirated & turbo charged engine with 
Renault running gear in the Lotus Racing cars. Renault was a big racing 
sponsor and supplier of transmission to Lotus Esprits.
Eventually, DeLorean Motors purchased several of the Renault Alpine A310 
cars for evaluation and comparison of the engine and transmission. DMC had 
one of the Alpine switched to an Automatic too. These cars were auctioned off 
at the DeLorean Factory Auction when the plant closed. 
While I was in Germany and Switzerland, I became impressed with both new 
and older versions of the Renault Alpine. Throughout my stay in Europe, I 
encountered and was passed by several Renault Alpine GTA V-6 factory turbo 
and A310's. 
While I was in Europe I was driving a new 2001 BMW 723i. The 723i is the 
German version of the 740il USA. I was running flat out between 210 - 215 km 
on the Autobahn. The Renaults passed me like I was stand still.

You can see more at:

http://www.alpinerenault.com
and
http://www.renault-alpine.com/

Mike Pack
VIN 3713