[DML] Re: Chevy Engine swap

["darryl" <darryl@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As builder and driver of one of the best known Chevy-powered DeLoreans, I guess it's time I weigh in on this subject.  I bought a vandalized engine-less car in 1990 and decided because of my street rodding background it would be the ideal test bed for some of the ideas I had been considering.  I did a bolt-in transplant of a supercharged Chevy 4.3 V6 which I have now driven for some 9 years with very few problems (other than those caused by my right foot).  Even though I built my own transmission adapter, motor mounts, headers, etc. the job was pretty straightforward, and is totally reversible (although I can't imagine anyone doing that).  The weight difference is nominal and change in handling unnoticeable.  The performance on the other hand is a huge improvement.  [footnote to Marc - when you drove the car the timing was severly advanced.  I had used the wrong timing marks the last time I worked on it.]

Why consider an engine transplant?  In my case it was obvious, but think about the complaints that are most often cited here:  hot start/cold start, fuel accumulator failure, fuel injection system problems, water pump failure, leaking head gaskets and expensive rebuilds, etc.  With a domestic motor most of these go away, and if you do need a water pump, for example, it is much easier to find and less expensive.  Would I ever consider changing my car back to PRV power?  No way.  Did I ruin the value of the car?  Considering that it's worth about twice my total investment I don't think so.

With that said, do I recommend you transplant a different motor?  No.  That may sound surprising, but here are my reasons.  Simply put, I don't think most owners have the skills to do it right, and to pay a shop to do it would cost too much.  But mostly, I think the car should be kept original - quirks, lack of power, high maintenance costs and all.  There are just too few of them to be replacing the engines, or chopping them up into hovercrafts, 4X4s, etc.  Just my opinion - it's every owner's right to do with them as they please.

If you really want a re-powered DeLorean, why not just buy mine and save yours as an original?  While I don't really need to sell it, and there is certainly nothing wrong with it, my interests have moved to other areas and it just sits most of the time.  It's way too nice of a car for that - as I have always said, these cars need to be driven, not stored.  Check the pictures in the last Gullwing magazine and contact me privately if interested.

Darryl T.

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