From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Wed Mar 24 01:09:48 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Wednesday, March 24 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1401 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] driving vs. flying... Re: [db] battery Re: [db] driving vs. flying... Re: [db] re-attachment of wood trim in 123 cabin RE: [db] re-attachment of wood trim in 123 cabin [db] re: battery recommendations [db] first Benz weekend RE: [db] first Benz weekend RE: [db] re: battery recommendations Re: [db] re: battery recommendations Re: [db] first Benz weekend [db] delusions of 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: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 16:16:15 -0800 (PST) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: Re: [db] driving vs. flying... Steve Morelen wrote: > > > > hey, one of my buddies just bought a plane, only 100k... ;) > > > > > > he can afford it though... ;) > > *** That's a fairly expensive plane. I paid $40K for mine. My first plane was a 1946 2-seater Cessna - I paid $13,500.00 for it. Sold it a year later for $14,500.00. Of course, I'd put a grand or so into it in the meantime. - Jerry ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 18:17:19 -0800 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Re: [db] battery At 09:52 AM 3/22/04 , Philip Tigue wrote: >Hi, I have a 1980 300td wagon which I need to get a battery for and I am >wondering if it should be a certain kind. ie one made for european cars >or a genuine mercedes brand battery. any suggestions? thanks,Phil I'm in agreement with Jim and others, just get the correct size and specs. I have seen people put a puny battery in to save a few bucks; not a good idea. An interesting note: I replaced batteries in my 123 vehicles only to find out they were 7-8 years old and still holding a charge well! Problem was actually brushes and voltage regulator! I don't normally let a battery go for that long, but these mild northwest climates apparently allow long battery life! Greg Fiorentino gfior-at-dslnorthwest.net ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 18:29:01 -0800 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Re: [db] driving vs. flying... At 01:38 PM 3/22/04 , Kevin Pekarek wrote: >I always wonder what the catch is I have a little stick time in a Citabria aerobatics plane (as copilot with an experienced licensed pilot). It was great fun and I'm actually a natural at seat-of-the-pants flying. BUT even if I could have come up with the money easily, it's not for me. A little microscopic nearly invisible speck in the sky becomes another aircraft on collision course in a matter of SECONDS. The penalty for forgetting some little item in your checklist is just way too high for me! I am willing to leave it to the pros when I have to fly. The wife works for Horizon so there are some benefits there too... Greg Fiorentino Vancouver USA gfior-at-dslnorthwest.net '86 300SDL Turbo '84 300D Turbo '79 300TD '85 F-350 6.9 crew cab ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 18:31:03 -0800 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Re: [db] re-attachment of wood trim in 123 cabin At 05:55 PM 3/22/04 , Steve Morelen wrote: >Thanks for the input Robert. The surfaces that I have to join together >are the wood back-side of the trim and a clean metal surface that is >attached to the dashboard assembly. I'll be needing an adhesive that can >fill minor gaps since some of the trim pieces aren't as straight and flat >as they were originally. I first thought the contact cement would be good >but I am having second thoughts after contemplating the temperature >cycling that the glue joint will have to endure. I'm guessing +130 F to >+20 F unless I drive someplace colder. I would go for the 3M spray-on trim adhesive. It is a type of contact cement IIRC. Greg Fiorentino Vancouver USA gfior-at-dslnorthwest.net '86 300SDL Turbo '84 300D Turbo '79 300TD '85 F-350 6.9 crew cab ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 23:35:57 -0600 From: "Alec Cordova" Subject: RE: [db] re-attachment of wood trim in 123 cabin It's probably worth a good try. 3M seems to make some really, really good adhesives. I know one of their products is pretty much the only viable choice for attaching a replacement hood pad on a Benz, plus using another 3M product to clean off the underside of the hood before installing the replacement pad. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 168K > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net > [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of Greg Fiorentino > Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 8:31 PM > To: Steve Morelen; diesel-benz-at-digest.net > Subject: Re: [db] re-attachment of wood trim in 123 cabin > > > At 05:55 PM 3/22/04 , Steve Morelen wrote: > >Thanks for the input Robert. The surfaces that I have to join together > >are the wood back-side of the trim and a clean metal surface that is > >attached to the dashboard assembly. I'll be needing an adhesive > that can > >fill minor gaps since some of the trim pieces aren't as straight > and flat > >as they were originally. I first thought the contact cement > would be good > >but I am having second thoughts after contemplating the temperature > >cycling that the glue joint will have to endure. I'm guessing +130 F to > >+20 F unless I drive someplace colder. > > I would go for the 3M spray-on trim adhesive. It is a type of contact > cement IIRC. > > > Greg Fiorentino > Vancouver USA > gfior-at-dslnorthwest.net > > '86 300SDL Turbo > '84 300D Turbo > '79 300TD > '85 F-350 6.9 crew cab ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 12:22:13 -0500 From: "Philip Tigue" Subject: [db] re: battery recommendations re: battery recommendations Thanks for the input, I was looking for brand name recommendations. I will start shopping around. I personally have seen best performance from interstate followed by diehard (sears). walmart doesnt have the big sizes anymore. now will I find a better price online rather than at a local store? shipping would be alot though. Phil - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get rid of annoying pop-up ads with the new MSN Toolbar ^V FREE! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 10:56:57 -0800 (PST) From: Anaeis N Subject: [db] first Benz weekend So........... My new sweetie will be riding in my '82 300CD for the first time this weekend, and I want to reinforce the impression that it's a classic car, not a "bomb," as they say. Any suggestions for spiffing it up? The window glass in particular -- I've never been able to get it really clean. What does everyone use to get things spic 'n' span? Do places exist to get cars really spotless? Thanks, R (who's all of 13 months into car ownership) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 15:19:16 -0600 From: "Sam Williams" <1sam-at-io.com> Subject: RE: [db] first Benz weekend R, Get it 'detailed.' It's not cheap but they will get into most of the nooks and crannies and have all the right products to make your car gleam. Check with car wash places--also, most MB dealers provide the service. I hope you impress her more than your car, even if it does look very pretty. Sam - -----Original Message----- From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Anaeis N Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 12:57 PM To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Subject: [db] first Benz weekend So........... My new sweetie will be riding in my '82 300CD for the first time this weekend, and I want to reinforce the impression that it's a classic car, not a "bomb," as they say. Any suggestions for spiffing it up? The window glass in particular -- I've never been able to get it really clean. What does everyone use to get things spic 'n' span? Do places exist to get cars really spotless? Thanks, R (who's all of 13 months into car ownership) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 14:45:48 -0700 From: "Jeremy Bowne" Subject: RE: [db] re: battery recommendations When buying online, will a shipping company even ship a charged battery? Sounds like more work than you may want... Jeremy - -----Original Message----- From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Philip Tigue Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 10:22 AM To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Subject: [db] re: battery recommendations re: battery recommendations Thanks for the input, I was looking for brand name recommendations. I will start shopping around. I personally have seen best performance from interstate followed by diehard (sears). walmart doesnt have the big sizes anymore. now will I find a better price online rather than at a local store? shipping would be alot though. Phil - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get rid of annoying pop-up ads with the new MSN Toolbar ^V FREE! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 12:07:02 -0800 (PST) From: Jerome Kaidor Subject: Re: [db] re: battery recommendations Jeremy Bowne wrote: > > When buying online, will a shipping company even ship a charged battery? > Sounds like more work than you may want... > *** I buy aircraft batteries by mail. They're just like car batteries, except they're made not to leak if you turn them upside down. They're shipped "dry charged" in one box, with a few bottles of battery acid in another box. They come with instructions for adding the acid to the battery. You have to pour it in to a mark, shake the battery, let it sit for a few hours, then top it up again. Then you sit it on a trickle charge overnight. Definitely a pain in the you know what, and if I could just buy the things off the shelf at the McParts, that's exactly what I would do. - Jerry Kaidor ( jerry-at-tr2.com ) > Jeremy > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] > On Behalf Of Philip Tigue > Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2004 10:22 AM > To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net > Subject: [db] re: battery recommendations > > re: battery recommendations > > Thanks for the input, I was looking for brand name recommendations. I > will start shopping around. I personally have seen best performance > from > interstate followed by diehard (sears). walmart doesnt have the big > sizes anymore. now will I find a better price online rather than at a > local store? shipping would be alot though. > > Phil > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Get rid of annoying pop-up ads with the new MSN Toolbar ^V FREE! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2004 17:54:05 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] first Benz weekend Heh heh, Everybody looks good in a vintage Mercedes. Might I suggest washing it and then using Meguiars spray wax on it afterwards. That will give it a nice shine even on top of a well waxed surface. If you have not waxed the car lately consider taking an afternoon to do this. I would suggest using a harsh detergent to wash the car and strip the old wax. Then your first coat of wax you want to use a cleaner wax and work that in carefully with a polishign wheel. Your not worried about shine on this coat just cleaning and polising the paint. The next coat i would suggest using a colored wax so that any scratches or paint imperfections you might have will go away. If your car is not a primary color you can skip this step as the "off shades" of colored sometimes make a mess of things. After the color wax do a third coat of Meguiars Show Car Mirror Glaze. After your done let the car sit for a while and then give it a good wash. The washing will get rid of any "dust" and particles on the car. Dry it carefully and if you feel like it mist on some of the Meguiars spray wax. Additionally if you have bundtcake wheels be sure they are clean even in the holes and cracks. I generally dont look at window glass as long as its not hazed over its fine. Vacuum the carpets really well and use some "low lustre" armor all on the dash. The high lustre stuff looks greasy and shows dust faster. Additionally smell is important. Don't use strawberry air freshener in the car or some fruity smell. I would suggest unscented ozium or one of the armor all products scented like leather. You want the car to smell like a car and not fresh baked muffins. Here are some pics of my "Classic Mercedes" all cleaned and waxed up. http://beostar.paunix.org/newmbzpics Robert Chase Anaeis N wrote: >So........... > >My new sweetie will be riding in my '82 300CD for the first time this weekend, and I want to reinforce the impression that it's a classic car, not a "bomb," as they say. > >Any suggestions for spiffing it up? The window glass in particular -- I've never been able to get it really clean. What does everyone use to get things spic 'n' span? Do places exist to get cars really spotless? > >Thanks, > >R (who's all of 13 months into car ownership) > >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 01:06:53 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] delusions of Diesels... :) I shouldn't be left unsupervised in a Diesel powered vehicle on I-5 for 5 hours... :) It gets me to thinking... and that is not always a good thing. ;) Shadowfax did great on the trip down to Eugene, OR. Not sure of the mileage yet, only used half a tank coming home... (310 miles) the cruise misbehaved so I controlled the throttle... at 3,000 rpm it's doing 77 mph... that 2.5L Turbo Diesel is very happy in that range and will zing up to 4,000 surprisingly fast. I had to work at keeping the speed down, it creeps up quite easily. Very responsive on the freeway. Trying to get around some trucks before the lane ended heading up one pass it jumped up to nearly triple digits rather quickly... surprising little 2.5L Diesel... The way they set the turbo and gearing up makes this thing quick off the line and responsive at freeway speeds. With specs that claim 0 to 60 in 12 seconds and a top end of 124mph it seems pretty amazing to me... especially at 28-32 mpg in town and close to 39 or 40mpg on the freeway! Anyway, it got me thinking about using a 3.0L Turbo Diesel in SuperDawg... instead of the 4.0L gas engine... So I'm acquiring a used Benz from a friend on the list and we're going to make a feasibility assessment on using the Mercedes 3.0L Turbo Diesel in my '83 J10 Stepside. (Of course a 2.5L TD would be even cooler, but unlikely... ;) The specs on the 3.0L are quite close to the original 4.2L gas engine and with the gearing change should permit economical results. And phenomenal range with dual tanks. :) SPECS: - ------ '83 J10 4.2L - 115hp-at-3,200 - 210 ftlbs-at-1,800 rpm - original engine '83 MB 3.0LTD - 125hp-at-4,350 - 170 ftlbs-at-2,400 rpm - the econo motor '96 xj 4.0L - 185hp-at-4,600 - 220 ftlbs-at-2,400 rpm - the engine I have already '91 MB 2.5L TD - 147hp??? - ???? need to look up the specs... The plan for the last 3 years (has it been that long already???) was to use the '96 xj 4.0L. It would be an increase in power and likely increase in fuel economy. However, my desire has always been to have a Diesel powered FSJ. With fuel prices the way they are and the offer to get a running Benz right now just seem to make sense. Performance isn't the objective, economy is so I can afford to drive my FSJ daily. A 4.0L in it would get pretty close to what an XJ gets, my '87 is typically 16 to 17mpg in town and almost 21 on the freeway. It's got 249,000 miles and along with all the other XJ's I've owned the 4.0L impresses me. However, with the 3.0L I-5 Turbo Diesel in a vehicle weighing close to what my J10 weighs (the '83 300SD tipped the scales around 3,600 or so pounds while the J10 tips it at 4,100lbs - remember it's the stepside, fiberglass fenders and a six cylinder) was getting 26mpg in town and around 30mpg on the freeway... ok, so there is a bit of a difference in wind resistance, but I'm guessing that I'll see 20 to 22mpg in town and close to 26 to 28mpg on the freeway if I keep my metric size 43's out of the injection pump. (yeah, like THAT will happen. ;) However, the technical issues abound... main issue will be mating the Benz TD to the AisinWarner 30-80LE 4 speed automatic... I'm kind of committed and partial to it since I paid over $350 so far to create an adapter to mate it to the NP219. I will consider using the Benz AT with a divorced xfr case. The Benz engine is straight forward, simple, reliable and easy to work on. Anyways, we'll see... we'll have to do some math, measurements and a major reality check. While I'm picking up 10 hp it comes at a higher rpm, which may not be a problem since I'm changing the gearing from 3.31's to 4.10s and using the AW4. The torque is the part that has me mildly concerned. I lose 40 ft lbs and the peak sits 600 rpm's higher... Have to do the math with the gearing of 4.10, 235's and an od of .75 to see what my rpm will be at 60mph (or so). if I don't reply to the follow on chatter it's because I'm taking off for Texas on Thursday, then Missouri and won't be back until Apr 3... then I start teaching the next quarter the next week... way too busy... kind of funny seeing as how I don't have a regular job. ;) later, dieseljohn ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1401 **********************************