Craigslist. Lot of excellent deals on used boxes.


LOL.....choose wisely.Most, if not all, you're considering are made in China.


HF has some decent boxes, just stay away from the low cost ones.

I've got a nice Snap On box with bb slides at work but opted for the HF box for my home shop. I know you've already ruled out HF but it is a LOT of box for the money and I've had 0 complaints about it.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

The higher end hb boxes are pretty nice for the buck. I wouldn’t have any issues with owning one. For $700 the op can have a nice setup. Was just saying that having bb drawers vs not having bb is night and day difference. No matter what the brand is if it doesn’t have bb sliders(or bb wheels)it’s useless junk in my book.

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Thanks for the knowledgeable reviews, guys. I’ve kinda-sorta been thinking about consolidating my tools, now scattered in many separate boxes and shelves.

I look at overall cost.

Sure, I can get a ridiculous deal on a box (or whatever) now. But I'm sending my money to a company which has decided that overseas cheap labor is the answer to their problem. I'm casting a vote to encourage them to keep doing business as usual.

So what I'm gaining in the short term, I'm losing in the long run. I'm voting to put local workers out of a job and voting to make working conditions worse by making them compete with cheaper labor.

The cost of a product made in the US is often more expensive as its priced to maintain that product in the US.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

If that’s the case then I suggest you increase your budget by x4

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

It's why I've waited for years to get a new box.

I picked up the Mac box last night. $450. Original owner bought it 30 years ago for $1,000. The box is immaculate aside from the stickers.

The plan is to give it a deep clean and relube all the slides (with either Door-Ease or Parafin wax). A quick wipe down with some light oil (as a rust preventative) and some liners will finish it off.

I've already started tearing apart and cleaning my two old Craftsman boxes to get them ready to sell. Unfortunately the 5 year old box has some surface rust that I didn't notice until I started cleaning it up. I'll probably end up sanding it all down and painting it. Not sure of the total condition of the 20 year old box, I may end up painting it just to get a few more dollars out of it.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

I completely agree with this philosophy. It's what I've been saying for years and I try to avoid anything made in China at all costs. Unfortunately this is a rearguard action in a lost war.

Trying to buy something "normal" newly made in the USA, is almost impossible. Even long established German companies are now outsourcing production to China. It's a real problem to try and get anything that doesn't directly support the descendents of Mao.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Well, its not necessarily China that I'm avoiding. I will happily spend money where I know I'm supporting good business practices, care for the environment and good working conditions.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Which in practice means avoiding China at all costs. And unfortunately that is now impossible.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Good luck with the new to you old Mac box, you did well. Post pics when your done detailing it.

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Buying used things make the origin irrelevant. You giving American money to another American keeps it local. The person that bought it new is the person that contributed to the country of origin.

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Yes. And I have almost nothing new in my inventory. But I was talking about if you wanted to buy something new, then your chances of finding something made in the USA are slim to none and from outside it's going to be mostly China or Mexico.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

The Snap On with Earnhardt picture is a great buy. Love to have it myself for the hangar, but the stainless one Jim chose would be my pick not because it’s stainless, but because of the arrangement. One of mine is very close to that. The drawers are deep enough to accommodate organizers that you can find on eBay that will let you pack it with tools, but still will be able to put your hands on whatever you need very quickly. If I can find the pictures I’ll post them.

Examples.

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