Speed of 85 300D up a Steep Hill (15 degrees)? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 05-10-2007, 10:33 AM

I now live in an area with some steep hills that has sent me tuning my IP.

Prior to my doing so, my 300D was running out of breath going up a 15 degree incline and barely making 30 mph.
Most gasoline cars were passing me very very easily.
I readjusted the linkages and turned my ALDA 1 ccw and restuned my IP pump. The IP is in good shape and doesnt smoke at these settingsI immediately noticed a performance increase to 45 mph and still increasing/ climbing as I reached the top of the hill.
Still not as fast as a gasser. The hill is not that long, i would say 1 mile.

I am wondering what i should be getting as an Optimum or what other owners are getting. Also any suggestions? I maxed the throttle stop out and tweaked my linkages pretty good.

bgkast · #2 05-10-2007, 03:36 PM

That sounds about right for an '85.

TheDon · #3 05-10-2007, 03:47 PM

floor it before the hill so your momentum helps you keep some speed up the hill.

suginami · #4 05-11-2007, 11:57 AM

Good Lord, man, you're back!

Where the heck did you go?

Your last post was in December of 2006. We were all worrying about you.

Carrameow · #5 05-11-2007, 12:33 PM

I was busy moving to the West Coast

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had a mid life crises and sold my house and changed my job and moved to the West Coast. For awhile belive it or not I wasnt even driving or working on cars--gasp--I was using PUBLIC TRANSPO!!!!

What happened was when i moved I overlooked one minor detail---I forgot to check the price of houses--they cost 4x as much out here and they dont make small ones and I cant afford to pay a half mill for a house--I dont even pay a $1000 for a used car. So now I am living in an apartment.

I had my 300D placed in storage for a while because of the parking conditions at my apartment complex. I mean cars get trashed out here. And I have 3 air compressors, two welders, 5 tool boxes and 3 jacks and ramps and machine tools filling up a bedroom and the living room, I sure hope the maintenance man never comes in here or he will have a seizure...

Recently i have just started to drive the 300D again, but I park it at work for safekeeping...I hope to be back in tools and wrenching in several months

suginami · #6 05-11-2007, 12:44 PM

Great, you're out here on the west coast with me.

Where exactly are you living?

Brian Carlton · #7 05-11-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

I now live in an area with some steep hills that has sent me tuning my IP.

Prior to my doing so, my 300D was running out of breath going up a 15 degree incline and barely making 30 mph.

Which gear are you attempting the climb with?

Old300D · #8 05-11-2007, 02:15 PM

Do you realize 15 degrees is a 26% grade? That's steeper than most of the streets of San Francisco...

Quote:

Here, according to the city Bureau of Engineering, are the steepest of the steep in descending order:

1. & 2. Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde; 22nd Street between Church and Vicksburg, both 31.5 percent gradient.
3. Jones between Union and Filbert, 29 percent.
4. Duboce between Buena Vista and Alpine, 27.9 percent.
5. & 6. Jones between Green and Union; Webster between Vallejo and Broadway, both 26 percent.
7. & 8. Duboce between Divisadero and Alpine; Duboce between Castro and Divisadero, both 25 percent.
9. Jones between Pine and California, 24.8 percent.
10. Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway, 24 percent.

How fast do you expect to travel?

Jim B. · #9 05-11-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

Do you realize 15 degrees is a 26% grade? That's steeper than most of the streets of San Francisco...How fast do you expect to travel?

That might explain Ruben's (GreasyBenz) recent story about the 300D abandoned in a parking space on Van Ness Ave. with the keys, pink slip, and a note saying "Free, just drive it away". Sadly, he didn't get there in time...

I lived there over 22 years, and know all those streets, they aren't friendly for ANY cars, believe me.

Carrameow · #10 05-11-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Which gear are you attempting the climb with?

I will have to check

Sash · #11 05-11-2007, 09:33 PM

Dude You Have To Make A Video Of That Steep Hill,i Wish We Have A Steep Hills Here In Michigan.........................

1985300d · #12 05-11-2007, 10:17 PM

i cant get mine above 120 going home up a nice hill

Brian Carlton · #13 05-11-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1985300d

i cant get mine above 120 going home up a nice hill

LOL.......they won't do more than 110 on the flat.........

networkboy · #14 05-11-2007, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I lived there over 22 years, and know all those streets, they aren't friendly for ANY cars, believe me.

Van Ness top to bottom, no brakes.

Never again will I be back seat driven by my wife's GF.
-nB

ichbineinekrous · #15 05-11-2007, 11:06 PM

Can you go into more detail on this ip tweaking/tuning. The linkage adjusment and ALDA I've done, but didn't think anything could be adjusted on the injection pump itself, other than to check the overall timing and chain stretch. My 85 has a huge dead spot in the mid-rpm range, on flat ground, unless I'm flooring it.