"Isn't that normal?"

[Dave1982]

Well, we've had quite a lot of tales of automotive stupidity on the board lately, so what's another?

I was helping the Greatest Customer of All Time bring his DeLorean out of winter storage today. Once I fired it up, I was alarmed to see what looked like smoke rising from under the engine cover (rear engine, remember).

I quickly raised the cover and discovered that it wasn't on fire, but rather exhaust was pouring out from around the left bank exhaust manifold. It was just vapor.

So yeah, he needs a new gasket. Only $10 for that part, but a colossal pain in the ass to replace, especially on a car this old (26 years) all the exhaust hardware it rusted and it's all but certain removing the manifold will result in broken studs.

Me: Hey R, you have a SIGNIFICANT exhaust leak on the left bank.

R: Where?

*shows him*

R: Oh, it's been doing that for a while. Isn't that normal?

Me: *facepalm*

He's only managed to avoid ruining this car by virtue of the fact that he knows what he doesn't know and has one of the top three guys in the WORLD for this car do all his maintenance.

In fact, he may give me the privilege of driving it down to Long Island for an overhaul this summer.

[Sarlon]

you of COURSE will need some one to drive along with you....you know...make sure you get there safely, make sure you have someone to keep you awake...that kinda thing....It MIGHT be a stretch but...~looks at my VASTLY empty social calander~ I think I can pencil you in.

[One-Fang]

He obviously doesn't know everything he doesn't know if he doesn't know when your car starts "doing that" you take it to your car man.

I know nothing about cars. Nothing at all. I pump my own gas and could probably change a tire if I had to. For all else, I married a mech. But even I know if it starts smoking, call the car guy.

[RetailWorkhorse]

you of COURSE will need some one to drive along with you....you know...make sure you get there safely, make sure you have someone to keep you awake...that kinda thing....It MIGHT be a stretch but...~looks at my VASTLY empty social calander~ I think I can pencil you in.

*Grabs overnight duffel* WAIT FOR ME!

[Dave1982]

*Grabs overnight duffel* WAIT FOR ME!

Well, unless one of you wants to lie down on the parcel shelf, then you'll have to fight each other for the one seat.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

No problem, No problem....

I have a sting and a skateboard

I'll +1 myself into the 'doesn't know about cars crowd'
I also know that smoke = not normal = call the car guy

[Evil Queen]

Yeah, but I'm the one near the Delorian Motor Company.

[RetailWorkhorse]

Well, unless one of you wants to lie down on the parcel shelf, then you'll have to fight each other for the one seat.

I'm a micro-mutt, I can sit on someone's lap.

[Nyoibo]

There aren't that many of them left from memory are there?

[Evil Queen]

Lies! Hiss! Boo!

*loves on random Delorian*

[RetailWorkhorse]

EQ, have I mentioned today that you're odd?

[Evil Queen]

Nope.

I'm 22 now. I thought I was even.

[RayvenQ]

I'm odd, soon to be even (Hard for me to believe that in 7 months I'll be 24 xD)

[Dave1982]

There aren't that many of them left from memory are there?

You mean not many DeLoreans left? Well, there were never that many to begin with. Most estimates I've seen place the final production total at 8500-8600 vehicles, though some go as high as 10,000. Estimating the exact number of cars left is difficult, since an unknown number were sequestered away in barns, garages, etc never to see the light of day again; though quite a few of those have surfaced over the last few years. In any case, it's thought that roughly 6500 road-worthy or restorable cars still exist.

[protege]

Whatever you do, don't take it over 88 mph

Seriously though, seized nuts and bolts can usually be freed with lots of penetrating oil, WD-40, and lots of cursing. Oh, and if that fails, it's usually time to bring out the torch