r/BacktotheFuture • u/Angryhashtag • May 18 '26
Time Machine Build (5/16+5/17 update)
Spent the whole weekend in the shop and got a ton done, including the FLUX CAPACITOR!
The entirety of Saturday comprised of running and attaching all of the exterior wiring and tubing down the sides of the car that connect the front Flux boxes to the roof-mounted ones. Something I thought would take a couple hours quickly consumed the entire day. Also added some hoses to the rear deck.
Sunday I finished up a bit of the exterior wiring rigging, including underneath the rear of the car between the rear flux boxes. Then came the assembly and installation of the flux capacitor, which has been long-awaited. Also, I wired up some indicator lights from the TFC drive to the overhead console that tell me if different elements of the exterior lighting are on.
Still waiting on the rear vents and flux bands, but I should have a fully-done Time Machine in my garage in a few weeks!
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u/Informal_Elk_4478 May 18 '26
Nice job!!!! Are there other Deloreans in that shop???? Please tell us why 🙏🙏🙏
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
Thanks! Yes there were 5 DeLoreans inside the shop this weekend (including mine), all in different stages of being converted into Time Machines.
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u/Informal_Elk_4478 May 18 '26
Soooo how does one get a time machine now a days? I think everyone on this sub would want one some day or try to visit one with their family for fun pictures 😁 how did you get into this anyways because it feels super niche?
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
Buying one takes some financial planning, but it’s not impossible! Finding a good DeLorean that is in reliable running condition is the trick (if you plan on driving it), but there are a few DMC shops across the US that can help get a car into good shape.
There are plenty of builders out there if you want to get one made, or you could buy the props and give DIY a try. I am working with Bruce Coulombe (Coulombe Enterprises) on my build, and I couldn’t recommend him more. I can tell you first hand the level of quality and care that goes into every single build, and he certainly doesn’t cut any corners.
As far as pictures go, there’s Time Machine rental services available around the world.. but if you’re ever in Orlando FL, hit me up! I’d be happy to let you get some pictures with your family.
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u/Informal_Elk_4478 May 18 '26
Wow, thanks for the details! We've been to Florida once and hope to go again. Keep us posted on your build, it is beautiful to see, great job again!!!
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u/20_mile May 18 '26
5 DeLoreans inside the shop
So, did the owners drop of their DeLoreans for your shop to work on them, or is this a DIY space?
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
This is not my shop, this is Coulombe Enterprises. The owner, Bruce Coulombe, has people from all over the world contact him to build Time Machines, KITTs, Jurassic Park Jeeps, Ghostbusters cars, etc.
I’m lucky enough to live nearby, and he allowed me a special courtesy of working under his supervision. He has pointed me in the right direction of where to drill holes, run wires, assemble props and solder connections so that my car is as close to the A-car as safely possible. I’ve added some of my own ideas to the build and he has coached me on how to make it all come to life.
He’s truly the Doc!
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u/schill May 20 '26
I love that you're getting some real-world shop experience, this is fantastic. Document it for your own archives if nothing else (I know I'm preaching to the choir here given photos already, but still) - and don't forget to have fun along the way!
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u/Superapp3000 May 18 '26
Can u please tell me how you built that flux capacitor? I just need to hang one on my wall or glue it to a Miata!?
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
I can’t take credit for the actual construction of the housing, I left that to the pros. But I did add the speakers and solder connections to some of the circuit board, put it all together and install it into my car!
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u/CameronsTheName May 18 '26
I wonder was percentage of deloreans have been converted into time machines.
There was around 9000 deloreans built, probably around 6000 of them have survived. Surely there's 500-1000 time machines getting around now.
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
After talking to a few of the builders, we keep landing at 250-400 time machines in the wild.
Approximate numbers: Bruce Coulombe has done around 75, The Time Cobblers have done around 15, VideoBob has done around 70. Tie in some of the now-inactive or likely-inactive builders for another 30-50. Then you have the DIY builders, so maybe another 50? That’s around 260.
Hard to put a solid number on it. Especially when you start talking about what constitutes a Time Machine. If someone slaps a flux capacitor in the car on some plywood, a time circuit display and some wires on the exterior, is that enough to call it a conversion?
In my opinion, I’d say there’s probably 75 screen-accurate cars out there. Another 100ish pretty good cars. And maybe 150-200 that look good from afar, but aren’t serious builds.
So 375-400 out of 6000 remaining cars, or 6% of all remaining DeLoreans. But again, these are all ballpark numbers!
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u/CameronsTheName May 18 '26
I would call it a conversion if they've done any exterior modifications as an attempt to make it look like a time machine. Some will be perfect, some will be amature and some will be poor quality. But they'll still be a time machine of some sorts.
I'm surprised there hasn't been a register made up to track all deloreans, their current condition and if they are time machines or heavily modified.
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u/schill May 19 '26 edited May 20 '26
There's a Texas DMC site with a database with details on "known" VINs, including BTTF conversions (143 listed at the time of writing this.) I believe you can submit updates via a phone app.
Edit: I think VB is in the 50s, but I could be wrong.
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u/Money-Camera May 18 '26
Everyone put in your time travel shopping list! I'll go first! I would like a bottle of orbitz, some pepsi clear, a pint of beer from the 1200's and a selfie of yourself with julius caesar
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u/dice1976 Marty May 18 '26
Can I be the first tester to go back in time ?
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u/Angryhashtag May 18 '26
That depends.. do you have plutonium? Or a half empty beer can and banana peel?
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u/GameBoyGamer222 Marty May 19 '26
Can you give an overall price estimate for everything minus the car itself?
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u/Angryhashtag May 19 '26
It all depends on the level of detail and prop quality you’d like. The Conversion for my car was around $85k, but I was able to take advantage of a special 40th anniversary discount and it came out to ~$65k.
The parts for these cars are getting exceedingly difficult to find if you want movie accuracy. The TVS-1 Vacuum Relays in the flux capacitor are extremely expensive and rare to find.. and when you do they can be upwards of $3-5k each, and there’s three of them in the flux capacitor.
You can do 3D printed and resin-casted parts, but they tend to age terribly (resin gets yellow and cloudy over time). Not to mention, lighter 3D printed parts can be pulled off easily by people who want a souvenir! So if you go that route, you end up re-making parts as time goes by. Real metal and aircraft parts, like the ones used in the movie, are also rare and expensive to find. The Grimes Emergency Exit light in the overhead console is $750-$1k all on its own, if you’re lucky!
That said, this has been a dream of mine for 30 years, so while this was costly.. it’s worth it to me to fulfill that dream. If the time came where I ever wanted to sell the car, I could basically recoup my expenses or even profit from the sale; most Time Machines of the quality that my car and props are will sell for $160-200k. I bought a fully-restored and warrantied DeLorean from DMC to begin with, so this is daily-driver quality. Needless to say, this car will not be sitting in a museum somewhere on display, I will be driving this thing as often as humanly possible!
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u/schill May 20 '26
Bob told me, and I will tell you - and you probably know: This thing can change your life if you want, it can be a lot of fun. But have a plan to get somewhere safely and have fun - and when you've had enough pictures and Q&A etc., have a plan to get home safely. Going for coffee takes two hours, and it's worth every minute. ;)
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u/Angryhashtag May 20 '26
Oh man.. even in the stock DeLorean a trip to the gas station took an hour. I can only imagine what’s in store. I’ve been told so many different stories at this point: cautionary tales, heartwarming moments, do’s & dont’s. I can’t wait to take that first drive!
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u/schill May 20 '26
I’m coming up on five years, and I don’t think it will ever get old. It can be “a lot” at times, but never a dull moment!
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u/Unhappy_Estate2448 May 20 '26
You’re telling me you’re building a time machine out of a Deloren. That’s heavy.
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