[W124] Re: [Mercedes] looking for quick sanity check
onsuddencooling system repair needs
J Hirsch
j.hirsch at mac.com
Sat Dec 10 12:07:09 EST 2005
Steve
One of the downfalls of reading emaill late at night, read too fast
The Tempest with the V--8 was not really the way to go. The rope
driveshaft was "engineered" for the 4 cyl, not the power and torque of
a V-8.
Since GM knew that the 1964 Tempest would revert to a conventional
car,they did not bother beefing up the driveshaft. Many owners burned
out the rear ends and tranny with V-8 equipped Tempests.
If you were to look at the dimensions of a 1963 Tempest and the
Mercedes SEC coupe of 1982-1991 the overall dimensions are to within
a few inches
(I have a 90 560SEC)
keep cruisin
Jay
do NOT even mention 65 Bonneville convertible One of my all time
favorite cars
My friend Jim has a totally original white-with-tri-colored-blue
interior 65 who I am thinkng of "killing: to get
The car is optiomed out,and that chome dialed dash is a work of art
On Dec 10, 2005, at 2:50 AM, Steve Rankin wrote:
>
> I said “retractable highlights” not retractable headlights. A
> reference to GM’s habit of withdrawing “features” that flopped. GM
> always had the most interesting engineering of the Big 3, but
> unfortunately, the execution was controlled by the GM bureaucracy and
> bean counters. The Tempest was a particularly interesting case
> because they introduced so many features and withdrew all of them so
> quickly, while virtually simultaneously they invented a whole new
> genre with the GTO based on the same platform.
>
> FYI, in 1974 I had a customer that had a 65 Bonneville convertible
> that I was trying to buy as a driver/collectible. Instead, I bought
> 66 Chrysler 300 hardtop (with retractable headlights). Since it was
> built after the “Letter Cars” it had only had a 375 HP 440 Magnum
> instead of the Hemi. Probably a good thing, because dipping into the
> throttle on the 440 was already way too much fun.
>
> Steve
>
>
> From: w124list-bounces at mbcoupes.com
> [mailto:w124list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of J Hirsch
> Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 11:00 PM
> To: W124 CE Coupes and Convertibles
> Subject: Re: [W124] Re: [Mercedes] looking for quick sanity check
> onsuddencooling system repair needs
>
>
> Steve
> You're correct about everything but the retractible lights...not in
> 1963
> The "engineering" was in the
> fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants-simplicty....and it did work.
> Something which has been lost in the last few decade of cars by
> accountants
> On Dec 9, 2005, at 10:06 PM, Steve Rankin wrote:
>
> Yes, the Pontiac water pump only has 4 bolts and it’s a snap to
> change. As I recall, not only does the water pump only have 4 bolts,
> but you don’t have to do a thing with the power steering pump or belt
> to R&R the water pump. But I have a really hard time calling that
> “engineering” on a car that was known for its retractible highlights:
> slant 4 engine (half of a V8), swing-axle, etc. More like luck. Then
> again, if you’re lucky enough to have a Tempest with a 389 & 3-2 BBL
> carbs and a 4-speed, you’re one lucky goat. J
>
> Steve Rankin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From:w124list-bounces at mbcoupes.com
>> [mailto:w124list-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of J Hirsch
>>
>> Sent:Friday, December 09, 2005 6:23 PM
>>
>> To:W124 CE Coupes and Convertibles
>>
>> Subject:Re: [W124] Re: [Mercedes] looking for quick sanity check on
>> suddencooling system repair needs
>>
>>
>>
>> Some prices from Autozone
>>
>> DURALAST_NEW
>> CWP-810
>> LLT$148.99
>>
>>
>> *** EXTENDED LIFE ANTIFREEZE IS HIGHLY
>> RECOMMENDED WITH THIS ALUMINUM PUMP. ***
>>
>> BECK_ARNLEY water pump
>> 131-2079
>> 3 MO $269.99
>>
>> TRANSPRO432280 $329
>> LLT$329.99
>>
>>
>> If you can use a wrench and screw driver it is not that difficult a
>> job and can save $700 or more
>> do it yourself
>>
>> Changed the water pump in my 1963 Pontiac Tempest convertible last
>> week. Four bolts
>> Pump was $32
>> Time: fifteen minutes out and fifteen minutes in
>> That is engineering
>>
>> Auto repair shot....$325!
>> keep cruisin
>> Jay H
>>
>>
>> On Dec 9, 2005, at 4:57 PM, Steve Nervig wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Dec 9, 2005, at 1:28 PM, Alec Cordova wrote:
>> Well, my 89 300CE didn't survive the freeze we just got in the
>> Austin,
>> Texas area. She was overheating on this morning's commute, and only
>> giving me cold air in the cabin, even on defrost. Upper and lower rad
>> hoses were warm. Heater hose coming off the back of the head was warm
>> near the head, but not warm on the other end.
>>
>> Mercedes of Georgetown, which isn't my favorite but does give free
>> loaner cars, claims my radiator is leaking and my thermostat needs to
>> be replaced. They also say my water pump has some extra play in the
>> shaft and is probably on its way out, although it's not leaking yet.
>>
>> They want almost $700 to replace the rad and thermostat, plus another
>> $700-ish to do the water pump. Not yet clear if that includes the
>> couple hours of labor saved by replacing the water pump while they're
>> in there for the rad and thermostat.
>>
>> The car has almost 197K miles, and she's in reasonably good shape
>> except for the climate control blower, which I'm pretty sure is not
>> the blower motor itself. I had shocks, struts, and front suspension
>> rubber replaced a year or so ago, so that's all good. Some of the
>> wife's recent expenses leave me in a position where I probably
>> shouldn't replace the car (which kinda stinks, since John M on the
>> diesel list is selling his 91 300D 2.5, and I'm sure he's got it in
>> great shape), so I'm basically committed to repairing this one.
>>
>> Do those numbers sound like the right ballpark for these repairs at a
>> stealership? I know the radiator and thermostat retail for $250 -
>> $300, and the water pump retails for about $230.
>>
>> I need to give them a Go or No Go within the next hour or so.
>>
>> Why oh why must I be so addicted to these cars? ;-)
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Alec Cordova
>> Taylor, Texas
>> 89 300CE, 196K
>>
>> Alex, here are some numbers I found in the STAR Time Guide:
>>
>> R&I Rad 1.2 hours
>> Thermostat .5 hours
>> Coolant Pump 3.9 hours, 3.4 hours with Rad removed.
>>
>> Draining and filling coolant and possible flush might add a bit of
>> time. I would think a skilled tech would be able to beat those book
>> times by anearly half, but of course that isn't the way it usually
>> works.
>>
>> If it were me, after driving a coupe, I can't imagine trading it in
>> and driving a stinker, but that's just me. ;-) But you are probably
>> right, John will have his car in great shape (I've seen it).
>>
>> If you've had the valve/guides/heads done recently, I'd keep it.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Steve Nervig
>> Seattle
>> 1990 300E
>> 1992 300CE Sportline
>>
>>
>> --
>> If you don't know where you're going,
>> any road will do.
>>
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