From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #1088 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 Monday, June 30 2003 Volume 01 : Number 1088 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: the '87 300D Turbo 1981 300 D and 1983 300 SD darned I learn allot, wasRE: theoretical question :) Re: darned I learn allot, wasRE: theoretical question :) Re: Radios to fit W123? cleaning the driveway Mercedes Benzes and Dodge Cummins diesels 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, 29 Jun 2003 16:03:06 -0700 From: john Subject: Re: the '87 300D Turbo At 10:44 PM 6/29/2003 +0000, diesel-benz-digest wrote: >From: "Sam Williams" <1sam-at-io.com> >Subject: RE: '87 300D Turbo >John, >Someone's been driving around with broken ACC and bad handling--long >enough to wear the tires. He's willing to detail the engine compartment >to make it ready to sell (for the price of a sound car). Lucky that >provides the excuse (which might be true) for brake system warning lamp. you know, talking with the owner of an '87 300SDL today something else clicked that may be the case on the ABS thing... from what I can gather someone hit a curb with one of the rims, the one on the LR now. That would explain the pulling to the right, the bent rim and also the ABS light as there are some sensors on the caliper... could be, hard to say... but it's a hunch. Brakes work well and everything else seems to work. There is no structural damage by that strut so I'm sure a wheel alignment will make things right, worse case scenario a control arm might be needed. And since there are lots of 124 chassis out there it's something I should be able to find in a yard somewhere. >I'm sure everything can be fixed, including things you didn't notice yet. >Money seems a minor consideration and you can probably sell it for close >to what it will cost (ignoring your time and efforts) to bring it back >into shape. Do I remember a high bid in the low hundreds for the >300CD? This could be a learning experience. It's not as if you need that; which one? the one I'm selling that I put up Friday night? I'm impressed I have a bid at all. If you're trying to say that's all I'll see, well, we'll see. :) I may reshoot the pictures and replace them. The photos aren't the best, but should be able to give someone an honest picture of the car. If it doesn't sell I'll throw some more money at it, replace the fender, have the hood and fender painted and fix a few of the minor issues and the car will be much closer to being a real winner. I'm willing to let it go at a bargain so I can move on to another one. I'm sitting here thinking about what to do. I'm definitely smitten with the 124 300D Turbo, not maybe the one with issues, but any of them. The power was awesome... the ride wonderful, handling great... It's what I expect in a Benz... the reason I think I loved my 123 so much. The price is right for me and fixing stuff is just a matter of getting me off the keyboard and on the wrenches. ;) >I have long admired your knowledge of these cars. If you think the >repairs you know it needs and those you expect it might need will be >fun, go for it. The sunroof may never need your attention at all. >Sam That is excellent news, because I'm not fond of fixing sunroofs. :) I haven't called the guy yet... haven't found one any where near the price, don't see these cars very often... should I wait or should I jump? Waiting is probably the wisest... and the hardest... my 190D is doing fine, it's a "cute" car... soon as I get the a/c pump swapped out I'll be set and complete... tough decision... but I am going to have a 124 300D at some point... I'm hooked. :) john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 19:47:47 -0400 From: Rajeev Wijesinghe Subject: 1981 300 D and 1983 300 SD Hello List Members: Greetings from Toronto Canada. First, some news! I have decided against the 305 Chevy SWAP in my 300 SD (W126) and have decided to replace the blown engine with a non-turbo MB diesel out of a 1981 300D. After searching for a turbo engine within my price range, and local to my location, this is the best alternative I have found. In this deal, I scored two 300 D's, one of which, the motor came out of. I have removed many parts from one car and the other car is still in-tact. Both have many good parts but will be going to the scrap yard because the bodies are SHOT!!! If anyone wants to buy parts that these cars would have at VERY REASONABLE amounts, please contact me immediately before they go on Ebay. Once again, my location is Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the cars are 300 D's. No engines are available, but two transmissions are, which I am told, require transmission modules (??). Looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Rajeev Wijesinghe 1983 300 SD 1992 Ford Tempo V6 1981 300 D (parting out) 198? 300 D (parting out) Rajeev L. Wijesinghe ======================================= Don't quit when the tide is lowest, For it's just about to turn; Don't Quit over doubts and questions, For there's something you may learn. Don't quit when the night is darkest, For it's just a while 'til dawn; Don't quit when you've run the farthest, For the race is almost won. Don't quit when the hill is steepest, For your goal is almost nigh; Don't quit, for you're not a failure Until you fail to try. - -Jill Wolf ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 20:22:58 -0700 (PDT) From: hue wong Subject: darned I learn allot, wasRE: theoretical question :) I sure do learn allot but ghoasting on on these threads and just reading them. thanx everyone. In the last few months my MB knowledge has increased ten fold! - --- Alec Cordova wrote: > Some replies may have been working from your final > multiple choice of just 3 > or 4. Of those 2, I'd also pick 3. > > From the whole list, let's see > > > 1) 1985 300D (turbo) light yellow 208k for about > $4500 > for this price, it should be in good shape. A/C can > be dealt with, I'm > talking about suspension rubber. If that's already > been mostly replaced, > this one ranks high on my list. > > > 2)1991 300d (2.5l td) white/gray 270k for about > $9990 > Even on a diesel Benz, that's an awful lot of miles > for 10K. Maybe if some > major pieces have been replaced properly... > > > 3) 1987 300d (3.0L td) silver (blue int) 280k for > $3950 > Nice prospect, but probably needs lots of tinkering > with that many miles. I > also second the concerns about the blue dash. They > have a higher propensity > for developing cracks. Climate control in this will > be very, very similar to > numbers 1 and 7. > > > 4) 1985 190D (2.2L) light yellow 220k - paid for > No turbo, no big motor, no stick, no space, but paid > for and running. > > > 5) 1980 300d (3.0L) light yellow 277k - on ebay > (needs some TLC) > No turbo. You already know this combination, and you > don't particularly like > it. Neither do I. > > > 6)1995 E300 (td) unkn color - unknn mileage forgot > the # at work - $15k > Probably outside the budget. Not sure if 95 diesels > had the engine wiring > harness disintegration problems of the M104 gas > motor family, but I'm now > very afraid of any 94 to 96 Benz. > > > 7) 1984 300D (3.0L td) needs timing chain and > "some work" - $350 > And the seats are shot, the paint is in bad shape, > the interior is abused, > you KNOW the A/C is dead, etc., etc., etc. > > > I personally would look real close at number one. > The price looks a little > high to me. If the condition justifies that price, > this one could be really > nice. Number 3 is newer, 124, 6 cylinder, and it's > priced lower. It's > probably not in beautiful shape, although it's > definitely worth a look. > Number 2 is probably more computerized than number > 3, affecting how much > work you can do on the car at home. > > If 123 bodies have been vetoed, you're probably > better off right now > sticking with your current ride and shopping around > a little longer for a > better diesel 124. 1987 was possibly the only year > for the 6 cylinder diesel > in the 124, so the market is not flooded with them, > but I think a good > example of that car could be a very nice fit for > most of your (and your > mate's) stated needs. > > By the way, I'm pretty sure 87 300E had headlight > wipers. They may have > omitted them on the 2.6 motor version, and I'm not > sure if the diesels had > them or not. If they weren't standard on the diesel, > they may have been > optional. > > Alec __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 20:45:47 -0700 From: john Subject: Re: darned I learn allot, wasRE: theoretical question :) yeah, it's nice having you guys out there to bounce stuff off of... I haven't called to confirm my purchase of the '87 300D yet... I should, but I told the guy Monday and I'm not too worried about anyone else buying it the way it is. :) I'm working up my list of for sale vehicles right now... hey, hue, weren't you interested in my 300CD? low reserve... last check the bid was up to a whopping $355! ;) my 190D is going too... it's a nice car, but the 300D is nicer. :) gotta run, still have a test to grade... john At 08:22 PM 6/29/2003 -0700, hue wong wrote: >I sure do learn allot but ghoasting on on these >threads and just reading them. >thanx everyone. In the last few months my MB >knowledge has increased ten fold! > > >--- Alec Cordova wrote: > > Some replies may have been working from your final > > multiple choice of just 3 > > or 4. Of those 2, I'd also pick 3. > > > > From the whole list, let's see > > > > > 1) 1985 300D (turbo) light yellow 208k for about > > $4500 > > for this price, it should be in good shape. A/C can > > be dealt with, I'm > > talking about suspension rubber. If that's already > > been mostly replaced, > > this one ranks high on my list. > > > > > 2)1991 300d (2.5l td) white/gray 270k for about > > $9990 > > Even on a diesel Benz, that's an awful lot of miles > > for 10K. Maybe if some > > major pieces have been replaced properly... > > > > > 3) 1987 300d (3.0L td) silver (blue int) 280k for > > $3950 > > Nice prospect, but probably needs lots of tinkering > > with that many miles. I > > also second the concerns about the blue dash. They > > have a higher propensity > > for developing cracks. Climate control in this will > > be very, very similar to > > numbers 1 and 7. > > > > > 4) 1985 190D (2.2L) light yellow 220k - paid for > > No turbo, no big motor, no stick, no space, but paid > > for and running. > > > > > 5) 1980 300d (3.0L) light yellow 277k - on ebay > > (needs some TLC) > > No turbo. You already know this combination, and you > > don't particularly like > > it. Neither do I. > > > > > 6)1995 E300 (td) unkn color - unknn mileage forgot > > the # at work - $15k > > Probably outside the budget. Not sure if 95 diesels > > had the engine wiring > > harness disintegration problems of the M104 gas > > motor family, but I'm now > > very afraid of any 94 to 96 Benz. > > > > > 7) 1984 300D (3.0L td) needs timing chain and > > "some work" - $350 > > And the seats are shot, the paint is in bad shape, > > the interior is abused, > > you KNOW the A/C is dead, etc., etc., etc. > > > > > > I personally would look real close at number one. > > The price looks a little > > high to me. If the condition justifies that price, > > this one could be really > > nice. Number 3 is newer, 124, 6 cylinder, and it's > > priced lower. It's > > probably not in beautiful shape, although it's > > definitely worth a look. > > Number 2 is probably more computerized than number > > 3, affecting how much > > work you can do on the car at home. > > > > If 123 bodies have been vetoed, you're probably > > better off right now > > sticking with your current ride and shopping around > > a little longer for a > > better diesel 124. 1987 was possibly the only year > > for the 6 cylinder diesel > > in the 124, so the market is not flooded with them, > > but I think a good > > example of that car could be a very nice fit for > > most of your (and your > > mate's) stated needs. > > > > By the way, I'm pretty sure 87 300E had headlight > > wipers. They may have > > omitted them on the 2.6 motor version, and I'm not > > sure if the diesels had > > them or not. If they weren't standard on the diesel, > > they may have been > > optional. > > > > Alec > > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! >http://sbc.yahoo.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 21:03:39 -0700 (PDT) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: Re: Radios to fit W123? Guy Carpenter wrote: > > Looked like this when complete: > http://www.clearwater.com.au/gallery/merc300d/merc0005.jpg > > I did encounter a problem with the console fader; I located > the wires that *appeared* to come directly from the front > speakers, replaced the connectors, and wired it to the Kenwood > head. However the fader was still apparently wired into the front > speakers ahead of my connection because it still controlled > the front speakers. I never did figure out the audio wiring to that > fader. > *** I just wired around it. The fader is an abortion anyway - it throws away hard-earned audio power, converting it into heat. Fading is far better done with the low-level controls built into the radio. Because the modern radios actually have four audio amps built into them. If you use the fader, you are running all four speakers off the two front amps. So not only are you converting power into heat, you are also throwing away half the power that the radio can produce. The best thing to do is to identify the wires that come from the rear speakers, and patch them directly up to the radio's rear speaker outputs. Don't ground any speaker wires, please - wire each speaker and its return directly to the appropriate terminals on the radio. Modern high-power radios don't have a "common ground" as far as the speakers are concerned. - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 21:11:27 -0700 From: john Subject: cleaning the driveway We've decided to sell off pretty much everything in the driveway and start over. :) I've found a used '87 300D that I'm probably going to buy tomorrow, and we'll start looking at buying a new WJ... 0% for 60 months is 16.67 * 1000 of value/mo - maybe we can find one for $22,000 so we'd have payments of $366.74/mo. That hasn't sunk in yet. So I'm sure no one will be surprised when it doesn't happen. :) Anyway, that leaves the following for sale: - --------------------------------------------- 1980 300CD - on ebay - nice car but needs some TLC. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6330&item=2421325907 1985 190D - $3,500 - clean, solid, 35 mpg in town, lots new... 1987 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer - $2,500 - 3" lift, 31x10.5s, needs nothing, excellent mechanical condition, new rear main, exhaust, starter, battery, all AMSOIL synthetic, runs great, 244,000 miles 4.0L/aw4 (I like this one, but I can't justify having TWO Jeeps that my wife won't drive. ;) 1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo - $5,000 - Old Man Emu lift, 30x9.5s, super clean, 115,000 miles bought it for my wife, she doesn't like it... (see note above about WJ) Have those Cooper Discover 35x12.5's on six lug alloys that I need to sell, my son paid $750 for them and barely used them, over 90% tread left... mounted and balanced, only $500! (not easy to ship... :( Come and get 'em... http://www.wagoneers.com/FSJ/PARTS/35x12-1.jpg also, my son is selling: 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle - rough... $400 obo 304/th400/qt, lincon locked rear end, runs well, serious 4x4 - needs a new home... make an offer, drive it home... please... I'll create a web page with pictures and more details at: http://wagoneers.com/tmp/forsale.html john - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... Jesus, don't leave life without him, please! - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 22:53:41 -0500 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Mercedes Benzes and Dodge Cummins diesels About 10 days ago I bought a '92 Dodge Cummins 3/4T truck to "replace" my '89 one ton Dodge flatbed dually redneck welder wagon in which Alma and our two boys were frappiid by a drunk driver on Mother's Day. I am convinced that the fact they were hit in that particular vehicle saved all their lives. I don't think even a Mercedes Benz would have fared as well. The way the accident unfolded resulted in their narrowly missing a head-on collision at a cumulative 120mph on a rural two lane farm road. I bought the glitzy '92 truck from the owner of a machine shop which specializes in repairing, servicing, and rebuilding HUMONGOUS natural gas engines used in the oilfield to drive natural gas compressors. It's an awesomely clean "extended cab" top of the line model truck with wood trim, genuine leather seats, and power everything. With only 164900 miles when we got it, it has led a very pampered life, averaging only about 15K miles per year. Alma immediately staked a claim on it. And that was fine with 'cause it's orders of magnitude too pretty to suit a hun like me... The previous owner's machine shop business is devoted to the servicing, repairing and rebuilding of immense natural gas engines which consume wellhead raw natural gas. They run and run, day and night, non-stop, providing motive power to compress the same gas that fuels them. Anyway, a week or so after I bought the '92, while driving through the same town (Giddings, Texas) I happened to notice a '91 Dodge one ton flat bed service truck for sale. The truck had a sign on the doors for the same company from which I bought the '92. However, as it turned out, the machine shop sold the truck about 6 months ago, to a woman, who thought she wanted to go into the welding business, then CHANGED HER MIND, and decided to continue with her normal course of employment, driving an EIGHTEEN WHEELER.. So I bought "big red" from her for just a little less ($2750) than she paid for it ($3000) about 5K miles ago. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The good: It has an awesome service flat bed. It has compartments, tool boxes, work lights, water and solvent tanks. The diamond plate bed is probably 3/32" thick. It HAD an electric? or hydraulic? versacrane or whatever you call those winches which rotate, extend, retract, and hoist. That is gone but the mount is still there. I dare say the flatbed is worth what I paid for the truck if you bought it new or paid to have it fabricated. Somebody went through the a/c system very recently. The air is freezing cold. The engine has 260K miles and supposedly doesn't use any oil. But the jury is still out on that detail. But it does run like a scalded dog. Probably has a 4.10 rear end. Has a 5 speed transmission. The bad: The 5 speed transmission. It jumps out of 5th (overdrive) if you let off the accelerator. Supposedly, the trans was rebuilt 50K miles ago. The ugly. According to the seller there's a "trick" to shifting through the gears. I definitely haven't mastered the trick. Sometimes you'll shift the lever out of a gear but the transmission will stay there. The result is that you have to dick around with it to get it into neutral or back to the gear you lost. I break into a cold sweat at the thought of driving it in this condition in rush hour traffic. Therefore, I see the transmission is the biggest problem with the truck Nevertheless, I'm delirious with joy to finally have a Cummins work truck with a 5 speed manual transmission, even though the transmission and/or truck may be a yawing money pit. Luckily, the wrecked truck, although incredibly dilapidated, has a pretty sound drive train. It belonged to an insulation company which hurled quite a bit of money at it (including the FACTORY REBUILT ENGINE!) only a few tens of thousand of miles before I bought it last December. Unfortunately though, the wrecked truck has an automatic transmission. Nevertheless, most of the innards will go a long way to getting "big red" into condition. I hope to have the tanks, tool boxes, and the flat bed sand blasted and repainted. I'm gonna fab another ginpole for it. And I've got an ancient Lincoln SA-200 (amp) "short cowl" portable welder which will find a home on the back of it if I ever find time to rebuild the Continental 4 cylinder industrial engine which drives it. Ditto for an Onan 4KW gasoline generator. With a welder, a generator, a gin pole, an air compressor, oxyacetylene bottles (mount holes are already there!) and all those cubby holes, it'll be a do-it-yourselfer's panzerwagen. It is astounding how DIFFERENT the two trucks are in terms of their ride and internal ambiance. Truly "his" and "hers" "ying" and "yang". Now I again have the means to tow our fleet of 240D MERCEDES BENZES around the yard. VT ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1088 **********************************