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  #16  
Old 03-30-2011, 11:14 AM
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it just has a dead battery right? are there any other problems from when you were driving it 5 months ago?

Id just jump it or replace the battery, change the oil, check the fluids, and drive.

There are about 10,000 highway rest areas to sleep and brush teeth, and truck stops may have showers you can use (for truckers, but I did that a few times with no problems depending on the place), the ambient temps will be pretty good with the coming spring, and its a wagon, so it will be a pretty comfortable flat surface to sleep on. I did the same thing with a volvo wagon, a roll of foam and a sleeping bag.

If it does not break, your only cost will be food and fuel. If you keep the speed down, (something I can't do) you won't spend an absolute fortune on fuel. When I did it, I bought groceries at the beginning and and ate all the way across the country without spending anything on buying food. Was a cheap way to do it, but not super pleasant. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches get pretty boring.

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  #17  
Old 03-30-2011, 01:01 PM
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Many thanks for all the responses so far.

They are in line with my thinking and that's why I am going back and forth on this seemingly trivial matter.

To answer some of the questions and concerns and in some cases pm's about taking a look at the car I give you the following in no particular order:

Fears:

I have crossed this wonderful country before but that was in a Landcruiser and I was having fun and taking my time. This will be a five day drive hopefully and my biggest fear are the mountains. For some reason my car just doesn't like big hills and if it's a steep grade and goes for miles I most likely will have to pull over after a while to let the engine cool.

Breaking down. I know this car well and trust it and my ability to fix things on the fly but if something major happens I will be up the proverbial creek.

Sell to Buy:

There are lots of diesels out here in the San Fran area but as someone stated who wants new problems when I know my own. If I could get something dirt cheap I would gladly put the time into the car but these things can also get extremely expensive.

Veggie Oil:

My brother has all the gear for a two tank system, I think he has three tanks just lying around ready to be used. He converted his, since sold, 87tdt and someone basically took a huge semi oil filter and put it where the window washer reservoir is in the engine bay. Beside rats eating through the fuel line, it seemed like it worked very well for him.

I know that 10,000 miles of free fuel is not that much but I try and ride my duel sport thumper (one cylinder motorcycle) for the most part. That gets on average about 72 mpg. I think the veggie would last me the better part of a year or so.

PM:

When I stored the car I filled up the tank and dumped an entire bottle of something that would stabilize the diesel fuel for long storage. I also had my friend start it and drive it a little at every opportunity he had when he was up there. But that stopped in October.

I'm figuring on charging the batter and driving to CT to another friends house and then do some more maintenance.


About the car itself:
1. I have had this car for the better part of five years and have done almost all the work myself, thanks in large part to this forum.

2. Rust: Couple of rust spots, one on the front right fender. Previous owner must have dinged it and filled it in with bondo and now it's flaking and rusting. One of the tire jack holes is pretty rusted as well. Couple of other little rusty spots from dings but other than that it's not bad.

3. Below is a link from a previous girlfriend put some kind of acid on the passenger door and I never bothered to repaint. Just stripped off the bad part too make sure it wouldn't spread and or rust. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=183110[/URL]

4. Back end got rear ended a few years ago. Knocked out the dent with a friend and though it doesn't look great it is still a straight frame. Here is the link http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=171660[/URL]

5. It leaks oil. Not a lot but noticeable if you are parking it on your newly paved driveway.

6. Neutral Safety switch is messed up. Have to start her in neutral but once she is hot you can start here in park.

7. I'll try and see if I have any photo's of her but I'm not really the type to take picture's of my car unless there is a beautiful woman on top of it or a wonderful scenic vista. I'll scour my hard drive to see if I have any vista views with the car

Thanks again for everyone's input, it helps to talk with people who understand the non-monetary value of these cars.
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  #18  
Old 03-30-2011, 01:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 300TDT 1987 View Post
For some reason my car just doesn't like big hills and if it's a steep grade and goes for miles I most likely will have to pull over after a while to let the engine cool.
Cannot help you with other concerns but this one. You probably has a very minute head gasket leak. My 300SDL overheated in Death Valley in May/June time frame last year. I hot-wired the aux fan to be on whenever the engine is running. That helped me to climb the mountain and got back to 395 on the west side. It is very simple to do, just short 2 prongs of the 3 prongs switch ( green color ) at the top of the thermostat housing.

Good luck with whatever you decided to do.
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  #19  
Old 03-30-2011, 02:33 PM
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If you stick to I-80 crossing the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada, you shouldn't have much trouble. The passes get high (about 8600 feet near Laramie, WY), but none of the grades are particularly steep.
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  #20  
Old 03-30-2011, 05:48 PM
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Thanks for the info Skippy, that takes one of my fears out of the equation.
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  #21  
Old 03-30-2011, 06:34 PM
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OK, the car has overheating issues, and you are still considering the trip?
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  #22  
Old 03-30-2011, 06:41 PM
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Come through Nashville and I have an Elsbett veggie system we can put on and send you off with a bunch of grease. You should be good for 40,000 miles or so with this system . Thats what the previous 87 TD got with it And it was in a cold climate.

Seriously PM me if you come through this way.
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  #23  
Old 03-30-2011, 08:00 PM
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A while back there was a thread about making a cross-country trip in an old car. Layback40 had some great advice about stuff to take with you:

oil
water
belts
a good spare tire with a complete jack set.
a good basic tool kit
duct tape
a blanket
if it is a diesel, a gallon or two of diesel fuel
a four foot 2x4 (you never know)
extra fuses
non-perishable food

Before you go, replace your wiper blades and make sure the squirter reservoir is full. You could run into a late snow that far north. A wet, freshly salted road is a bad place to be without being able to clean your windshield.
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  #24  
Old 03-30-2011, 08:34 PM
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Exclamation

Never, ever start a cross-country trip in a car with known weak points. Ask me how I learned not to do it anymore == BTDT. It's bad enough when stuff goes south on you in the boonies, when you thought everything was hunky-dory at the start of a road trip.
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  #25  
Old 03-30-2011, 09:34 PM
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do it

No guts no glory, besides, there are only two thing to worry about
You make it or you break down.
if you make it then no worries, right . If you break down then there are only two things to worry about. Wether you can fix it or not. If you can fix it then no worries, right. If you cant fix it then there are only two things to worry about. If you get rescued or not. If you get rescued then no worries. If you don't then there are only two thing to worry about, you either live or you die. If you live no worries if you die then there are only two things to worry about, you either go to heaven or hell. If you go to heaven then no worries if you go to hell, well you will be so busy shaking hands with all your friends you won't have time to worry!
go
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  #26  
Old 03-30-2011, 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Jon J View Post
No guts no glory, besides, there are only two thing to worry about
You make it or you break down.
if you make it then no worries, right . If you break down then there are only two things to worry about. Wether you can fix it or not. If you can fix it then no worries, right. If you cant fix it then there are only two things to worry about. If you get rescued or not. If you get rescued then no worries. If you don't then there are only two thing to worry about, you either live or you die. If you live no worries if you die then there are only two things to worry about, you either go to heaven or hell. If you go to heaven then no worries if you go to hell, well you will be so busy shaking hands with all your friends you won't have time to worry!
go
Jon J
That's why it doesn't make dollars or sense, not shipping it. That is if the owner has the money to do so. Shipping it is almost a wash versus picking it up in person, even IF everything goes to plan it's the same money.

I had a vintage motorcycle shipped 1,300 miles for far less than I could go pick it up in person. Shipping is just too cheap - if that's what the owner wants to do.

Too much of an expense/gamble doing it in person. Besides, the car sounds like it already has issues. A 3,000 mile trip? Nut-uh.....

Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 03-30-2011 at 10:23 PM.
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  #27  
Old 03-30-2011, 09:47 PM
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Many times when deep in the states I slept in my large truck or the car I was driving. I decided the safest places where the truck stops outside of densley populated cities or second choice large motel parking lots. These roadside stop offs or rest areas on major highways seemed far less secure to me.
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  #28  
Old 03-30-2011, 10:50 PM
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If you have time , you got nothing to lose with an cross country adventure in that thing. Don't forget your AAA membership. http://www.aaasouth.com/Membership/AAA_Membership_Plans.aspx

With the premier you get a 200 mile tow and 3 - 100 mile tows. But they won't bring you diesel fuel. So run out of gas a few times and have them tow you 100 miles to a gas station. Then you have your 200 mile tow as your reserve.

Joking sort of. Who wants to ride with AAA across country. The thing is you'll want the car if it will make the trip and you won't if it doesn't make the trip. So you have nothing to lose. Worst case in the event of complete engine failure with AAA on your side you get to a forum member who will pay you for your broken car or a scrap yard that will give you 500.00 for the thing with metal so expensive. Seriously, my friend got over 400.00 for his 87 SD at pull a part a couple months ago and metal is going up again .

Go for it man.
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  #29  
Old 03-30-2011, 11:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe View Post
That's why it doesn't make dollars or sense, not shipping it. That is if the owner has the money to do so. Shipping it is almost a wash versus picking it up in person, even IF everything goes to plan it's the same money.

I had a vintage motorcycle shipped 1,300 miles for far less than I could go pick it up in person. Shipping is just too cheap - if that's what the owner wants to do.

Too much of an expense/gamble doing it in person. Besides, the car sounds like it already has issues. A 3,000 mile trip? Nut-uh.....
Where's your sense of adventure , Joe? For me , the reason i like driving MB's is i'll never know if i'll make it or not Me and the kids love breaking down. Makes for an occasional nice break in routine. Especially if there is a nice place to explore. I remember one time changing a fuel filter in the middle of the country on a starry moonlit night next to a cow pasture and the cows were just staring at me. No one around. It was kind of cool. MB's fuel filter placement is so good you can change it by moonlight.
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  #30  
Old 03-30-2011, 11:09 PM
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I say go for it...plan to meet up with a knowledgable member along the way and tune up what you can and continue. Be adventurous. Obviously it may not be the wisest move financially in the event that it breaks down, but life is a risk like that. Bring tools and extra filters and only shut it down at night time. I'd trust my car for the trip even with it's cracked head/bad head gasket symptoms.

On the veggie oil though, I would not bother with it for this trip since you are already uncertain. Why add another variable? Wait and the veggie conversion in Cali.

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