From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-krusty-motorsports.com Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #47 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Wednesday, November 25 1998 Volume 01 : Number 047 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles John Meister Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: 300D Turbo vs. 300SDL argh vacuum problem solved funny things spouses say... Re: Book stuff... (fsj,xj and a 240TD !!!???) Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 19:57:35 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: 300D Turbo vs. 300SDL Roger, I've driven one SDL. I was considering swapping my 81 Wagoneer for one. I wasn't impressed, but let me explain the reasons, for they may not be valid for every car. First, when looking at 300D's I found that each one I tested felt different. I suppose it relates to how it was cared for, the tires it had, and so on. So the SDL I drove may have been abused. It seemed to pass along the roughness of the road along to the seat. On the freeway it was smooth. Second, the thing that unnerved both my wife and I was the way the turbo came on. It seemed to JUMP alive at thirty five. Seemed like a bit too much all of a sudden. Test reports I read on other Turbo Diesels indicated that the turbo did come into play around 35, so the one I drove may have had a problem with the boost. Other than those two issues, which will vary from rig to rig, it was a beautiful car. It's been called one of the most technlogically advanced Diesels ever made (at least in the 80's when it came out.) Other than the complexity and probable costs of repair I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be a promotion if you found one you liked. :) Well, I'd better get outside and swap the starter in Fritz so I can get to work in the morning... :) john At 05:27 PM 11/22/98 EST, KRASUSKY4-at-aol.com wrote: >TO: John >FROM: Roger > >Your web page has some valuable information and nice pictures...thanks. > >I have happily driven my 1984 300D Turbo for almost three years. My odometer >has gone from 164K to 222K without any costly repairs. (glow plugs, tires, >fuel filters...) >This seems to be the perfect car: comfortable, safe, efficient, reliable... > >However, I am considering investing in a SDL, due to expansion of interior >room it offers. > >What comparitive advice would you be able to offer? (compared to my car) > >For instance: >how would you rate the reliability of the SDL (1985 - 1987) >have you driven or owned an SDL (what is your opinion) >is there a history or pattern of problems with the SDL (1985-1987) > >Thank you for taking the time to read my e-mail. >Perhaps you may not be able to answer all of my questions; what contacts could >you recommend? > >Final note: >I very much like my little 300. It is almost indestructable. >Even though it is a 1984, it has been well maintained. I chuckle when I am >asked if it is new. More so, do I like the expression on their faces when I >tell them the mileage. Then I pop the hood - it is so clean under there. >I like the round shaped vents on the dash. Sporty. > >Final Final note: >Would you call a switch into a SDL a "graduation" or just a "transition"? > >THANKS -- Roger > > > - ---------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com Jesus - don't leave life without him... http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john - --------------------------------------------------- Mercedes Benz Diesels, FullSizeJeeps and xj's... found on http://www.digest.net and http://www.wagoneers.com - ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 20:41:47 -0800 From: john Subject: argh I went to replace the starter in Fritz, but before I did I wanted to test the wiring to the starter solenoid, so I had my wife get in and turn the ignition while I held the tester to the contacts... guess what? it started. it's cold, damp and dark out there. I'm gonna live on the edge and see how many more times I'm stranded before I yank the starter... :) john - ---------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com Jesus - don't leave life without him... http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john - --------------------------------------------------- Mercedes Benz Diesels, FullSizeJeeps and xj's... found on http://www.digest.net and http://www.wagoneers.com - ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 22:01:05 -0800 From: john Subject: vacuum problem solved So while I gave up on the starter motor swap for the night, I decided to have a go at the last remaining problem... After plugging and unplugging hoses I found that the one "check" valve going into the firewall was spastic... meanings it required copius amounts of suction to operate and then inconsistently... so I grabbed a straight plastic T from my hose box and tested everything out PERFECTLY. The heat changes temperature, the door locks go up and down and the car shuts off! Next, the starter and the heater control lamp... but that's for another day... (or the mechanic... :) Guess I'll have the studded tires mounted tomorrow. So Fritz is ready for winter, looks like we might even have one here this year... Been having lots of rain and wind, lots of rain... (more than normal, lots more... :) john - ---------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com Jesus - don't leave life without him... http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john - --------------------------------------------------- Mercedes Benz Diesels, FullSizeJeeps and xj's... found on http://www.digest.net and http://www.wagoneers.com - ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:24:54 -0800 From: "Meister, John" Subject: funny things spouses say... After driving the little wagoneer all the way over to the Olympic Pennisula to check out the J10, we drive up to and my wife says: "You want to give up your Mercedes for that?" Funny how that sticks in your mind as you test drive a rig with little or no paint left on parts of it, with busted down seats, rock hard suspension and tires, a broken windshield, a dash that looked like it'd been left out in a Hurricane, an interior that had more dirt, mold and gunk than the gravel road I drove in on... :) Funny thing is, I still want a J10, but I don't want to give up my Benz either... which means I'll have to find one really, really cheap, probably without an engine... I just want the interior to be halfway decent... I hate fixing stuff like that... Even the Model 25 with it's "short" 7 foot bed and 118.7 inch wheel base seems kind of long. That opens up more possibilities as I can get a longer wheelbase model and remove the bed and shorten the frame. (yeah, right, don't have time to adjust the headlights on Fritz and I'm cutting and welding, huh? :) Hey, I noticed a mercedes wheel in the bottom picture... Do we have another XJ owner that also has a Benz, or is it someone elses? :) http://coral.bucknell.edu/~rizzi/ http://coral.bucknell.edu/~rizzi/old%20steering/PIC00004.jpg ======================================================= john meister sr CAD sys admin, Intermec meister-at-intermec.com (425) 356.1663 http://www.intermec.com ( http://www.wagoneers.com/ john-at-wagoneers.com ) ======================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 21:52:02 -0800 From: john Subject: Re: Book stuff... (fsj,xj and a 240TD !!!???) At 10:07 AM 11/24/98 +0100, tommy.lovsund-at-seinf.mail.abb.com wrote: >Hi, I'm still alive and kicking, Long time no hear, Well, I've been real >busy, hardly had time to read what's been going on list wise :( >Although I've heard about your book and I'm currently working on >some contributions to it. If you want/need it? If you do, what's your >deadline? no specific deadline... I'm hoping to get a lot done this weekend, have Friday set aside for it. During the Christmas break I hope to lock myself up in my office and do the majority of it. I've got a mound of pictures and stacks of manuals and brochures to organize. :) Problem is I keep wandering off reading old articles... :) With a little help from my friends and family I'll stay focused on the task... :) The internal pressure to get it done is starting to build. I just got my computer system rebuilt and am cleaning up my office so I have room to spread out pictures and articles... :) I've made a couple of trips taking UNIX classes all over and met up with lots of Jeep folks... have some decent shots. The last trip I got some awesome pictures of Super Ken's Super Wagoneer, Dan's 64 Wagoneer and a couple of nice red XJ's. The book is coming together in my head... I can see parts of it, but the outline hasn't fully materialized yet, well, I've got one... but it's gonna be better. I'm scratching out articles here and there and getting a feel for how it should look. The hardest part will be keeping names and faces and Jeeps organized so I give all involved credit for their rigs. :) I'll end up posting pictures on my website and asking the jeep lists to help me remember/identify who owns this rig... Kind of like putting someone's face on a milk carton... :) >I've documented a friends '79 Chero that he converted with a turbo MB 240D >and intercooler, have lot's of pics + driving impressions, are currently writing down all >info about I'm very interested in that conversion. Also on the 240D turbo! There are guys on the diesel-benz list that would love to have one of those. :) I got email from a guy in Chicago wanting to know where he could get a 300D with a manual tranny... A turbo 240D falls into the same category. :) Maybe we can work an international-internet-inter-list swap of parts... FSJ/XJ and Diesel Benz parts... Gives me an idea... you shipping one of your rigs to the states? Maybe you could load a couple of Mercedes engines in the back... :) I bought a friend's 81 Mercedes 300D this summer, nice car. We were chatting about using a 300 in an FSJ. :) They are about the same size as the 258... :) >it, he also have an e-mail address if you need it for further info. He also modified >tailgate to barn doors like a Suburban. It's real neat. I have the back end of a 78 Wagoneer here... want to do the barn door thing. :) I also have all the pictures from cutting up the Wagoneer so I can show cross sectional pictures... > >Have also been taking pics of every FSJ that I've come across while >traveling this country, incl. more pics awesome. This book is gonna have lots of pictures if I can help it. I've been taking and receiving pictures of both FSJ's and XJ's from all over the world. I'm not sure who, how or where I'll get the book published by. If it comes down to it I might have to publish it myself. Shouldn't be a problem in this day and age to get electronic copy to a printer. It'll take some bucks up front though... Shouldn't be a big problem taking the plunge. Lots of folks interested in it. >of my own trucks, my Chero is almost finished now, right now I'm building a >grillguard/winch combo mount >and brush guard. Everything is going so slow with this build up :( I understand how slow things can go... :) > >I hope I can scan pictures soon, along with my writing, if not I'll snail >mail them to you, hope you can use some of it, maybe in a part of book that deals with lets >say "FSJs worlwide" or something like it. >Don't know how your book is planned though. It's gonna cover SJ, XJ, ZJ and WJ jeeps, heavy on the SJ and XJ. Would like to include some Willys for historical perspective. Wagons and Pickups only though, no bobtails in this book. Nothing wrong with Bobtails, but this is about THE OTHER JEEPS. Which is also one of the titles I'm thinking of using for the book. :-) > >It's not all set yet but we'll most likely be in Pigeon forgeTennessee >around May 13-16. You don't happen >to be in the vicinity in May sometime? Don't know now if there will be time >for us to visit Snohomish although >I'd love to check out your place again. I believe we drove by last time... Was gonna head back down to the Bay area in January for work, but budgets are tight and I told my boss I'd try to get the class locally. May end up down there later in the year for the class though. If you're in the neighborhood hope you have some time to drop in and check out my rigs. :) > >Have recently read your're chasing a J10 stepside, what a coincidence, I've >been searching the net mostly Trader online for a truck like that for a year now. It's been > a long time favourite FSJ, they don't excist >here as far as I know. Been thinking (ohh that hurts) about finding one >stateside and bring it home, then I find out that you'are up to the same ;) I'm fussier than you... I want a nice interior, a decent ride... engine optional... :) In fact, a stepside isn't required. I will probably get a standard bed, throw it away, make a flat bed after shortening the frame a bit... :) >If you find one with V8 and auto, send it to my home address, thank you :) I'm trying to contact a guy in the bay area with an 80 Honcho... he hasn't returned my email yet. $3,600, V-8... >BTW, I'm interested in buying a FSJ t-shirt + a few decals, might as well >mail pics along with money, how much is the T? I've only made one T-shirt. Will have to figure out where to get decent shirts and print up some more. I could just sell the transfers and you could apply it to any shirt you'd like... Probably the easiest. I'll have to figure out what it'll cost me in ink cartridges and transfer material and let you know. To snail mail the pictures my address is: John Meister 14809 State Route 9 SE Snohomish, WA 98296 >>Be good (it's close to Christmas) >>Tommy Will do. BTW, you folks had much snow over there in Sweden yet? :) All we've had is rain, lots of it... and some wind. john meister ------------------------------------------------- john-at-virtual-cafe.com - http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... ------------------------------------------------- http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john/MBZ-DSL/diesel-benz-list.html (81 300D) http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john/JEEP/FSJ-list.html (81 J10) http://www.virtual-cafe.com/~john/JEEP/XJ-list.html (88 xj wagoneer) ------------------------------------------------- jesus, don't leave life without him... ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #47 ********************************