This service publication has been prepared by the Service Training Department of De Lorean Motor Company to assist in understanding the design concepts and the general operation of the De Lorean. It is intended primarily for the experienced and qualified automotive technicians who have been selected to service the De Lorean. This publication includes the general description and operation of vehicle systems used on this vehicle which the selected technicians are basically familiar with as well as the more specifically detailed descriptions and operation for the systems which may be unique to this vehicle and/or the service technician.
All information, specifications and illustrations in this publication are based on the latest product information available at the time of printing. De Lorean Motor Company reserves the right to make changes or revisions at any time without notice. However, it is the objective of DMC and the Service Training Department to provide the DMC service technician with as much accurate and usable service information as is available, as quickly as possible, in order to sustain a high quality service standard.
IMPORTANT:
The De Lorean contains many parts dimensioned in the metric system. During any service procedure, replacement fasteners must have the same measurements and strengtn as those fasteners removed, either metric or customary. The numbers on the heads of metric bolts and on the surfaces of metric nuts indicate their strength. Customary bolts use radial lines on their heads for strength indicators while most customary nuts do not have strength indicators. Mismatched or incorrect fasteners can result in vehicle damage or malfunction, or possibly personal injury. Fasteners removed from the vehicle should be reused in the same locations whenever possible except when indicated otherwise. When fasteners are not satisfactory for reuse, care should be taken to select a replacement fastener that is equivalent to the original quality.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The De Lorean is powered by a liquid cooled, 2.8 liter, rear mounted, aluminum alloy 90° V-6 uneven-fire engine with two (2) chain driven overhead camshafts. The flywheel (or flexplate) end of the engine is referred to as the front of the engine due to the unique rear engine design. Therefore, the timing cover and drive belt pulleys are located at the rear of the engine. The right and left side of the engine is determined as viewed standing at the rear of the vehicle looking into the engine compartment. Engine firing order is 1, 6, 3, 5, 2, 4. The #1 cylinder is located at the right front of the engine followed with #2 and #3 cylinders. Cylinder #4 is located at the left front of the engine followed with #5 and #6 cylinders.
CYLINDER CRANKCASE ASSEMBLY: The cylinder crankcase assembly consists of aluminum alloy upper and lower crankcases. The upper crankcase contains six (6) cast iron cylinder liners and houses the crankshaft which is supported by four (4) cast iron main bearing caps. The upper crankcase also contains the chain driven oil pump drive and driven gears. The oil pump body is a machined portion of the upper crankcase. The lower crankcase provides side engine mount locations and completes the crankcase assembly. The aluminum oil pan, which houses theoil splash shield and oil pick up assembly, is secured to the lower crankcase. CYLINDER HEADS: The aluminum alloy cross-flow cylinder heads, have hemispherical chambers and individual intake and exhaust ports for each cylinder. Both the intake and exhaust valve guides (8 MM) are pressed into the cylinder head.
NOTE: CYLINDER HEAD RESURFACING IS NOT PERMITTED. The steel valve seats are fitted to the cylinder head. VALVE TRAIN: Each cylinder head has a chain driven overhead camshaft. The camshaft operates both intake and exhaust valves on each bank by means of adjustable rocker arms mounted on a single, common rocker shaft. The rocker arms are positioned and held in place by means of two (2) spacers and one (1) thrust spring per cylinder.
The hollow rocker arm shaft, which also distributes engine oil through calibrated holes to the valve train and camshaft, is mounted and secured to each cylinder head with four (4) rocker shaft supports.
CAMSHAFT AND DRIVE: Each chain driven cast iron camshaft is supported at four (4) contact areas. Steel crankshaft sprockets drive the timing chains (2) which in turn *1 drive the camshaft sprockets (2). PISTONS AND CONNECTING RODS: Each aluminum alloy piston uses two (2) com- pression rings and one (1) oil ring. Thesteel piston pin has a floating fit in the piston. The pins are retained in the connecting rod by a hot' press fit. The connecting rod bearings are lubricated via drilled oil passages located in the crankshaft journals. CRANKSHAFT: The cast iron crankshaft is supported with four (4) main bearings and main bearing caps. This uneven fire engine crankshaft has three (3) connecting rod journals. Lubrication for the connecting rod journal is delivered via drilled oil passages in the crankshaft, crankshaft main bearings and main bearing journals. The crankshaft is sealed at each end with a lip seal.