G-WAGON
G-WAGON
Benztek, for my money, I'd simply fab up an adapter plate, find a barely running 4Runner from the 80's with a 5 speed, swap in an OM617 and call it a day. You'll go anywhere a G Wagen can for less than half the price. It won't be a G Wagen, though, if you just really want one of those, it's going to cost you. The old ones are all grey market cars, which drives up their price, and the new ones are just new. Meanwhile a diligent search of craigslist will eventually turn up a 4Runner or pickup 4x4 project, or a decent condition one with motor issues or a blown clutch or something. Way easier to find parts, and once you get rid of the motor it's hard to fault the Toyota engineering. The motors are great until you have to work on them, a Honda motor seems like working on a carb'd small block in comparison...
One correction: W123s are a pleasure to work on, the G Wagen less so. We were replacing the radiator on one and I was just shocked at how much you had to do (removal of the skid plate, front grille, etc) just to swap out a radiator. As though the radiator is some highly stressed structure of the car...
We had this old German guy who came by once in awhile, and he was watching me work on it, and he suddenly read my mind:
"Fucking over-engineered piece of shit! Blow it up!"
CID Vicious
12-08-2009, 02:39 AM #8Benz Tax = shops and some price suppliers gouging Mercedes owners for these era vehicles merely because they carry an MB part number. These cars are a breeze, almost a pleasure, to work on, and most parts are reasonably priced, but walk into a 'Mercedes Benz Specialist' with one and prepare to be bent over with no lube. You'd think working on one of these was like working on a Rolls Royce (which I've done) or a Ferrari, the way some of these mechanics act.Practically an industry to itself in Lost Angeles.
Benztek, for my money, I'd simply fab up an adapter plate, find a barely running 4Runner from the 80's with a 5 speed, swap in an OM617 and call it a day. You'll go anywhere a G Wagen can for less than half the price. It won't be a G Wagen, though, if you just really want one of those, it's going to cost you. The old ones are all grey market cars, which drives up their price, and the new ones are just new. Meanwhile a diligent search of craigslist will eventually turn up a 4Runner or pickup 4x4 project, or a decent condition one with motor issues or a blown clutch or something. Way easier to find parts, and once you get rid of the motor it's hard to fault the Toyota engineering. The motors are great until you have to work on them, a Honda motor seems like working on a carb'd small block in comparison...
One correction: W123s are a pleasure to work on, the G Wagen less so. We were replacing the radiator on one and I was just shocked at how much you had to do (removal of the skid plate, front grille, etc) just to swap out a radiator. As though the radiator is some highly stressed structure of the car...
We had this old German guy who came by once in awhile, and he was watching me work on it, and he suddenly read my mind:
"Fucking over-engineered piece of shit! Blow it up!"
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