Re: [DML] 4.3l Vortec Swap

["at88mph" <at88mph@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marc,

That's my car and you are correct, it was an automatic.  I did the 4.3 Vortec engine swap back in 2000 and in 2003 the stock auto tranny gave out on me.  I've owned the car since '85 and always had issues with the stock auto trans so I looked for an alternative to the DMC auto tranny.  I found out that a lot of the Porsche guys run Chevy V6 and V8 engines.  I started hanging out on a Porsche forum (www.pelicanparts.com ) and found out that the guys who have done the swaps use either Renegade Hybrids (www.renegadehybrids.com ) or Kennedy Engineering (www.kennedyeng.com)   I used Kennedy engineering but either one you would use, I don't think you could go wrong.  Renegade hybrids even have a forum dedicated to Porsche engine swaps.  I decided for my swap I would use a '72 915 tranny out of a Porche 911.  I wasn't even sure how or if it would even fit/work so I posted on the Pelican Parts forum in the 'for sale' forum and posted a 'Want to buy' thread.  There was a guy who had a 915 tranny just takin up space and said if I wanted it I could get it for $300 shipped which was PERFECT! Usually they go for about $900 to $1500.  Once I got it, I was AMAZED that it bolted right up to the DMC's transaxles. After that, I ordered a kit from kennedy and got started with the swap. 

I custom built a transmission mount.  On the 915 tranny, it has a cross member running underneath the tranny and I custom fabbed up a set of DeLorean tranny mounts to the Porsche crossmember.  Once that was out of the way, naturally installing the bellhousing kit from Kennedy  to the 4.3 was a breeze.  The hardest part was the shifter linkage.  I used the Porsche shifter and shift linkage.  I FINALLY figured out how to make it work with two race swivels installed to each end of the shift linkage and to this day, I'm happy to say that the transmission hasn't given me one problem!  In fact, since the swap in 2000, I've only had a few issues. The alternator gave out once, the slave cylinder gave out (which is easy to swap because its right on the bottom passenger side of the tranny.  I've had the usual DeLorean problems (a/c, window motor, steering rack, electrical issues with the cooling fans which I've upgraded all of those) but no real issues out of the motor or tranny.   

I've wanted and WANTED to drop an LS1/6 into the car, but its so dependable right now and I can drive it anytime to anywhere, that I'm waiting for the 4.3 to give out but its running very strong so it could be awhile.  I couldn't fit a LS1/6 into the DeLorean back in 2000 because it was still an automatic and the bellhousing was massive!  VERY good quality though. Don does great work! The Porche assembly is WAY WAY WAY smaller and I could EASILY fit an LS1/6 in there and that will happen if the 4.3 ever dies on me.  

Take care,

Duke

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marc Levy 
  To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 6:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [DML] 4.3l Vortec Swap



  Don is now the owner of DMC California.

  http://www.deloreanmotorcenter.com/

  Who own this car? I dont remember reading about it before, and I have tried my best to keep of the DeLoreans with engine swaps. 

  Some photo links are missing, but it looks like this guy used an Automatic?!

  [moderator snip]


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