I have the primary prototypes finished in .125 6061 aluminum, but I have a better design that will use .0625 steel finished with either black wrinkle paint or black wrinkle powder coat. Almost done guys. I want this products absolutely perfect before I sell it and final price it. Some will think it's way too expensive and others will think, "Man, what a deal!"

Can't please everyone.

-jon

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dieselishquestions@gmail.com
1983 300SD
1983 300GD

That is awesome! Great job. I thought of doing that, but I sold my w123s. Now work your way up, do the ashtray with gauges and cig lighter, etc.

Maybe make 10 at a time and recover your costs.

I always wanted to do this, but mimic the swirl (machine finishing) like was done on the 2002 SL500/600 Silver arrow.

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A solid piece of Zebranowood would be nearly impossible to find, and if you did find it, it would be way out of most w123 owners price range. Plus it is really hard to match the grain. You would have to redo all the pieces probably. A nice over lay is probably the best solution. 2x8x20" That is like 2 board feet, solid, plus you'd have to have it be clear without imperfections to machine it.

When I have time and money, I'm going to redo the whole dash wood in my 500E out of desert iron wood, or some other crazy wood. Desert iron wood requires carbide/diamond blades to cut, and the dust is a really bad for the respiratory system because of the very very fine dust. I would expect this project to be about $3k if I do it. This is like a dreaming project.

One of those, covered in matching black plastic or wrinkle finish woud probably look better than the chipped & distressed wood surrounding the shifter on my 'loaded' automatic 240D.
I'm a bit leery about longterm use of a wood cupholder.

A PO installed folding cupholders on the front doors of my stickshift 240D. They're covered in matching vinyl so they have a nice 'factory' look, but one of them is broken and removing them will leave a rectangular dimple and four ugly screw holes in each door panel. I did pick up some decent, un-holed & matching front-door panels on a recent trip to the Virginia Beach Pick-n-Pull.

Purists may wince, but for my Euro 300TD, I bought a set of four round black-plastic door-hanger cupholders at Wal-Mart for a couple bucks. They interfered with the manual windows on my car, so I cut the hanger off one of them flush with the rim, then drilled a hole for a #10 x 1" stainless pan-head philips screw in the bottom.
I fastened it in the front part of my center tray, still leaving plenty of room in the tray for odds n' ends. I decided the single screw-hole in the tray would be neater & more reliable than glue or velcro, and easier to clean-up & hide if I decided to remove the cupholder later. And the stainless screw won't leave rust stains. I'm planning the same cupholder installation for my 240Ds.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Here's the final product.

I'm pretty much ready to take orders. Send me an email if you are interested.

jon@monstercraftsman.com

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dieselishquestions@gmail.com
1983 300SD
1983 300GD

Looks perfect, and I'm sure it's much sturdier than the flimsy black plastic panel used in the less-deluxe W123 models.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

How does it attach?
Do you remove the wood cover and substitute this one?
Held by the clamp in the ash tray?
One piece?
If you drop something into the tray under the cup holders, how hard to retrieve?
Powder coat or spray finsh.
Final price?

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

looks awesome, you definitely need to add the ashtray panel and a 12v accessory hole or 2.

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'82 Euro MB 300 D Turbo Silver/Blue - Fixed
Adding W115 Intake and Intercooler

1986 Chevy Camaro Cp 400HP For Sale
Engineer
Tuscaloosa, AL

This replaces the original. It is a perfect fit so no bolts are necessary. You can get stuff under the cup holders. In fact, it's a good place to hide stuff.
p.s. Right now they are black wrinkle paint which is really strong paint, but I'm going to start powder coating them immediately.

jon

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dieselishquestions@gmail.com
1983 300SD
1983 300GD

I'd like one made to custom dimensions, I have alot of hardware to mount for a special project I've been working on. I'll pm you with details, here are a few pics to help you get an idea. May need an entire aluminum dash. Cost is no object.

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1985 300D Gretchen (Astral Silver) 220k
1983 240D 4-speed Evelyn (Orient Red) 203k


TANSTAAFL

1.21 Gigawatts?! Please tell me this is going in a DeLorean and not a Mercedes-Benz

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Vehicles:
2002 SLK 230
Gone but not forgotten:
1983 300D
1981 El Camino 'OILBRNR' - 6.2L diesel
OM617 powered '86 F150
1984 BMW 524td
2001 VW Beetle TDI
1994 Sunurban 4x4 6.5L diesel

How about one that has only the hazard switch instead of all those window buttons.

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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.

I'm interested in buying on. Email sent.

Checking this thread out and if these are made anymore... And with Hydro dipping you could cover them in anything!!

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

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Brad

Bunch of old metal, trying to keep it on the road....

I don't see a picture of them in there.....can someone repost if they are still available?

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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.

That's because it was 10 years ago. The OP hasn't even logged in for a couple years. So my guess is no.

-Rog