Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[jbmatth]

Sadly I think it is all too common with those on this forum. Well those of us that aren't retired.

JB

 

[dchance]

Great that you found time to drive the Cobra. Was it just to work or did you manage to hit some of the back roads?

Dwight

 

[jbmatth]

DChance, I have driven it a few times over the past month or so since I tuned it, some of it was to work but there aren't many fun roads near me so it is usually just long flat stretches of road. Does my gravel road count as a back road though?

JB

 

[jbmatth]

One of the gentlemen I work with has an older Mercedes S500 that developed a squeak in the suspension. It has a bit over 100k miles (160k km) with some of the original suspension parts. He was in need of a lift and a helping hand on occasion so I offered to let him come out to use my lift. I've never had this fancy of a car and was pretty cool to see the German engineer up close:

I wasn't able to help much because of soccer games and my beautiful wife traveled for work and the girls didn't want to spend all day working playing in the shed but did help when needed. Here are some of the old parts:

Andy the upper control arms and the locating bars on the lower front are aluminum and even say Mercedes Benz on them. Just those 4 parts were $700 for non-branded parts so they are hopefully made of good stuff. I'll add them to you pile for when I can make it over there.

I also tried to do some soldering on the LS harness this morning but wasn't able to as my soldering iron won't get the wires hot enough to accept the solder. I didn't want to use a torch on them being bunched up in the harness so I'll have to break down and buy another.

JB

 

[Joe_K]

JB that's a coincidence, I have that exact same problem.

Cheers GB.

Same here, trying to finish framing out and insulate my shop. I feel like the entire world is fighting for my free time.

 

[Vieux]

jbmatth Some parts of the Mercedes suspension can be restored. Let us hope that new details, too, will serve long

 

[mybigwarwagon]

What is this free time you speak of?

 

[jbmatth]

Same here, trying to finish framing out and insulate my shop. I feel like the entire world is fighting for my free time.

Joe,
Yeah been there...oh wait no I haven't, my shop isn't insulated. Just when I think I'm ready to finish a little project like the wiring harness I'm pulled away for a week to travel for work. But it'll give me a reason to search CL in another part of the country.

jbmatth Some parts of the Mercedes suspension can be restored. Let us hope that new details, too, will serve long

Vieux,
Some of them may be restorable however he wanted to be able to pull off the old and bolt on the new. I don't want to really mess with them and I'm sure Andy would enjoy a bit more aluminum. If shipping were cheaper I'd send the remainder to you to restore.

What is this free time you speak of?

That is the time between when you fall asleep and wake up.

JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Luscious aluminum!! I hope it's aluminum and not magnesium. I can check it.

If there's any salvage value we shouldn't melt it. But around here there's not too many Mercedes owners doing do it yourself repairs, and no respectable shop would want suspension parts rebuilt by a maintenance man and a blacksmith. Oooh, wish I hadn't put it that way.

 

[1/2 Cup]

JB that is expensive for those parts

 

[jbmatth]

Luscious aluminum!! I hope it's aluminum and not magnesium. I can check it.

If there's any salvage value we shouldn't melt it. But around here there's not too many Mercedes owners doing do it yourself repairs, and no respectable shop would want suspension parts rebuilt by a maintenance man and a blacksmith. Oooh, wish I hadn't put it that way.

Andy,
I've just assumed they were aluminum, I'll put a flame to one and let you know how that goes.

We could just sell them as "Professionally rebuilt by an engineering team with 50 years of experience." It is all in how you spin the words.

JB that is expensive for those parts

His total bill just for materials was $1,700, if he were to buy the replacement air shocks they alone would have added $3,500 from what he's told me. Think about the fun engine parts your son could buy for that much.

JB

 

[bj383ss]

That is crazy money for replacement parts. Another reason to not own one of those foreign cars. JB how do you like HP Tuners? I was considering getting for my Camaro as I would like to go in and do (some tuning). Since she is getting up there in years she has become a bit of problem child on diagnosing SES codes.

From what I figure the $299 version would work for me and I would need 2 credits to use it on the Camaro which would be another $100.

Bret

 

[jbmatth]

Bret,
Some foreign cars aren't too expensive on parts but foreign luxury cars...WOW. No wonder you can buy a similar S500 for $3,000-$5,000 when it was $100,000 15 years ago. Talk about depreciation!

HP Tuners...
I have the last generation MPVI (I think) Pro even though it is less than a year old it is now outdated. One word of caution is I've heard from a few people they are having trouble with the new MPVI 2 not connecting with the ECM or even "bricking" the ECM when they try to write the new tune. I've also heard many other people have no issues with it whatsoever. I'm holding off until they release the Pro version which has inputs for external sensors that can be logged with the scanner.

The software isn't too hard to understand but there is A LOT there and can be overwhelming at first. Youtube and Google will be your friends to help to get an understanding of what is going on. In order to tune the fuel side of the tune you pretty much have to get a wideband O2 sensor the MPVI 2 can log with the scanner. Then once you get the fuel side right you can work on the spark. There is a lot of powerful stuff it can do but knowing how to do it is the tough part for certain.

I'm overall a big fan and haven't had any troubles outside of my lack of knowledge. I will not be switching over to something else though that is for sure. HP Tuners seems to be the major go to for LS tuning and there are lots of resources out there for gaining knowledge. I've been able to use mine to troubleshoot a few problems or at least find things that could have been problems or ruled them out. I say go for it if you want to get into it.

JB

P.S. I think I may be in your area this weekend traveling for work (I-35 from basically Kansas to Dallas then I-45 to Houston) if you'd like to grab a bite to eat or would allow me to check out your cars I enjoy meeting fellow GJ members. Shoot me a PM if you'd like.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy,
I've just assumed they were aluminum, I'll put a flame to one and let you know how that goes.

No flame! Once magnesium starts to burn you just grab some friends and enjoy the show. File a bright spot and add household ammonia. It will bubble on magnesium.

We could just sell them as "Professionally rebuilt by an engineering team with 50 years of experience." It is all in how you spin the words.

I see a future in marketing for you

[quoteHis total bill just for materials was $1,700, if he were to buy the replacement air shocks they alone would have added $3,500 from what he's told me. Think about the fun engine parts your son could buy for that much.

JB[/QUOTE]

I've never understood luxury cars, or even luxury for that matter. I think it all equates to trying to impress people with how much money you have to waste. Take cubic zirconia, for example. Shunned as fake but it is equivalent and actually superior to diamonds in the four C's of diamond grading. I know I'm in the minority, but truly I don't understand. Give me a Chevrolet just any day, and give your daddy back his Mercedes Benz...

That being said, I think Mercedes is one of the coolest girls names.

 

[jbmatth]

No flame! Once magnesium starts to burn you just grab some friends and enjoy the show. File a bright spot and add household ammonia. It will bubble on magnesium.

I've never understood luxury cars, or even luxury for that matter. I think it all equates to trying to impress people with how much money you have to waste. Take cubic zirconia, for example. Shunned as fake but it is equivalent and actually superior to diamonds in the four C's of diamond grading. I know I'm in the minority, but truly I don't understand. Give me a Chevrolet just any day, and give your daddy back his Mercedes Benz...

That being said, I think Mercedes is one of the coolest girls names.

The flame comment was partly a joke I should have explained. If I use a flame it'll be in my fire pit and only on a small portion I would cut off, as you said it will not go out.

I'm there with you on the luxury (even if I did put fancy heated leather seats in BP 2.0, hey they were "free" and are in much better shape than the cloth seats they replaced.) I can't justify too much of it at this point. To me a luxury is AC in a vehicle, of course a roof would be a luxury on my cobra but it is an AC already. LOL

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

JB I agree 100%, ac and cruise control are the only two creature comforts I desire! Most don't understand why I went from a fully loaded 2013 F150 to a 1989 K5!

 

[Bob Heine]

JB, it's not just foreign luxury cars. Replacement shocks for my Cadillac CTS-V run $1,400 a set. Front calipers, pads and rotors will set me back $1,500.

 

[jbmatth]

JB, it's not just foreign luxury cars. Replacement shocks for my Cadillac CTS-V run $1,400 a set. Front calipers, pads and rotors will set me back $1,500.

Bob,
You are correct but you also have a high performance luxury car and one of my dream cars at that. I'd have you V long before I'd ever buy a Mercedes like he had. Nice car but the bills add up quick. Just a question, do you plan on using up the brakes on your V or the tires first?

JB

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob,
You are correct but you also have a high performance luxury car and one of my dream cars at that. I'd have you V long before I'd ever buy a Mercedes like he had. Nice car but the bills add up quick. Just a question, do you plan on using up the brakes on your V or the tires first?

JB

JB, it was my dream car as well. Much as I love my Corvette, getting in and out is becoming an embarrassing process to watch. The Cadillac is easier to get in and out of and provides the same level of fun as the Corvette. The tires will wear out first for sure. Much as I enjoy the smoke boiling off them, I keep the traction control on most of the time so they won't be bald real soon.

I drive the car an average of 154 miles a month and the previous owners didn't drive it much more than that. It was delivered to its first dealer in October 2010 and it now has 16,159 miles on the odometer. It had 11,705 miles on it when I bought it in May 2016.

Someone put tires on it already because the rear tires have a 4311 date code (late October 2011), the right front has a 4911 date code (early December 2011) and the left front has a 1812 date code (early May 2012).

All that being said, I am probably going to replace the brake pads real soon. The OEM pads on these Brembo calipers put out more dust than any car I have ever owned. The wheels are filthy after 50 miles of driving (highway or local). I have a set of Hawk Performance Ceramic pads on the shelf ready to install. Hawk claims they are ultra low dust.

 

[shortykorte]

JB I agree 100%, ac and cruise control are the only two creature comforts I desire! Most don't understand why I went from a fully loaded 2013 F150 to a 1989 K5!

Not only do we have the same needs but same great taste in vehicles.

Anybody wanna buy a 95 SL320? The integrated flasher/relay is only $800 and the plastic rear view mirror cover is a cheap $1000 (have to buy whole mirror)




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm embarrassed to admit I always want electric windows in a pickup. It's just too hard to lean across to roll down the passenger window. I don't care about the driver's window, but you have to pay for two window electrics.

 

[Grumblebum]

Am I wrong in thinking that turning mercedes suspension parts into hammers is not a restoration ?

 

[BUGTHUG]

I have a nice soldering iron you can have, if you want it. Also if you wanted to come and get it maybe check my brakes on the hearse. I haven't moved or started the car since I brought it back home. Busy like you and everyone else.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Today I was under my Suburban on a friend's lift. The transmission has incontinence issues. As I fumbled around with a drop light, and a flashlight, and eventually dropped and shattered the drop light bulb - all I could think of was how cook it would be to have in floor lighting like yours.

If I ever have a garage it will have in floor lighting.

 

[jbmatth]

JB, it was my dream car as well. Much as I love my Corvette, getting in and out is becoming an embarrassing process to watch. The Cadillac is easier to get in and out of and provides the same level of fun as the Corvette. The tires will wear out first for sure. Much as I enjoy the smoke boiling off them, I keep the traction control on most of the time so they won't be bald real soon.

I drive the car an average of 154 miles a month and the previous owners didn't drive it much more than that. It was delivered to its first dealer in October 2010 and it now has 16,159 miles on the odometer. It had 11,705 miles on it when I bought it in May 2016.

Someone put tires on it already because the rear tires have a 4311 date code (late October 2011), the right front has a 4911 date code (early December 2011) and the left front has a 1812 date code (early May 2012).

All that being said, I am probably going to replace the brake pads real soon. The OEM pads on these Brembo calipers put out more dust than any car I have ever owned. The wheels are filthy after 50 miles of driving (highway or local). I have a set of Hawk Performance Ceramic pads on the shelf ready to install. Hawk claims they are ultra low dust.

Bob,
The tires are coming up (past depending on your resource) their replacement date due to age. We ALL expect you to send the remaining tread off in smoky glory. Good luck with the pads and dust, I've never had that high end of a breaking system but all "performance" pads I've used have left lots of dust on the wheels. Now the dust from my gravel road does a great job at hiding that though.

Not only do we have the same needs but same great taste in vehicles.

Anybody wanna buy a 95 SL320? The integrated flasher/relay is only $800 and the plastic rear view mirror cover is a cheap $1000 (have to buy whole mirror)

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

Shorty,
I think I'll have to pass, I could buy two of my commuter cars for the cost of a flasher relay. WOW too rich for my blood, no wonder the cars are pennies on the dollar now.

I'm embarrassed to admit I always want electric windows in a pickup. It's just too hard to lean across to roll down the passenger window. I don't care about the driver's window, but you have to pay for two window electrics.

Andy,
I agree, the driver side window is used the most often and I'm fine with it being manual but it is tough to reach the other windows to roll them down now. I'm lazy and have a tendency to speed without cruise control.

Am I wrong in thinking that turning mercedes suspension parts into hammers is not a restoration ?

That would be a restoration for the old parts at least. Would they rather come back as wheels for a mini-van, or an individually numbered hammer that could travel around the world? I know what I'd choose.

I have a nice soldering iron you can have, if you want it. Also if you wanted to come and get it maybe check my brakes on the hearse. I haven't moved or started the car since I brought it back home. Busy like you and everyone else.

Herb,
Thank you for the offer but I picked one up before leaving on my trip. I have some time off I need to take by the end of the year, I will see if I can get a free day to come up to lend a hand.

Today I was under my Suburban on a friend's lift. The transmission has incontinence issues. As I fumbled around with a drop light, and a flashlight, and eventually dropped and shattered the drop light bulb - all I could think of was how cook it would be to have in floor lighting like yours.

If I ever have a garage it will have in floor lighting.

War Wagon,
A quote from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up." It is very nice to have them, they are sometimes a pain but for the most part I'm really happy I took the time to install them.

All,
I guess you can tell I'm back from my work trip. I managed to sneak in a little fun time and time to pick up a few things:

Full report coming when I have some free time,
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Cool! I see a planer, two table saws, and either another table saw or a spindle shaper. Great haul!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

JB way to go

 

[bj383ss]

Looking forward to your update. To bad we didn't get to meet I was looking forward to it.

Bret

 

[jbmatth]

Cool! I see a planer, two table saws, and either another table saw or a spindle shaper. Great haul!!

Pretty close all around Andy, and not shown in the photo are a few other odds and ends.

JB way to go

I'm pretty happy with it all around 1/2, not as cool as your lathe but cool nonetheless.

Looking forward to your update. To bad we didn't get to meet I was looking forward to it.

Bret

It'll follow shortly, I haven't had a chance to investigate many of them but will post up what I have shortly.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

As I mentioned in a post from almost 3 years ago now my aunt (?)... cousin (?)... well my great-uncles daughter. Had some tools she had gotten from her father and some of her in-laws she wasn't going to use anytime soon and offered them to me. She lives a little over 500 miles from me and works a lot of weekends so we haven't been able to make a meetup for that long happen when we were both free.

During my work trip to the Houston area it worked out finely. These had all been in a shed that was falling down and overrun so I'm glad I got to them when I did. Here is another photo:

Up first is what I like the most really:

The stand is I believe to be a Craftsman multi tool stand from the same time period the other tools were made. The jointer is model number:

It is a 4-3/8" cut jointer, my first jointer actually so I'll be fun to get it up and running eventually.

The table saw is an 8" model number:

One of the other table saws is on a home-made stand, I don't believe he had the jointer when he built it:

It is also an 8" model number:

Sadly they are both smaller than my existing table saw so both will be mechanically restored, possibly cosmetically then given to family members. They both came with motors so and both worked, the first only worked a short period of time before it just hummed so I'll work to rebuild it eventually. The third saw is a cheap import but works as is, it will probably also be given away.

Then there is this:

I know it is a sharpening station but haven't found a user manual I don't have to pay $20 for.

More to come but I'm really happy with the finds/gifts thus far.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Back to the Foley Belsaw:

Luckily it came with a few extra grinding wheels:

I think I am set for a while still yet, but I know the right side is meant for sharpening mower blades, chisels, knives etc. when the table is adjusted for the proper angle. I believe the right side is used for saw blades and possibly chainsaw chains as well but I'll have to dig into them more to know for sure.

She also gave me an old Craftsman belt sander:

It works as well but needs some love as it makes a lot of noise and could really use some polishing.

Fun story about the Foley Belsaw, it was strapped into my truck for the long drive home standing up. After about 350 miles for a fuel stop I turned into the fuel station and it fell out of the truck. It did break the mount on the stand and one of the handles. The mount is fixed now and the handle is easy enough so luckily no real harm. It could have been much worse. Turns out the strap rubbed on the legs and eventually cut completely through. I stopped after 25 or so miles and all seemed well so on I went.

I didn't take many photos of the planer as it was a Harbor Freight special, it works but I haven't run any wood through it yet. I already have a big Dewalt so I'll move down the line as well. All in all a great group of tools that will be repaired and re-gifted to family members. I'm glad I was able to get it all in one trip, well there was a welding table I didn't get, 1/2" top, 4" pipe legs, blacksmith vise and other stuff. It was way too heavy to move so it had to stay.

Thanks for looking in,

JB

 

[XJSuperman]

Nice load for sure. But I woulda left 3 saws behind, pinched a few nerves and blown a gasket just to take the welding table. Even if it was rough, the material is a good start to a nice one. But Im crazy like that.

That sharpening station will be awesome once its cleaned up and running.

 

[oldironfarmer]

A spare table saw or two can be very handy. I keep a dado set up on one saw most of the time, and a smaller saw will run a dado blade nicely.

Good collection, sorry about the Belsaw falling off. It could be repurposed into a standard grinder if you find you're not sharpening many carbon steel saw blades.

 

[jbmatth]

Nice load for sure. But I woulda left 3 saws behind, pinched a few nerves and blown a gasket just to take the welding table. Even if it was rough, the material is a good start to a nice one. But Im crazy like that.

That sharpening station will be awesome once its cleaned up and running.

XJSuperman,
I'd have been able to find a way to make it fit if there were any chance I could have moved it. My cousin helped but she is in her 60's so couldn't do too much. Just the top and legs on the table calculate to 430 lbs without the vise. That coupled with the bed of my truck being 3 or so feet off the ground, no branches above to chain-fall from, I was out. I see them occasionally on CL for not too much and I do have my frame table I could use with a plate on top if needed.

A spare table saw or two can be very handy. I keep a dado set up on one saw most of the time, and a smaller saw will run a dado blade nicely.

Good collection, sorry about the Belsaw falling off. It could be repurposed into a standard grinder if you find you're not sharpening many carbon steel saw blades.

The Belsaw is still usable and all back together now so no worries. I have 4 bench grinders total now so no need for too many more.

I've though about doing that and may still keep one for just that reason. You can't have too many tools can you?

JB

 

[bj383ss]

What a great haul man. Love that belt sander. My dad has a few of those in my grandpa's shop.

Bret

 

[rmalkow2]

Gifts of tools that will keep on giving to other members of your family. Great idea!!

 

[Grumblebum]

great scores JB.

 

[jbmatth]

What a great haul man. Love that belt sander. My dad has a few of those in my grandpa's shop.

Bret

Thank you Bret, I'm looking forward to getting them cleaned up and usable. I just wish I had the time to tackle them now but I already have way too much going on right now. I'll tell more later, but the belt sander is great and one I'll keep even if I already have another newer model and two bench top versions.

Gifts of tools that will keep on giving to other members of your family. Great idea!!

Rmalkow2,
I do try to pay it forward when I can, I can only justify so many tools. I know blasphemy, don't hold my head to the fire please. I just can't find a reason to have 4 table saws nor do I really have the room to store them long term.

great scores JB.

Thank you Grumble, they will all be put to good use in time.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

I have been off track lately with travel, work, sports, and the new tool find but I'm back on the 5.3 LS engine I'm trying to get running on my "test stand". I don't have a transmission handy to mount it in the sold Suburban frame but do still have the motor mounts, and a pile of scrap metal. This is what I came up with to support the back of the engine:

Yep very crude and ugly, however, it is quite functional and that is all that really matters right? I have the engine wiring harness fully modified and ready to hook to the engine, and stripped the chassis harness this morning to connect the fuel pump. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have it running or at least cranking with fuel pressure and a battery mounted. Time will tell but I'm getting excited to hear this thing run completely stripped down to bare bones.

JB

P.S. I already stripped too much off of the frame to make it a show truck like Andy has but the thought has crossed my mind.

 

[oldironfarmer]

You mentioned the belt sander was loud. My recollection those things were loud and sounded like they had bad bearings when they were new.

Nice test stand. And it looks to be portable as well. That was a nice touch adding wheels. Is it stable? It needs to be long enough to not tip over forward.