Honda industry is evolving each day. The DeLorean has always held a special place. Recognized for its iconic gull-wing doors and association with the classic “Back to the Future” film series, the DeLorean DMC-12 is an automobile that has captured the imagination of enthusiasts worldwide. However, every masterpiece has its challenges, and the DeLorean is no exception.
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What’s the DeLorean’s Predicament?
While the DeLorean boasts a distinctive design and a place in pop culture, it has long grappled with a critical issue: performance. The original DeLorean DMC-12, equipped with a naturally aspirated engine, left enthusiasts yearning for more power and speed. This predicament spurred a quest for a solution, and the answer came in an unexpected form – a Turbo Honda engine.
Turbo Honda Engine: The Ultimate Solution Came
This particular DeLorean solves that problem most satisfyingly, especially if you’re a Honda fan. Owned by John Thompson and featured in a new YouTube video from HondaPro Jason, the six-pot is replaced by a K24 Honda four-cylinder.
Honda’s Legend Wing Turbo introduced the variable-geometry turbo in 1988, and in 1991 Bugatti was the first to develop a quad-turbo installation, the carbon-chassis EB110 being the recipient of that piece of perfect plumbing. Three sequential turbos then made an appearance in 2012 beneath the bonnet of BMW’s M550d xDrive.
Such is the acceptance of the technology that a naturally aspirated car now seems a quirk, an outlier. We’re a population grown accustomed to the rush of boost and while we don’t tend to thank the Swiss for much in the motoring world, in this regard Alfred Büchi, and a tiny alpine nation, have conquered the world.
That alone would be an improvement over the original 2.8-liter engine, but this 2.4-liter four also gets a turbocharger and it’s tuned to run on E85 fuel. According to the video, this DeLorean now has 400 hp when running pump gas. Switch to E85 and that increases to 450 hp.
Turbo Engine Issue
It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to describe the technology as a disaster. Although sales and reviews were initially favorable, the engine was plagued with problems. The F85 lump ran hot before a turbo was introduced, and the added heat and complexity of another 50 hoses and connections made it a liability.
Owners complained that they had lost power, not realizing that the turbo would be bypassed when the Turbo Rocket Fluid tank ran dry. More timid owners didn’t drive the car hard enough to generate boost (and thus lubricate the turbo’s compressor shaft), leading to frozen turbocharger assemblies over time.
In response to these problems, in 1965 General Motors offered Jetfire customers a no-cost turbo removal, replacing it with a vanilla four-barrel carburetor and conventional intake and exhaust manifolds, solving the reliability and performance issues that had plagued it. Most owners took up GM’s offer. An original turbo Jetfire is now a rare beast.
That debacle chastened manufacturers, but American brands were again keen to embrace the technology in competition, an Offenhauser V8 winning the Indy 500 in 1968 using a Garrett AiResearch blower. Porsche’s 917/10K became the first turbocharged car to win CanAm in 1972.
The DeLorean’s original air conditioning system also met with a retention. A few test drives were also run. However, the results were quite entertaining. Riders do confess the car feels sketchy at speed.
Development of Turbo
1905: Swiss engineer Alfred Büchi visualizes the turbo concept. Can’t build it reliably
1918: Altitude tests of turbo tech atop Pikes Peak, Colorado a success.
1942: US-built P-38 Lightning’s pair of turbo and superchargers made it stealthily quiet and high-altitude capable.
1962: Oldsmobile Jetfire’s first production turbo car. It’s a disaster plagued by issues.
1968: First Indianapolis 500 win for a turbo car. The next 28 Indy victories all come with forced induction.
1975: Porsche launches 911 Turbo. It became the quickest car of the 1970s, getting to 60mph in 4.9sec.
1978: Saab’s 99 Turbo makes turbo power more affordable. Wheels described it as “brilliant, exciting, and thrilling”.
1981: The first twin-turbo production car, the Maserati Biturbo appears, heralding a decade when the turbo captured the performance-car zeitgeist.
1991: Four turbos? Why not. Bugatti’s EB110 engine (above) was an astonishing technical achievement. 60-valves and 12 ITBs? Go on, then.
2013: BMW manages to make three turbochargers work sequentially.
2020: AMG reinvents the science of boost with a new style of e-turbo.
More Dynamic Power
The marriage of the DeLorean and a Turbo Honda engine is nothing short of revolutionary. The turbocharging technology inherent in Honda engines injects new life into the iconic DMC-12. This infusion of power transforms the driving experience, elevating it to unparalleled excitement.
Issue Speed Deficiencies
One of the DeLorean’s notable drawbacks was its lackluster speed, a concern that the Turbo Honda engine effectively addresses. By harnessing the power of turbocharging, the DeLorean gains a substantial boost in horsepower, enabling it to surge ahead with confidence and vigor.
Enhanced Fuel Efficiency
Beyond the sheer power, the Turbo Honda engine contributes to a more fuel-efficient DeLorean. The integration of turbocharging technology optimizes fuel combustion, striking a harmonious balance between performance and sustainability.
Moreover, the engine swap didn’t add gobs of weight to the back of the car. Lest we forget, the DeLorean is a proper rear-engined vehicle with the mill positioned largely behind the axle.
As such, a six-speed manual transmission from a Porsche 911 is used to get that power to the ground. The suspension is upgraded with coilovers and poly bushings, and the powertrain sits neatly in the bay thanks to custom mounts for the engine and transmission.
Honda Turbo Engine Features
In a world of LS and 2JZ swaps, a boosted K24 could be a primo choice for building a properly fun DeLorean. At the very least, it’s quick and sounds good to boot. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Turbocharging Dynamics
At the heart of the transformation lies the turbocharging dynamics of the Honda engine. Turbochargers leverage exhaust gases to drive a turbine, forcing more air into the combustion chamber. This process enhances the engine’s efficiency, resulting in heightened power output.
Right Engineering
Honda’s reputation for precision engineering finds a new canvas in the DeLorean. The Turbo Honda engine’s meticulous construction ensures seamless integration with the DMC-12, marrying performance and reliability in a harmonious union.
Modern Technology
The Turbo engine is not the only specialty of the Honda series. In addition to the inter-cooled turbo, this EarthDreams® Technology powerplant features direct injection, Variable Timing Control™ (VTC™) on both camshafts, and a dual-exhaust system.
Honda doesn’t employ VTEC directly to spread torque all over the rpm range. It utilizes the torque-expanding benefits of turbocharging. Thanks to careful tuning and use of a relatively small-diameter turbine wheel, Honda’s version of the forced-induction engine exhibits negligible turbo lag.
It’s a phenomenon that outsmarts many of its turbocharged competitors, so the response to the throttle is quick. Plus, that torque peak starts low and stays strong a long time as the revs rise, for a sustained blast of acceleration.
Final Words
DeLoreans, early-production models, in particular, suffered from poor build quality as well as mechanical issues. Early-production cars needed as much as 200 hours of work at DMC Quality Assurance Centers before being shipped to dealerships for delivery.
But now look back, and you will find out that, the integration of Turbo Honda engines has redefined the narrative of DeLorean. It has overcome the limitations of its origin point.
The future is turbocharged! The iconic DeLorean will soon be unstoppable, thanks to the turbo technology.
We hope we covered it all. What do you think of the new resolution? Do you think, this improvement will pave the way for something good? Let us know in the comments. We will be back soon with another useful article on Honda.
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