First long trip with the 1983 300SD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pawoSD · #1 03-18-2005, 09:14 PM

The past two days my parents and I traveled from Grand Rapids MI, up to Sault Ste Marie, MI (about 3,000 feet from canada) to visit Lake Superior State University....as I am likely transfering there. The trip there was about 340 miles or so, we did most of it between 75-85mph at 2900 to 3100 rpm Our mileage was calculated to be 27.23 mpg on the trip up there!!!

Better yet, on the trip back, we calculated it even higher, it rose to 27.6! Purely amazing as we let out the engine a couple times and let it go up to about 102mph....which it did with no prob! 256,540 miles on it now....trip went perfectly, except getting it started in the hotel parking lot way up there

took almost 40 continuous seconds of cranking, but it got going!!! This car is awesome. Mine is only getting 22-23mpg as I have a 3.07 diff. The 83 has a 2.88

Brian Carlton · #2 03-18-2005, 11:21 PM

How did the 2.88 get in that SD???

pawoSD · #3 03-19-2005, 10:40 AM

We're assuming a previous owner had it put in, as the second owner was a sales rep and traveled a ton on the freeway with it....he drove it over 100,000 miles in less than 6 years! We were able to push 103mph at 4000rpm, with room to spare.

Brian Carlton · #4 03-19-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

We're assuming a previous owner had it put in, as the second owner was a sales rep and traveled a ton on the freeway with it....he drove it over 100,000 miles in less than 6 years! We were able to push 103mph at 4000rpm, with room to spare.

You have larger tires on the SD?

Should be turning about 4250 at 103 mph with an automatic and 195/70/14's.

Or, the speedometer is off.

waybomb · #5 03-19-2005, 10:57 AM

Oh boy, now I feel dumb. What's a 2.88? What year were they made? 5-cyl, 6-cyl?

Brian Carlton · #6 03-19-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

Oh boy, now I feel dumb. What's a 2.88? What year were they made? 5-cyl, 6-cyl?

A 2.88 rear axle. It only came in the '85 300D and '85 300SD. It's in the later SDL and others after '85.

pawoSD · #7 03-19-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

You have larger tires on the SD?

Should be turning about 4250 at 103 mph with an automatic and 195/70/14's.

Or, the speedometer is off.

I don't think the speedo is off, but I actually do think the tach is off by around 100-200 rpm, as it usually says the car is idling at 800-900rpm, and it was claiming 4000-4100 rpm at 103 mph.....so its probably slightly off. The speedo is very accurate though. Cruise on that car works perfectly too, its amazing to see it work like that, mine just likes to plummet the pedal the floor and not let go

I'm going to mess with mine once its warmer out.

waybomb · #8 03-19-2005, 04:16 PM

Brian
What's the rear end ratio in my 300SD?
Any idea on my 420SEL?

Brian Carlton · #9 03-19-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waybomb

Brian
What's the rear end ratio in my 300SD?
Any idea on my 420SEL?

The 300SD has a 3.07
The 420SEL has a 2.47

waybomb · #10 03-19-2005, 07:58 PM

Someday I'll turbosupercharge the SD and realy see some accelleration!

Only if I had the time......

I once took a 79 Mustang, went full tube chrome-molly chasis with a 498 ci BBC on the bottle, turbo 400, and a 4 point dana 60 rear and drove it on the street (if I remember right somewhere around 8.5/185MPH in the 1/4. Ahh, the good old days.....

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