There's nothing wrong with using old cars - I've done it for decades myself. Any shunning comes into play when it doesn't make total balance sheet sense to use overly old cars thousands of miles away from your homebase. Then perhaps introducing newer junk should be employed. It does not need to be "new junk," - IMHO.

There's a pretty decent argument that Craig should have towbar mounts on 2 123's. On these cross country trips, one tows the other until the first one breaks down and then they switch positions for the trip home.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Yup Craig, you luv hatin on pickups--But they are a necessity with some peoples contingency plan

LOL, I can pay for lots of shop time for the cost of owning a pick-up. I also don't have time to be chasing parts around the country. I understand there is always a trade-off between spending your time and spending your money.

Although somewhat fail-safe, that fails to address and mitigate any of the following, the added expense of; 1) lower mpg 2) an additional vehicle and it's associated additional expense/licensing/insuring that vehicle 3) additional dangerous safety issues towing/braking 4) the real possibility of having (2) incapacitated overly old vehicles - thousands of miles away from your homebase.

Its all good, My old ford cost me $700.00 -one time I drove it to Portland Maine,-Via Cleveland from Ft Worth,--- Because I wanted a Really fresh lobster!
The 40k motor is safe with me--unless someone comes up with $1500.00!

I don't think I'd call anything a trade-off in time or money, when having to rely on the very real possibility of needing warranty work from a dealer in Cleveland, Ohio you bought an engine from, when the car becomes incapacitated in Denver, Colorado.

-But that's just me and my common sense business meter kicking in.....

Yes sometimes some have to forget the warranty and go with quality used equipment.
Could I intrest any sportsmen in a like NEW holset VGT turbo ??

If I understood your previous posting - I'd recover the car in person myself with my own truck from my homebase.

However, I still would likely opt to get what I could in scrap for it on the road, and buy a newer vehicle to do business in.

Devoting nearly $10K, nearly two thousand miles away from home in an automobile with over 550K miles on it, at 28 years old - is not a business decision I would support or commit under any circumstances. My risk meter works better than that, or it's because of BTDT for 37 years on the road.

He would ge $150 for it with that route.

I didn't see in mentioned but, was an official MB re-manufactured/replacement 617 engine from the fatherland not available or was it decided against because of cost/time or other reasons?

I know someone who a couple years ago stole i.e. found and bought a complete MB replacement engine for $2000 was still mounted on a steel stand in a wooden crate with all the paperwork from MB the way it came over on the ship, the only things it needed where the alternator, compressor, power steering pump, and fan. It came with the turbo, air cleaner and everything, I went with him and picked it up in this giant, old, poorly lit warehouse, when we pried the top of the crate off everything was covered with corrosion retarding vapor paper. We pulled that off and all the cadmium-nickelbb plated lines, clamps, brackets, nuts and bolts looked like gold, we joked that it was like finding a pirates treasure chest!

Got it back to the ranch and removed the rest of the crate and it sat around like that on it’s stand being admired for a couple weeks before installing it, it was almost too pretty to put in the engine compartment!

I inquired about a crate engine from MB back in 07. they are NLA.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

Actually, this dealer told me that MB still lists the motor for $11K, but I didn't check to see if it was still really available. It may be listed but not really available.

LOL, don't worry about it; I'm not about to take any business advice from our friend, skid's.

I don't mind spending a little money when my toys break, and my engine warrantee is with the engine vendor, not with the dealer. My only regret is not putting in a reman engine last time; live and learn.

uuuhhhh.....it was a joke.

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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.