Recent Posts

61

General Discussion / Re: Reversing Sensors

« Last post by Cees Klumper on July 12, 2025, 04:51:29 »

Mine does, it's called "Boem is ho" in Dutch or, looseley translated, "Bang means stop"   

https://youtube.com/shorts/cl9xhBieruk?si=2OVk14LYCvneTH4A

62

W11x chassis cars / Re: Mercedes Benz 220SE m127 engine for sale

« Last post by Hamid Turbo on July 12, 2025, 04:31:36 »

Hi,
I will send you some photos tomorrow morning.
Thanks

63

General Discussion / Re: Reversing Sensors

« Last post by AdelaidePagoda on July 12, 2025, 04:23:45 »

No, nor should anyone, unless they have a medical certificate that confirms they have a fused spine and are unable to actually move their neck to look behind them.

I believe this has been raised before and anyone found with them, has their SL113 membership immediately revoked and a permanent lifetime ban enforced.

😂

64

Commercial Advertising / Re: Pagoda Urethane Bushings in Stock

« Last post by wwheeler on July 12, 2025, 03:39:50 »

I have had a few people ask me recently why urethane (PU) is different from rubber in both material and in the application of suspension bushings. Below is what i responded and hopefully takes out some of the mystery:

With PU, comparing Shore A hardness really doesn’t tell you much. You can have a 80 shore A PU and a 80 shore A rubber piece and you would say the PU is harder or stiffer. It is but that is the difference in modulus you feel, not the hardness because that is the same. 
 
Basically the PU will not flex like the rubber part. That can be good and not so good depending on how you use it. As an isolation buffer, PU would be bad. But if you are trying to reduce flex and deformation, PU is good. Consider the sway bar and its bushings. With rubber, the frame bushings grip the bar and the rubber flexes internally as the bar rotates slightly. As it deforms, the rubber also will cause some movement in the bar resulting in a changed suspension geometry. The end link bushings stretch and compress as needed. With urethane, the modulus is so high that the bar actually rotates in the bushing like a bearing. The bushing doesn’t deflect and provides much better geometry than rubber when corning. The PU end link bushings also stretch and compress but do so at much lower rate, again because of the modulus. The other suspension bushings act in a similar fashion but are unique to their application.
 
You also asked about the “grease” and this a VERY important point. I supply bushing lube as it is called, with every part. Because the PU bushing acts as a bearing, it needs lubrication. Without it could groan or squeak. No different than other types of bearings or bushings. The lube I supply is extremely tacky and will not rub or wash off. It is a silicon based lube and resistant to water. Another very important point is that is it silicon based and NOT mineral oil based. Mineral oil based greases like for wheel bearings and the like with slowly degrade this urethane. And why I supply it with the parts. It has to be the correct lube for the PU bushings to work as designed.
 
You do not have to go all in on PU bushings. You can pick and choose by application and leave the others stock rubber. I would certainly start with the PU sway bar bushings and is a no brainer in my opinion.

65

W11x chassis cars / Re: Mercedes Benz 220SE m127 engine for sale

« Last post by opopotts on July 12, 2025, 02:20:18 »

Can you send me a picture of the cylinder head. e are starting to work on the car.
Thanks
Doug

66

Announcements / Re: The effect of current USA administration policy on our group operations...

« Last post by Mike Hughes on July 11, 2025, 22:13:42 »

When Ford first introduced their integral "infotainment system" called "Sync" (wholly written by Microsoft, which was badged as such in the car) it was, IMHO, about 85% perfect on V1. Had it on a Ford Contour. Loved it. Then, those brilliant minds--the engineers at Ford--could do it better and cheaper than Microsoft, and their new and improved model was called MyFordTouch (MFT) Introduced on a Ford Edge. It was a kluge; a horrendous downgrade in every way imaginable.

I'm happily retired now but was selling Fords and Lincolns when SYNC came out.  it worked pretty well, had neat features, and was easy to help a new client use.  MyFordTouch was a pig's breakfast.  The worst part was that Ford required every new vehicle to be activated on delivery, and then we had to deal with pissed-off customers for weeks and months on end.  There was a help desk, but getting through in a timely manner was hit or miss.  From a customer service standpoint, it was a disaster.  The good part was that the factory soon was sending out product training people to help us and, more importantly, listen to us about what the problems were and tricks we had learned to get things to work.

The telematics improved over the years, but we were always on pins and needles whenever they rolled out "improvements."  When I retired right before COVID hit in 2020 all that stuff worked pretty well, and my 2020 Escape Hybrid still performs flawlessly.

67

Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes / Re: Drive train vibrations from Getrag 5-speed retrofit 280SL

« Last post by rwmastel on July 11, 2025, 19:00:34 »

They will raise it on the lift and take a look what is causing the vibrations.

If they are looking at alignment of the drive train, keep in mind that the engine is mounted to the subframe and subframe to body.  If using a 2 post lift with arms under the body, subframe mounts may sag, lowering the engine to a position it would not be in otherwise.

Group, is this proper logic?  Check alignment of components on a 4 post lift?

68

Events / Re: Houston Area Pagoda Owners Group - Coffee and Tacos

« Last post by rwmastel on July 11, 2025, 18:55:37 »

Jonny, In California I'm surprised it's not Pagodas and Pot!   

69

General Discussion / Re: Reversing Sensors

« Last post by rwmastel on July 11, 2025, 18:53:39 »

A good topic for this forum:
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?board=18.0

70

General Discussion / Re: The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive

« Last post by Mike Hughes on July 11, 2025, 18:10:11 »

I am having the surgery on Monday. Looking forward to a similar outcome.  My Urologist has been monitoring for some time.  Recent spikes in PSA values and biopsy and PET scan results indicate surgery or radiation would be viable options.  I chose surgery.