R63 AMG The Unicorn of my Destruction

In reply to Jerry From LA:

The interactive nature of the forum has been amazing, and the more eyes on the project the more interesting the feedback gets. There's no way this would have been as interesting if so many people hadn't chimed in. This thread happened very organically, like the Grosh thread before it, but part of me wonders if the same magic is possible if I did something on purpose.
I think I'd really like to have someone drop off a stalled project with the understanding that they pay for parts, labor is free (because I need a hobby anyway) and GRM gets, or puts up with, another one of my silly threads. Anyone have something weird moldering in their barn that they want to watch me fix?

In reply to Tony Sestito:

Thanks. If this ends up being the peak of my DIY auto mechanic life, I'll be content as an old man.

mazdeuce wrote: ... Part of me wonders if the same magic is possible if I did something on purpose. I think I'd really like to have someone drop off a stalled project with the understanding that they pay for parts, labor is free (because I need a hobby anyway) and GRM gets, or puts up with, another one of my silly threads. Anyone have something weird moldering in their barn that they want to watch me fix?

I think this idea is a pure winner. Makes me wish I had something more interesting in my stable to toss your way to watch the next installment of "What's in mazdeuce's Grosh today"

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mazdeuce wrote: I think I'd really like to have someone drop off a stalled project with the understanding that they pay for parts, labor is free (because I need a hobby anyway) and GRM gets, or puts up with, another one of my silly threads. Anyone have something weird moldering in their barn that they want to watch me fix?

Dude... Fergus

mazdeuce wrote: In reply to Jerry From LA: The interactive nature of the forum has been amazing, and the more eyes on the project the more interesting the feedback gets. There's no way this would have been as interesting if so many people hadn't chimed in. This thread happened very organically, like the Grosh thread before it, but part of me wonders if the same magic is possible if I did something on purpose. I think I'd really like to have someone drop off a stalled project with the understanding that they pay for parts, labor is free (because I need a hobby anyway) and GRM gets, or puts up with, another one of my silly threads. Anyone have something weird moldering in their barn that they want to watch me fix?

You are familiar with the phrase "be careful what you wish for", right?

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Tony Sestito wrote:

What a journey... from "Hey guys, I found this weird unicorn German performance minivan, so I bought it!!!", to "Oh man, the dealer wants $57K to fix the manufacturer's dumb design..." to "Forget them, even though it's damn near impossible, I'll fix it myself at home!" and finally, "IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!!"

One could make the case that this journey started with "hey, so these numbskulls aren't going to make the vette I want that they said they would"

DaveEstey wrote:

mazdeuce wrote:

vr4 wrote: Why all the hate on Guido?* He was just installing what he was given. He didn't design the bolts. *Yes I know it's mostly in jest.

Completely in jest. I think at least half of the silliness comes from saying the name Guido. Also, the name sounds Italian and making fun of Italians for their mechanical weirdness is a long standing tradition. If I somehow run across Guido in real life, I'll buy him a beer to apologize.

My Ducati mechanic's name is Guido. He's hilarious. For what he charges he damn well better be.

My nickname in high school and college was Guido. Im a half Italian mechanic with questionable logic.

mazdeuce wrote: In reply to Jerry From LA: The interactive nature of the forum has been amazing, and the more eyes on the project the more interesting the feedback gets. There's no way this would have been as interesting if so many people hadn't chimed in. This thread happened very organically, like the Grosh thread before it, but part of me wonders if the same magic is possible if I did something on purpose. I think I'd really like to have someone drop off a stalled project with the understanding that they pay for parts, labor is free (because I need a hobby anyway) and GRM gets, or puts up with, another one of my silly threads. Anyone have something weird moldering in their barn that they want to watch me fix?

70 duster with megasquirt issues, etc?

In reply to wae:

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.

Well I'm going to second Fergus because wagon.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Well I'm going to second Fergus because wagon.

yeah, clearly anything that goes in the grosh needs to have either a hatch or a frunk

Congrats, Deuce!

+2 for Fergus. And the above posts were totally unrelated to my FB post.

Fergus with a powerstroke powertrain perhaps ?

Anyone mention Ferguson?

I think there needs to be a level above UltraDork regardless of post count for members like mazduece who have contributed so much to the GRM community. I propose SupremeDork or Dork of the GRM Gods.

I know...that giant wagon you have...whats it called?

I'd also like to propose Fergus...with an R63 AMG powertrain swap

Fergus EcoBoost

Well, plus and acid dip for adding lightness in your home made dip tank.

Drop a 427 Cammer into Fergus?

Fergus sits out front under the car port. I look at him every single day, and every day I smile. I have a plan, and a solid plan if I do say so myself, which keeps the 390 and the three speed but adds some visual and technical bits that are interesting. He'll never be fast, he'll never be pretty, and I'll be picking away at him for the next decade.
I don't NEED another project. I've still got drywall to hang and cabinets to build and I need to adjust the valves on the 911 and all my kids still live at home. What I want to do is find something. Fix it. Write about it. Approach it as a project for public consumption and see if I have actual chops as a writer, or if I just fell into this with one broken bolt. For me that requires a clean slate, the ability to create and tell another story from the beginning. I've got all summer the think about it, but I'd love it if some of you thought about it too. There must be something hiding out there that someone knows about.

You and Patgizz should be friends over his latest acquisition. There is definitely a story to be told there!

honestly, I'd caution you against taking on someone else's project. You already got a slight taste of what that's like with the RSX, and you owned half of it. Part of the R63's story is that having ownership of it means you can make all the decisions, and you can set the timeline for fixing it. Removing those two elements from your control really changes the dynamic of things... that you should consider carefully before taking on.

In a lighter note... and to try and make up for unleashing the braying howling calls of "Fergus"...

I hear that pickups are all the challenging rage this year?

In reply to mazdeuce:

Hello folks, First post, well done story on the Benz and execution of the actions. and a standup attitude all the way.

On to the AC yes I have one in a VW Jetta. it does indeed have a control valve that changes the angle of a swash plate that controls the stroke of several pistons. Mine is a Sanden compressor. Your voltmeter will read the 14.XX volts the system is putting out. It is calling for full cool so your reading is wide open. Mine did the slow cooling and no cooling till it was good and ready to do its thing. This might be 10 mins down the road.

I changed the control valve on mine about 2 years ago. instant a/c from then on. It is in the fluid stream so an evacuation and recharge of the system is required. I just internet searched the brand name of compressor and control valve to find mine from someone on the internet.

Good info above in the video and link to the 112.

Another thing to try is start the van and turn the a/c to full cold, and tap the valve with a plastic hammer or handle of a hammer. you may get lucky and the thing is just stuck. Mine was just shy of $70.00 to my door.

Not sure I know how to embed a video from the tube I'll try though. This should round out the Gene Wilder theme.

https://youtu.be/0VkrUG3OrPc Just click the link. :)

And this may be of some help.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=241034

Several links to peruse in the tdiclub.

Scott