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#166
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How much do you think he paid to use those trademarks of MB, Ford, VW & Hummer on his web page?
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https://goo.gl/photos/J8ZUVvAYiYqLxbD18 1989 560SL 111Kmi 2007 E550 4Matic 157 Kmi 2000 F250SD 7.3l, 1996 Explorer Ltd 5.0l 1965 VW Beetle Deluxe 115 Kmi ========================= Previous MB: 1983 240D Euro Manual 144 Kmi 1983 300SD 495 Kmi 1986 190D 2.5 100 Kmi 1986 300SDL 202 Kmi 1991 300D 2.5 Turbo 91 Kmi 1998 E320S4 (4-matic wagon) 140 Kmi |
#167
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#168
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#169
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I'll preface this by saying I should have known better, and that (so far) I've been goddamned lucky. I confess to having a Lovecraft "conversion" done in my SDL, and yes, I'm aware of what is likely down the road. My point to making this reply is to give my take and experience with this organization. To sum it up "Caveat Emptor - May the Buyer Beware."
First, my reason for doing such a risky thing is that I feel very strongly biodiesel is the best alternative fuel available, especially if the outfit in Arizona can feasibly create vegetable oil from single cell algae (pond scum). Unfortunately, being in the OC, the nearest biodiesel is either B20 in Cudahy, a neighborhood that makes Compton look upscale and safe, or Willyfuel c/o Pearson biofuels in San Diego. So, I figured the Veg Oil would be the next best thing, and it makes a great conversation starter when people see me pour the Costco soy oil in my tank. If I'm going to talk the talk, I want to walk the walk. I want to make very clear that Lovecraft cannot and should not be confused with being a professional outfit, although I hope the new owners will either fall on their sword or do some good. I have been with diesel vehicles my whole life and I'm familiar with the potential consequences to starting an engine with cold VO - the coking, clogging, &c. Since I have a cracked #14 head on the SDL, a new head, prechambers, engine, and so forth are in the near future. Also, I'm in SoCal, where it generally never gets below 40 degrees. What the hell, right? Plus, I know how to restore the fuel system back to original, should the need arise. So far, I've put 20,000 miles on, with no external signs of distress. The real test is when the head comes off, and I see what happened on the inside. As soon as I got the car back, I inspected the conversion. While I'll grant their conversion is above what a monkey can do, it certainly couldn't be confused with the original. I got the "improved" (non-Davco) system, complete with a PAPER filter. However, I knew I would need to make modifications immediately. Their "master" mechanic Fritz did the conversion and a decent job of it, though not without a couple of major issues. I knew there would be trouble when I saw he removed the ALDA switchover valve to make way for the filter, and his "solution" was to simply route the teclan line from the charge air intake to the ALDA. Uh, oh. His response, in his unrefined Bavarian accent: "Daht's unnecessawee - zee tuhrbo waste gate handles it." Except if the wastegate fails and the turbo blows up from over boosting. Naturally, I recovered the switchover valve and relocated it to a nearby place on the firewall. I also had to undo his placement of the fuel pump connection in the fuse box to the ACCY/RUN/START terminal, in series with fuse 8. My fix was adding a relay, running a trigger wire to it from the RUN/START position, then replacing the cheap in-line fuse with a marine grade box. When I requested a replacement filter, they shipped me their so-called permanent filter. Rather than use that garbage, I identified the paper filter was a Goldenrod and ordered suitable replacements from eBay. Like I would trust some manner of cloth/nylon filter wrapped around a spring! For grins, I installed the cord for the block heater and use that on cold days to help heat the coolant and shorten the time the veg oil is in it's less viscous state. Plus, the addition of diesel fuel thin it more. So my bottom line? I have no doubt Lovecraft will contribute to the demise of many fine diesel vehicles. I think much of that will be due to those who know nothing of diesel engines either ignoring or not paying attention to the additional variables added to the engine's operation. IOW, there's a lot of extra work and vigil because of this and most people who get the conversion done have no idea. That's not to say it won't happen to me, but if it does, I take complete responsibility for it. Right now, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for something to replce their system. I'm not keen on the dual tank system since I have precious little trunk space to the second tank. The Elsbit VO injectors do intrigue me. Before you all reply, please understand I have many of the posts about Lovecraft and that I'm in no way defending them. I've seen mostly extremely polar views express and I wanted to contribute a view I hope is of value. The only circumstance I believe anyone should even entertain the idea of a Lovecraft conversion is when they realize they are a pioneer in this area. Unfortunately, all too often, pioneers are the folks lying on the side of the trail with arrows in their backs as the wagon trains pass by. I'm glad Brian is out of the picture, and hopefully there will be good in that. Now that I'm out of the closet, I can keep you all posted on what is going on with my car. For the record, I love my SDL and if need be, I'll sink the money for a long block engine. I hope this post is of some value to you all. Caveat Emptor Casey
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Casey Cooper "From a long line of Mercedes ownership" '86 300SDL 250K miles (Gone, but not forgotten); best diesel I have ever driven, too bad about the Achilles heel. '81 240D 370K miles (Sold to my brother after 9 years and 150K miles of reliable driving!) [Five other Mercedes in family clipped for less length.] |
#170
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sounds like a real top dollar mechanic you got there working on your benz.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself. George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..) 1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won. pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt. |
#171
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Quote:
Do you ever use WVO? Ever play with the idea of adding an extra heat exchanger?
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2005 SL65 1999 E300 1995 E300 1994 SL320 1988 560SL 1987 300TD 1982 300D 1955 300SL |
#172
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Is there anyway to keep track of the cars that LC has killed off? Honestly, to play Devil's advocate - I have been hearing doomsday predictions about LC systems for awhile now, and have yet to see a car or so that has been killed off by it. Granted, as soon as cars start getting put out to pasture prematurely because of it, I'll be outraged - to make the most solid part of the modern diesel Mercedes - arguably its drivetrain - weaker than it needs to be, and kill it off early, is awful.
Does anyone have a friend or know of someone whose car died because of LC?
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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned |
#173
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Quote:
http://www.frybrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7408 http://www.frybrid.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7368 Although these two did not cause "engine damage" his system has contributed to many accidents. Cold VO in a diesel engine does cause engine damage, and it is just a matter of time till most of these vehicles are "put out to pasture" due to the LC system.
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2005 SL65 1999 E300 1995 E300 1994 SL320 1988 560SL 1987 300TD 1982 300D 1955 300SL Last edited by husk; 12-19-2007 at 10:40 PM. Reason: typo |
#174
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I have seen two cars, one stuck on the divider on 110N right before 9th street exit with an LC sticker and the other on the 2 Freeway yellow tagged. They did officially kill an ML320 CDI which was a huge waste. |
#175
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Okay Curtis, you've got me somewhat convinced...
Question though for everyone - isn't it just a matter of time before people figure out that starting on cold WVO is bad? Also - what percentage of cars are we talking about? LC claims to have converted 1800 or so cars...I would assume (or HOPE) that's not a HUGE percentage of cars. That could be wishful thinking, however.
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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned |
#176
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Brian's a bipolar talker and many love him but many don't the BD coop people have pleaded the 5th on him but when I start asking flat out they laugh and or dish a little dirt on him.
I have been trying to get more data on cars that have been damaged by LC. I did this by asking a parts supplier since he's making volumes of sales on MB stuff due to a resurgence of the cars interest. He doesn't carry the Lovecraft card on his parts counter but he's a well educated person and is very careful in what he says. ![]() There was a pink Lovecraft 300SD featured in LA times (a travesty two times over in terms of color and modifications) that I can't verify to have seen at an auto shop for at least a month now... I still want to know where all the happy satisfied customers are. Of "1800" there are only two past/present owners....so where are they? BTW, your email inbox is full. Do you have a attachment cap? |
#177
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Most of them probably still just use diesel. They get the "conversion" with the hopes of running on WVO but "never get around to it" or give up when they figure out how messy it is.
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#178
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The forum is back up.
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#179
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There is a snake oil salesman trying to make people believe his hydrogen generator can increase fuel economy 50%.
http://www.lovecraftbiofuels.com/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=40&func=view&id=5244&catid=9 |
#180
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guys, ive been working on a "clients" car he had lovecrapped. he says "well since ive gotten it three years ago the performance has gone way down". 277k on the engine. Probably 3x more blow by than my 290k engine. Ive played with the alda, purged it, new filters (actually just one filter), linkage adjusted right, and have even tried running it on dino (well that was the diesel purge, becuase purge has 90% diesel in it) and no more power. I really have run out of ideas, I told him he should probably replace the injector nozzles. after all this i finaly decided to open up his oil cap to check blow by, and it, no joke, caught me off gaurd and blew blow by in my face. I told him not to expect much more performance out of it, but i told him it probably has a while longer but dont expect a miracle.
Im thinking of just telling him to run a few tanks of real fuel through it, and driving them real hard, to try to clean some of the gum and ashes out of his engine. His blow by smelt like veggie oil strongly, and his oil dipstick smelt like it was 100% burnt veggie oil. Yes, lovecraft is ****. Ive seen it firsthand
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