They dont make rheostat's like that anymore very often. They are expensive even at the wholesale level direct from electronics manufactuers in quantity.

I was leery about just bypassing it, but I haven't regretted it. Max is where I would always have it anyways...its not going to blind you :-)

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car