I need a change... - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PagodaLover · #31 11-30-2005, 12:32 AM

are the 6.9 very expensive to maintain?? i have never heard anything otherwise, just wondering.

boneheaddoctor · #32 11-30-2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PagodaLover

are the 6.9 very expensive to maintain?? i have never heard anything otherwise, just wondering.

To properly maintain they are...as is my understanding also...

yogiysh · #33 11-30-2005, 08:39 PM

Hi Tom,

You have made such a difference to me as 1'st time w108 owner like other contibutors/owners on this forum, which by the way, extends well over the other side of this globe.

I wish you all the on best on your choice. I appreciate your contributions in helping keep my refined steed in the road.

Cheers,

Yogish

bill4247 · #34 11-30-2005, 11:40 PM

I once "junked" a 4.5. Two weeks later I saw it on the road like a ghost so I followed the guy into a Walmart parking lot and asked him where he got the car. Told me he bought it for $200 at the junkyard. Didn't care that it was rusty and burned oil. Loved the car.

Tomguy · #35 01-10-2006, 04:27 PM

I hadn't even started my car since before Thanksgiving, nevermind driven it.
Today, I went out, flicked the key on and off 3 times to get some fuel pressure in the lines, and tried to start it.
If it didn't fire on the first cylinder it hit, then it fired on the second. It didn't run rough at ALL when it fired up, or stall, or ANYTHING. It started and ran beautifully (save the "tick" from the exhaust leak).

It's a shame how rusty everything is. If I could restore it, it'd take a LOT of welding to repair the rusted areas. The front frame rails are perfect, the doors don't have holes (yet), but the left rear is pretty bad and the right rear isn't too much better. Plus I am afraid to take off the rocker panels and see what the frame rails along the side look like (if they're still there).

I really want a body to put my perfect engine into. I took it out after tightening up the exhaust a bit and... every time I drive it, I love it more. It's loud (exhaust leak, and needs shocks and door seals). It's rough (shocks). It's rusty. But it's so beautiful. Le sigh.

alabbasi · #36 01-18-2006, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PagodaLover

are the 6.9 very expensive to maintain?? i have never heard anything otherwise, just wondering.

Mine has cost me very little since the restoration. If your handy you can run an M-100 on a shoe string. I good friend of mine has a 6.3. He has 5 children and can afford to keep the 6.3 running on a Pastor's salary. He can fix anything though.

alabbasi · #37 01-18-2006, 09:22 PM

You may want to consider buying a shell from a junk yard in Arizona or something and then re-shelling your car. You sound like a guy that knows his car backwards. Bring a rust free shell home for a couple of hundred dollars and bring it home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

I've been doing some serious thinking lately on my 4.5. As much as I love her, her inspection is overdue and I've been dreading taking it in because I really think she won't pass due to the rust.

300SDog · #38 01-19-2006, 09:50 AM

Tom, what ever happened with motor vehicle inspection? Can you cosmetically cover the holes just to sneak it through?

Another option might be registering the 108 in rusty car friendly state like WV or KY, and then you'd just have to make pilgrimage there to renew the tags each year or so. I can provide you with dummy postal adress if you consider out of state registration. You will need a bogus forwarding adress at least for the first couple of months because they will mail you the new out of state (WV or KY) title.

Tomguy · #39 01-19-2006, 01:31 PM

Being in northern PA, CT would be my best bet theoretically. But I'm not gonna go that far to get it inspected!

I've driven it maybe 2 times in the last 4 months. It runs superbly, it just needs a new body to put this energizer-bunny engine into. It doesnt just keep going, it's impossible to kill! (If it hasnt died yet, with the high-comp heads and cams, and the way I drive it, I think it could survive a 24H endurance race

)

What I want to do is just take it out for runs every month or two. Once I get enough money, I'll get a rust-free body (or a "Parts car" that's rust free) and ship it here. In my spare time, strip that body, get it painted, then put my engine with a 3.5 tranny into it. Or, if possible, change the bellhousing and put a 5.6 tranny on.

Then with this body, MAYBE get it fixed up when I really have a lot of money to burn. Get a 5.6 or a m119 for it (with matching tranny) and do a custom exhaust, 3.5 rearend, maybe nitro... you get the idea.

alabbasi · #40 01-19-2006, 01:43 PM

If you can make that work i would love to see it. I have been thinking of doing the same with one of my 6.9's.