R63 AMG The Unicorn of my Destruction

Two things...

1. Enjoy your summer!

2. I shoulda kept my mouth shut about the V70R's. Now you guys are on the lookout, too. Crap. Don't buy em all up before I get mine! ;)

codrus wrote:

hhaase wrote: Yep, why do you think all the amateur stuff is solid-fuel. I was HOPING to hit both 10,000ft and Supersonic this year, but life intervened and I don't think I'll be doing any high-power flights at all for 2017.

I think there's a bunch of amateur hybrid rockets using solid fuel and liquid oxidizer (N2O)? All the rocket assembling I do is in Kerbal Space Program, though. :)

My recollection of the hybrid launches I saw was that they sounded like a John Deere two cylinder tractor, but running at about 10,000 rpm...

codrus wrote:

hhaase wrote: Yep, why do you think all the amateur stuff is solid-fuel. I was HOPING to hit both 10,000ft and Supersonic this year, but life intervened and I don't think I'll be doing any high-power flights at all for 2017.

I think there's a bunch of amateur hybrid rockets using solid fuel and liquid oxidizer (N2O)? All the rocket assembling I do is in Kerbal Space Program, though. :)

Not much going on with hybrids these days. A few years ago the various rocket groups won a major court case against the BATFE, which changed the regulations handling solid fuel motors. That took away a lot of the need for hybrids and they've kinda gone on the wayside since due to all the extra work and equipment needed to fly.

FunkyCricket wrote: I can't PM as I'm too new, but that looks like you will be relatively close to where I live. That looks like Lake Michigan if I've ever seen a picture of one. I'm in the northern lower peninsula area myself. Great place for the summer. Enjoy. FYI: ticks are bad up here this year, keep an eye out and give a quick check if you are in the woods at all.

It is. Mr deuce is a native northerner if I remember correctly, and I know he summers up there.

In reply to FunkyCricket:

You're right about the lake, but we look straight south off the beach, so we're just a bit north of you. Ticks are always an issue walking through the beach grass and the kids have grown up thinking nightly tick checks are a normal part of summer, we'll keep watch.
Thanks for reading along.

toomanytoyz wrote: 2. I shoulda kept my mouth shut about the V70R's. Now you guys are on the lookout, too. Crap. Don't buy em all up before I get mine! ;)

There are 2 in the town I live in, one, a red one, is a 5 speed and driven by an older couple. It's mint. I talked to the guy who owns it once at a gas station. He loves it, his wife wanted a wagon, and he wanted something fast. I keep waiting to see the for sale sign on it. I have another friend that stuffed the drive train of a wrecked v70R into a v70xd. So now he has a jacked up v70r with lower insurance. He calls it the frankenvolvo.

Mazduece: On the mower, exactly, I'm either fixing it or buying a new one, either way, I don't lose anything by tearing it apart, and the boys get to learn about mechanics of an engine. I've just never done a small motor. I've done my Ford 200 I6 (twice), those are easy. Figure a mower can't be more complex than that.

Had no reason to do anything but lurk. Til today, from Philly.

Just wish it was a 63 to make it perfect.

Gotta say Mazdeuce, I totally get leaving the R at home due to so few miles after all of this, but I just drove mine from Norcal to Disneyland and back. We left Saturday and returned on Tuesday. The single most comfortable road car/van/wagon/SUV I've ever owned. 450 miles each way and no fatigue whatsoever. Cruise set at 85-90 on the way down and 80-85 on the way back. Of course, with the Bluetec, I averaged 27.5 mpg. This with 5 adults and all our luggage. Try that with the 63! ;)

Motobones wrote: Out of curiosity I got the service bulletin and repair process from the service manager. It looks basically like what Mazdeuce has done with the R63 except they don't pull the engine and transmission out to do it. Also, since it is warranty, Honda only gives the dealer 8 hours labor for the whole thing. That's nuts. I can't see how it's possible to do that in one work day. It would take me a year and Ms. Motobones is not as patient as Ms. Mazdeuce.

We bought our 2004 Mercury Monterey minivan in 2013 and in 2014 we got 2 recalls. One for the torque converter, the other because there is so much rust in the back of the van they have to replace most of the rear frame. I made an appointment for both and got a rental car. They told me it would be ready at the end of the day.

I couldn't believe it, they called at 5 and said to come and get it. When I got it home I checked it out, all new fresh sheet metal and they did the torque converter(I marked some of the bolts to see if they would be moved when I got it back, they were).

It was magical.

James

mazdeuce wrote: In reply to onemanarmy: Well, the DO have massage chairs, which I'll take advantage of right after I finish my complimentary muffin and coffee. There is also a TV in the mirror in the bathroom. Swanky.

Do you know how many $57K motor replacements it took to get all that?

rslifkin wrote: Oil leaks sending oil through the wires is a fun one. I had one of those on the Jeep. Pulled an ECU connector and oil dripped out... Turned out the oil pressure sensor had failed and lubricated the harness.

Extremely common failure on anything with a 4.7. The power steering pressure switch fails, and waterproof connectors seal both ways. It pumps power steering fluid into the computer, where it pumps down into the O2 sensors, and causes them to die.

"Sir, you failed emissions because your O2 sensors are bad. Also you need a power steering pressure switch, because that is what killed the O2s, and we can't guarantee that the fix will take unless you also replace the wiring harness and computer because they have more difficult-to-remove oil in them than North Dakota."

Funny how Durangos and other 4.7-equipped vehicles aren't really on the road much anymore.

In reply to Knurled:

Sorry to continue the off topic conversation, but I can't PM. As someone with a 4.7 Durango, I find this alarming. What range of years does this problem span? I have a 2008 with the updated engine.

Sorry I'm late to the party. Congratulations on the completion of your R63 rebuild.

May I suggest you look into an 05-06 CL65 AMG. V12 twin turbo that oozing with style and class. Lots of room for improvement. Coil overs, coil packs, front mount air to air, sway bars,.... you can get into one for about mid twenties now.

Btw, thank you, I now can roam the street in my R63 with confidence again. My has just crossed 150k miles. May have to do the headbolts this summer

David

FGump9 wrote: Sorry I'm late to the party. Congratulations on the completion of your R63 rebuild. May I suggest you look into an 05-06 CL65 AMG. V12 twin turbo that oozing with style and class. Lots of room for improvement. Coil overs, coil packs, front mount air to air, sway bars,.... you can get into one for about mid twenties now. Btw, thank you, I now can roam the street in my R63 with confidence again. My has just crossed 150k miles. May have to do the headbolts this summer David

A buddy of mine in Waco was contemplating selling his. Granted it's a bit newer and makes slightly more power than stock.

He also wanted a good bit more than 25k

In reply to Knurled:

Interesting. The early years of the 4.7 used basically the same JTEC PCM I've got. They're pretty well potted internally, so I doubt you'd get enough oil inside the thing to hurt it. I'm not sure about the later NGC PCMs though.

Realistically, that problem sounds like it could be fixed by replacing the switch, the O2 sensors and maybe the last few feet of the O2 sensor harness to get the oil away from the sensors. A full harness / computer replacement seems like overkill.

Well your story made it on Power Nation daily.

Power Nation Clip

In reply to FunkyCricket:

The local seamstress had her old volvo break down and she found an old V70R in royal blue to replace it. She had no idea what it was all about, just needed another wagon and wanted another volvo. She was quite surprised at the power it had, LOL. First time I saw it parked in front of her shop I asked my wife if her friend knew what she got herself into.

Papabear wrote: Well your story made it on Power Nation daily. Power Nation Clip

My wife actually sent me that clip yesterday.

And V12's of many flavors are on my someday list. I'm a bit awash in new projects right now, but my eyes are always peeled for the next poor choice.

mazdeuce wrote: I'm a bit awash in new projects right now, but my eyes are always peeled for the next poor choice.

We're all counting on your bad decisions!

Mazduece posted this about writing 10 or so pages back...

Except I'm 100% serious. It would have to be the right project but I would jump at the opportunity to wrench on and write about something really interesting.

Just want to say a few things:

A) Love the heart and feeling that you write with my friend. There is a lot to be learned here other than "insert tab A into slot B". Not just about cars but about perseverance, outlook and just good clean livin.

2) Those of us who lurk here and kill 1000s of productive work hours would not be checking in if it were not cool, fun and interesting.

iii) It is awe inspiring the feeling of pride and accomplishment that this community feels when one person does something insane that we are all just watching from the sidelines. Very much like I say "WE WON!" when my Seminoles win a big game...

With that said:

IV) I have a proposition for the board.

We start a go fund me page. We all vote to spend the money on the most bonkers thing that we want to see Mazduece rebuild, fix, modify, etc. He gets to write coolness about the whole process and a lot of experts on a zillion different things from zip ties, to making special tools, to AC systems, etc. get to chime in and educate all of us. We action off said bonkers thing at the end of the day on bringatrailer and donate whatever is made (hopefully) to MrsDuece's favorite charity.

Just a thought. And that would almost make Mazduece a paid writer...

In reply to buildinwithlegos:

Your enthusiasm is well and truly appreciated. There is no need to raise any money for me, the next project has been picked out and proper work will start at the end of summer. You can follow along here.

I have followed this since it started. Read every page, every comment. The exchange with you about my rebuilding my engine in my living room was very kind. Makes me wish I could still do these things for myself, but thanking God I can afford to pay someone to do it for me. :D This thread has inspired me to do things MS prevents me from doing and leaves me with feelings of mild jealousy.

Congratulations on the success of your project. Many happy trails to you and your family sir,and many happy and safe miles in the unicorn.

In reply to AmySanders:

MS sucks. That's all I have to say.

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