Fw: [DML] Renault Engines? Alpine A310, cousin of the DeLorean.

["Chris Parnham" <chrisparnham@xxxx>]

Very informative article

Chris P

----- Original Message -----
From: <senatorpack@xxxx>
To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 4:31 AM
Subject: [DML] Renault Engines? Alpine A310, cousin of the DeLorean.


>
>
> 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 t
he
> 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
>
>
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