[DMCForum] The SonnyV Posts, for the archives.

[Marc Levy <malevy_nj@xxxxxxxxx>]

By request, and for the official archives, here are
the SonnyV posts I have.  (from 6/14/2001 - 9/30/2004)

There are likley more.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 12:11 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Stainless Steel Illusion (Second
Edition)$$$


Mess with a good read? What??!

The book ends with John DeLorean in jail and the
factory closed! Anyone reading it today may think
that's where the story ends. And that's if 
they can find one to read! My library doesn't even
have a copy, and every one I have seen on Ebay the
last couple months has been $100 or more.

As long as this one is using the original films, and
the addition looks good, I don't think they're messing
with anything.

And with DMCH selling the updated ones for just $40,
I'll probably buy one to GIVE to my local library. Hey
James, how about a discount if I buy two - one for my
public library and one for me?

Sonny


-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 10:19 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] windshield antenna


Last night, a guy from across town who also owns a
DeLorean came over and he's got an earlier car with a
windshield antenna. He got a rock chip in it, and had
it "repaired" though it is now starting to spread (and
no won't pass the state inspection). I had read in one
of the books that the reception was poor with this
antenna anyway (which he agreed with).  And since
there are no windshields with the embedded antenna
anymore, it's a moot point.

Near as we can figure, he can either replace the
windshield and mount an antenna on the front fender
(initially the cheapest option, but then stuck with a
hole in the fender) or go with a rear mounted power
antenna, right? But then I was talking to a friend at
the office who has an older Range Rover, and the radio
antenna on it is a part of the rear defrost element.
Has anyone tried to use the element as an embedded
antenna? The rear defrost on a DeLorean is unused for
the most part, anyway.

Sonny

-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 10:34 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Monroes and Gabriels


Does anyone else besides me think it makes *NO* sense
at all to put shocks from a Camaro and a Nissan truck
on a rear-engine car with such uneven weight
distribution (65R/35F) as a DeLorean? Can someone
(Marty?) who advocates this explain why it is okay to
do this?

Sonny V

-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:36 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] 100404 Wheel bearings - cheap!


jwit6@xxxxxx wrote:

> These bearings are about $45.00 each at autozone.

Or $35.09 from DMCH or the other vendors...who need
the support of DeLorean owners more than any national
chain...IMO.

Sonny V.


-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2003 10:51 AM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Cleaner/Sealer


It never ceases to amaze me that people will ask a
question here 
about a part/product/service that they bought from one
of the 
vendors. Why aren't you asking them? Warren (and
everyone else there)
has always been very helpful over the phone to me and
it's a free 
call!

My experience with this stuff has been better than
Andy's, but he and 
I are also using it two different ways, too. The
instructions on my 
bottle of Cleaner/Sealer are as follows:

"Always wear rubber gloves. Shake well before use.
Squeeze directly 
onto a DAMP cloth and rub into the surface of the
stainless, going 
the same direction as the grain. Allow to sit for ten
minutes, and 
then rinse thoroughly. For a bright shine, polish with
a soft dry 
cloth going the same direction as the grain. For
heavily soiled 
areas, pre-cleaning is required."

The emphasis on the word DAMP above is mine. I think
that is why 
Andy's experience has been less than he expected.
Warren told me that 
there were two formulas of this stuff as well, the
original factory 
stuff, and an improved formula that they now sell. He
also said the 
application instructions between the original and ther
new stuff were 
different, so maybe Andy has some of the original
stuff.

I'd also add from my personal experience that the bit
about shaking 
well and using gloves is not a bad idea. The gritty
stuff inside the 
bottle tends to settle to the bottom, I even shake it
while using it.

Sonny V.


-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 8:56 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Door struts and doors


PJ Grady recently dropped his price (as did just about
all the other vendors) as a result of DMCH lowering
their price. I don't think Grady's are the same as
DMCH's, though James Espey told me that DMCH's are
newly designed to the original factory specification.
Something about the dampening oil being bad after all.

I was looking at DeLorean One's site last night and
saw that they sell doors at $2759.66 EACH. The other
vendors sell them for $1000 each...maybe D1's are some
leftover "gold-plated" doors? :-)

Sonny V.


-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 3:00 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Who wears XXXL?


> P.S. James - who is wearing these XXXL shirts?
> One more X and they can't fit in the car.

Ken, though I think you meant that to be funny, I
think some people might have found it offensive. My
dad's a big guy, at 6'6" and 280. Not as muscular as
he used to be, but at least now he can have a shirt
like me for when we go to shows! 

Also, my wife bought a t-shirt to sleep in! She's
about 120 lbs, but now I can at least sleep with "my"
DeLorean!

Sonny
XL, but working up to XXL


-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 5:14 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Refurbished Fascias


Josh -

Are you doing the fascias in matte or gloss finishes?
How do you ship them? I understand that the rears will
not go UPS? Can you estimate shipping to 63640? What
kind of warranty do you offer? Many of the repainted
fascias I have seen (on cars for sale) have already
started to peel at the edges where the paint meets the
black areas. Are you stripping the old paint or how
are you preparing them? What about the warping in the
fronts, are you putting in any reinforcement as part
of your refurbishment? This is something that I wanted
for my car, but I'd like to get something that will
last, preferably at least HALF as long as my originals
did...

Sonny V.

-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 8:21 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: Permacast wheels?


Production wheels were made by GKN Kent Alloys
Division. GKN stands 
for Guest Keen and Nettlefolds, and DMC also purchased
suspension 
joints, CV joints and the frames from GKN.

It may be that the wheels used on the prototypes were
made by someone 
else. They have a slightly similar look (see page 60
in Stainless 
Steel Illusion).

Sonny V.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 10:28 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] New angle drive received and
installed...


I got my new $60 angle drive from DMC Houston on
Friday, along with a new retaining ring and a set of
instructions. Nice looking piece, and obviously a
newly manufactured part, as their web site address is
cast into the housing (much like their other new
parts). The added grease fitting in place of the set
screw will make lubrication easier, though the bag it
came in has a big label on it that warns against using
pneumatic grease guns. The one thing I found difficult
was how to remove the nut from the old angle drive. I
called them on Saturday, and happened to catch James
there. He described a method of using two picks or
small flat screwdrivers to compress the old retaining
ring enough to slip the nut off. When pressed, he did
admit that it was not the easiest method. I asked what
that was and he said that now that new ones were
available, it was easiest just to put the nut in a
vise, and break off the old angle drive with a hammer.
After that it was a breeze. 200 miles on it already
and it works great! 

Sonny V.



-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 8:14 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: DMCH's performance engine...and
visit to DMC


Adam -

I was passing through Houston last week on a business
trip and I called over to DMCH and 
asked if I could come visit. Their place is a few
minutes from the airport (Bush?) and James 
came over to pick me up and brought me to their
facility.

All I can say is WOW! The pics on their site really
don't do it justice. You can't imagine how 
much stuff they have unless you have been there. I
counted 36 DeLoreans, plus the two 
"half" cars in their showroom. James took the time to
give me the guided tour and 
answered all my questions and put up with me for a
good solid hour before I had to go 
back to the airport. It was also nice to meet Warren,
Julie and Bill - I've spoken to all of 
them on the phone and they are just as nice in person.

Anyway, about the engine. Seems they are building two
new company cars, and are selling 
the two they have now - actually the five-speed used
in the Players Run and seen on the 
cover of their last magazine has already been sold.
Their black painted automatic is for 
sale now. It has the performance engine, suspension,
HID lights, heated seats, and on and 
on and on. James let me take it out for a drive, and
it really goes. I have an automatic, and 
it's hard now to drive mine knowing what it *could* be
like. I obviously didn't drive it 
enough to get a feel for mileage, but James told me
that it gets about the same mileage as 
a stock engine.  Also sounds a lot "tougher" with the
new exhaust.

Also got to see their new grey leather/vinyl seat
covers, which came in the same day I did. 
I have a black interior car, and those hadn't arrived
yet, but the grey looked really good 
and the vinyl was a good match for the original. I saw
some seats in clients cars there with 
"knockoff" seat covers and there is a big difference
in how they look. Warren mentioned 
that soon they'll have other interior parts like
a-pillar and b-pillar trim, too.

I'm glad I took a chance and called DMC when I was
coming through town, if any of you 
are passing through Houston, you ought to stop by.

Sonny V.

-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 6:52 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [DML] DMCH's performance engine..


Marc -

A quick question...do you ever have anything nice to
say about DMCH?

Sonny V.

PS - As far as what you think about the exhaust being
too loud...you 
know what they say...if it's too loud, you're too old.
:-)


-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 1:37 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Re: clutch release bearing


Cecil -

It sounds to me like you received one of the early
release bearings 
instead of a later one. Based on your VIN you should
have one like 
you took off, with the plastic insert. If you got one
of the ones 
that's all metal, then you got one for an early, early
car, like a 
less than 1000 VIN. Only a few hundred cars used this
style part.

Sonny V.


-----Original Message-----
From: sonnyvr2000 [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 2:09 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] Exhaust note of DMCH Engine


[Moderator Note: Discussions of the sound of DeLorean
engines are appropriate to the DML.  Discussions about
the semantics of racial slurs are not.  No further
bandwidth will be given to the "ricer" comment.   -
moderator Mike Substelny]

Marc -

> frankly I don't think the majority of DeLorean
owners
> want their car to sound like a ricer with coffee
cans
> on the tail pipes.

I don't think anyone who has experienced DMCH's engine
either through 
ownership or driving would agree that it has the
exhaust note 
commonly associated with the imports and their
exhausts that are 
popular today.

Several people here on the DML have this exhaust, I've
read, would 
any of you characterize it as sounding that way?

Finally, I'm sorry you saw my message to you as a
personal attack. 
However my wife, who happens to be Asian-American, did
take offense 
at your use of the term "ricer". I'm sure you meant no
offense, right?

Sonny V.



-----Original Message-----
From: Sonny V [mailto:sonnyvr2000@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2004 12:59 PM
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DML] angle drive update


Just an update on my new DMCH angle drive. I passed
the 1500 mile mark on it over the weekend, and the
last 150 or so miles on it last week and this weekend
were in some serious rain. Still going strong.

Sonny V.





            
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