I am going to put this in several of the forums here because it is an important point for those buying used cars of any brand. I am putting it in Diesel Discussion most importantly because there are many here who buy used diesels for daily service.

About 10 years ago I bought an 80 model Euro 240D at a super bargain price simply to rob the engine out of it. I drove it home about 100 miles knowing for sure that it would be the last motion the car would ever make under it's own power.

I got it home and robbed the engine and a few small pieces, then pushed it out into a field out of sight.

I've had a few members here want the manual steering box out of it. Tom Walgamuth wanted it for his Solo II car and I told him that it was a slow ratio, so I think he decided it wouldn't be ideal for a race car. Another member has wanted it for a long time and I finally got around to pulling it off the car yesterday to give to him as a belated Christmas present. I don't think he'll be happy with the slow ratio, but he wants to try it.

When I pulled the box I discovered something very alarming that made me start thinking about writing such a thread as this. While pulling the box, I discovered that one of the ends, connected to the Pitman Arm HAD NO COTTER KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FOLKS! When I buy a used car to drive, I inspect all safety items thoroughly. I typically go through the whole car changing fluids and inspecting everything, but I will put here a partial list of safety items that should be checked no matter what before driving a used car of any brand. If others want to add items to the list, please do so in the interest of keeping ALL our Peach Parts Brothers and Sisters safe.

At a minimum check:

o All steering linkage for correct locking nuts on rod end studs, or for cotter pins in the case of castellated nuts.
o Check the brake fluid as a bare minumum, it would be much better to flush it with fresh.
o Check brake pads and inspect brake hoses for cracking.
o Put a wrench on each brake caliper bolt and make sure it's tight. Wouldn't hurt to pull the bolts, clean them and add some blue loctite.
o Check vacuum hoses to the brake booster
o Check power steering fluid level and belt condition
o Pop the front hub covers and check for locknut tightness
o Wouldn't hurt to put a wrench on the steering box bolts inside the drivers side wheel well.

This is a MINIMUM safety list. When I go through a used car, this is probably only about 20% of what I do to it, but PLEASE do the above as a minimum before risking the life of yourself and your family using the car for daily transportation.

Happy Motoring,
Larry

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

+10000.

PS - proves that not all of your posts are trollage -- Happy New Year!

Great advice, thank you!

The alternative is to do what I did when I bought this '86 Mercury Colony Park wagon at the USMC base, at Camp Pendleton in San Diego just before Halloween this year, and needed to get it 600 miles north of there to where I am.

It had sat for years in dead storage while its owner was deployed in Okinawa by the USMC.

I felt attempting to drive it was utter madness.

So,

I flatbedded it,





(fuel stop at City of Industry, a town within Los Angeles)








Got it running the other day and now ready to get it throgh smog, a horrible byzantine labyrinth of a process in California.




Anyway flatbedding it is safer than taking a chance on an unknown quantity that is as problematic as an unknown used car.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

What do you plan on doing with that Colony Park?

I recognize that area. I live near there. That is the 60 freeway in the background.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Good decision for moving this car, but if you decide to drive it, don't forget to do the safety inspection before hand.

BTW, that old wagon has the potential to be a great daily driver. The EFI 5.0 has multi hundred thousand mile potential.

It can make you really solid transportation.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Uhh jim---Why didn't you focus on the ragtop 68 camaro and drag that home instead?

No kidding but I imagine they wanted alot more for the Camaro than the wagon.

Nice hat Jim.

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Jim

Jim:

Since this started out as a "Safety Thread" - on your last pic that you posted, you have the rearend of the wagon parked on top of a pair of porta-ramps.

( NOW COMES THE SAFETY-NAZI, FLOATING IN LIKE AN IRRITATING GNAT...)

HOWEVER, you didn't block the front wheel(s) to back-up the "Emergency Brake"/transmission Park-pawl or you failed to mention the last-minute prayer to the Backyard Mechanics' Diety of Choice.

Foreshame!!!

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
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“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~