Job stress?....Mid life crises ?...... Family member having trouble ?...Neighbors unfriendly ? ....Burned out on the News and the Internet?

No wonder huge amounts of time spent under my diesel is so peaceful! Now I understand why the hours in my garage arranging bolts, scrap metal, cleaning tools is part of my routine...trips to Sears for tools and bolts are a ritual.

Before I used to think my working on cars was a overgrown adolescent hobby. Its called "Flow" Industrial pyschologists say we are never so happy than when our minds are taxed in the creative and analytical process. Now I realize its much more than that, its an important part of my mind's Health!

The other day I looked at my 85 300D as a time and money pit, but after talking it over with my wife, she said I never seem more relaxed than when I'm working on my car.

yeah, but too much of this therapy can be bad for your marriage.... or good , depending on the marriage, i suppose.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The garage is therapy for me.

Even something as simple as changing oil or *trying* to clean up is relaxing and rewarding. Recently, I built a pair of speakers for the garage... a big improvement over the old ones.



-John

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

I work from 5:30 to 2 PM, that gives me 3 hours until my wife gets home on my big 300D overhaul. On weekends I sneak in a couple of hours too. Unless its an emergency repair, my wife comes first...............of course, if she wants to go out with the ladies shopping....I never complain!

good deal

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Some people will spend $1K on a weekend getaway to unwind. I can spend the same on a 20 year old car - same result. It is mentaly satisfying complete a mechanical or refurb challenge no mater how simplistic it is. Everyone on this forum probably knows someone that is not mechanical. Explaining something as simple as a mono valve repair to them makes you appear to be a master mechanic to them. That may sound a little vain, but I know people who do not know where there dipstick is, men not women.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

i think i will go change the plugs and wires on my wifes pt cruiser.

arrrgh! i hate working on american cars!

but i hate paying others to too.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Simply put, successfully DIYing your fave toy/project is very rewarding. Boosts your self-esteem, makes you feel better knowing the car will run and function much better, and you'll enjoy it more.

I just fixed the blowers on the two diesels and installed a fan and clutch on the sedan. Replaced the air cleaner bracket on the wagon and will soon get the rubber mounts. This in just two days (took my time).

On the other hand, if it goes wrong...that's another story.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Problems seem all better after the completion of a DIY project.

All of the above coupled with a source for cheap diesel fuel.

Carra,

In my opinion the best thing to learn about a Saab is not to buy one, especially now that's its GM.

P E H

There is a counter point to everything..... I too am very relaxed piddling out in the garage, at least until it's 110 out there! It is that much better with the relaxing hum, or hums coming from many various antique fans stirring the air. I have a chair at my work table out there, and sometimes find myself nodding off with my feet up on the bench.
However, when things go bad out there, as they often do, my garage sanctuary isn't the respite I wish it was.......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

One of the most rewarding things to me is that my 300sd and the David Brown tractor have generated an interest in engineering and mechanics for my teenagers. They have grown up in an era of disposable technology and electronics where things are "repaired" by throwing away and replacing the faulty module. None of their friends knows the difference between a spark plug and a micro switch.

These older cars are simple enough (vacuum system and climate control excluded) for simplistic backyard mechanics like me to do simple repairs on. And the sheer quality that the MB brand carried back then has hooked my kids.

Recently, an oil change had both the 16 and 17 year old competing for the wrenches. Definitely rewarding - and helps justify my out of control spending on parts......

i know that feeling.............

My 23 YO son and I are in the middle of replacing the heads on his Chev diesel pickup. I am trying to take some comfort in his learning to work on the beast. Kid is slowly learning. I hate to think what I was like when I was starting to reallly work on cars (and trucks!). If I can give him enough experience to keep him out of major trouble on these jobs and teach him to look for the information he needs, maybe I will have done ONE thing right in my life.
Daughter likes to work on her car ('87 300D) from time to time, so there is hope. She does carry a set of tools and has been konwn to try to fix her own car on the road
15YO boy will do anything car related I tell him to do. (and I guess, that is really something!) He knows he gets the '83 300D to drive to school and he is hoping to talk me into fixing up the body a good bit. If I know the youngest, he will be the first to get a 617 up to 200MPH, in reverse.
Since I work in computers, I take real pleasure in working on the diesels in general and the 617 in particular. Cartoonist once made a drawing of a diesel engine powered PC, I've got it around here somewhere....

Mainly, I need a bigger garage with full HVAC and more tools!
Now I understand the farmers who have a little house and a huge barn.