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3elements

Solex
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Everything posted by 3elements

  1. 3elements
    Congrats. And we like pix...
  2. 3elements
    Nice!
  3. 3elements
    If it were not for my son's graduation at Cal that very day, I'd be there. Next year...
  4. 3elements
    I'd hoped c.d. would weigh in... Here's my thought process: 1) I love my '02, but it's not the best long-distance option. Too loud, too hot in the summer and too small to take on a 2 or 3-hour trip when I have to look presentable when I arrive. (It's hard enough for me to look presentable in the best of circumstances...) 2) My wife and I have a modern car which we do share for long trips now, but there are times our business takes us in different directions. 3) I know something like a late-model Honda is the most logical choice, but I haven't yet been able to bring myself to buy one. 4) I'd want the Benz for big highway miles, and the diesels seem to get better than decent mileage (especially for their size) and seem to have a solid reputation for reliability. 5) I know any older car will have wear and mechanical issues - bushings will fail no matter how many miles the engine has left in it. I've done all my own wrenching on the '02 so far (with the Board's help, of course!) and can deal with regular maintenance and moderate repair. However, I'm not looking for another car constantly on the DL. I want a better-than-fair degree of reliability. So, given those parameters, what's the advice? What years or models are better than ohers, and what are the big areas to look at when choosing? Thanks all.
  5. 3elements
    Particularly the mid-80s turbo diesel 300SDs? Thinking of adding a dictator-mobile to the fleet...
  6. 3elements
    There are counties in California where you don't have to get the biannual smog check, (mine included), just an initial certificate at purchase. Worth keeping in mind if you're in the market for a vacation home - or a second P.O. Box for DMV paperwork...
  7. 3elements
    Got one, thanks all.
  8. 3elements
    Not a part for our cars, but maybe one you'll want to get for a graduating senior or college student you know. It's my new book, The Portable Dad: Fix-it Advice for When Dad's Not Around. It's a how-to-use-it and how-to-fix-it guides for college-aged folks, and covers the basics of cars, computers, bikes and apartments (as well as moving, decorating, painting, etc.) Young folks aren't learning this stuff in shop classes any more (they're taking AP chem instead), and most of 'em aren't driving charming cars from the '70s that actually need repair once in a while. $12 from your favorite bookseller. Web site is www.theportabledad.com Thanks!
  9. 3elements
    Need to replace the Getrag 245 that a broken guibo bolt tore up. Thanks
  10. 3elements
    Now if the economic stimulus was something like, "Don't send the IRS $1350 next week and go buy another 2002," I'd be there!
  11. 3elements
    Related idea: When I upgraded my tool box a while ago, I converted the old (and cheap!) base cabinet into a mobile tool cart. Added better casters, handles and a rubber mat on top.
  12. 3elements
    Yep. They're no Top Gear, of course, but at least feature some interesting cars.
  13. 3elements
    When I got my '74, it had tan Flowfit seats that someone had attempted to dye black. They weren't black (or tan anymore for that matter.)
  14. 3elements
    Hard to argue with success!
  15. 3elements
    To answer the original question, what I've read is it's the downward-facing position of the slave bleed nipple that creates the problem by allowing air to remain trapped despite proper bleeding.
  16. 3elements
    I'm with the crowd on this one (sixth? seventh?) - just a little higher in the back
  17. 3elements
    Can I ask why the preference for conventional points? I run a Pertronix with an MSD box and could not be happier. Made a ton of difference in cold starting ease.
  18. 3elements
    Now that's internet porn worth surfing!
  19. 3elements
    Hooray for airbags - we don't want to lose you!
  20. 3elements
    You don't need to remove the whole driveshaft, but do have to unbolt the center bearing to give the shaft enough play to engage. Whether the exhaust gets in the way (and you have to loosen that too) I don't know. On my car it did.
  21. 3elements
    It is real, just not mine... Haven't take "the" picture of my '74 yet
  22. 3elements
    It does look very nice, but good god man, that snowthrower is bigger than some Fiats!
  23. 3elements
    Good luck. That's a leap I also want to take one day (but not yet...) Post pix after the color flies.
  24. 3elements
    Thanks all. It'll be Friday before I can get back to it, but with your tips and help I'm confident it'll get done. Appreciate the advice and encouragement!
  25. 3elements
    Been wrestling with it for a while, and just can't get the splines on the trans shaft mated with the engine and I'm worn out. Forward progress stops about two inches short of where it all needs to be. Any tricks or snags you fine folks know about? Thanks.
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