New 280GE owner in Nottinghamshire

I'm Paul, fresh to G Wagens having just won a '84 280GE LWB on Ebay.

I've always fancied one but until recently didn't have the balls to go out and do it. So I have signed up/paid up on here to get the best help.

I've come from the VW scene (still in it, but needed another workhorse) and own a VW Transporter Syncro Doka and a Golf Syncro so you could say I have the 4WD bug. I'm also converting a VW Westfalia Camper to Syncro spec with 4" lift, TDi conversion etc etc.

But enough of VW's - here is the G I expect to collect on Thursday.

Description:
"Mercedes G wagon 1984 Red, Been stored for some years, very good all round condition, is showing some areas of minor rust. Has been for an MOT and only needs a few bits, needs a couple of brake pipes, hand brake cable tightening, new exhaust and a few other minor pieces. Was running up to a couple of months ago when a fuel problem accured Blocked fuel line maybe!. Paint work original and in good condition only the bonnet could do with a repray. New battery, fuel pump, fuel filter, wiper spindle, four new tyres, and a few other bits. Rare BBS alloys. Can be shown running by putting some fuel directly into the engine. Has covered 109,000 miles, has service history. Interior like new condition still with the original mercedes mats. Due to change in circumstances is up for sale."

I paid £1900 for it and it needs a few bits for the MOT, but the condition looks good and the service history/interior seems to reflect that. Being a petrol I will be looking for an LPG conversion pretty quick as it will be used as a daily driver.

I'm OK with a spanner (I own a VW so have to be LOL) so am not too daunted by getting the G roadworthy. Looks like brakes, exhaust (no pattern parts available?) and fuel are the main problems and give that many parts have been replaced on the fuel side I suspect its a process of elimination to sort it (blocked fuel line, duff fuel pump feed/relay?)

I fancy a suspension lift, roofrack, ladder and light guards plusd a respray in gloss/satin? black. I also have to fit jump seats and a dog guard as kids and large dogs are the prime reason for buying the G. That will have to wait till I have ironed out any problems though.

Any constructive comments and pointers on locating suitable parts (noted above) would be very welcome at this point as would contact with a local(ish) G-Friendly owner.

Thanks in advance.

can we have piccys of the golf synchro, always fancied one of those rare beasts.

Will keep a look out at my next school reunion (not far from Loughborough - Nr Sileby)

Spider1V

When would that be?? :D

But if your getting Lonely - I can pop up and scare a few rabbits with the 500! :)

Do it before the semester ends!! Loughborough will become almost empty after the 20th...

Welcome G-Funk I am I suppose also a VW enthusiast though more hot hatch than transporter. Your fuel problem may well be the fuel pump which corrodes, get a s/s exhaust knocked up by "longlife" and re-route it as a side exit, is the car auto? Be cautious of lpg I had a conversion of a 280ge a few years back which was never satisfactory being prone to backfiring into the manifold and blowing off all the pipework on the fuel metering head in the process. Keep the colour reds good black is very rare on a 460 and is almost always a pointer that its a re-spray.

Mortinson wrote
"What a fantastic collection you are gathering there!... did you know that the Syncro drivetrain was designed and built and that in fact all VW Golf Countries were finished by the same people and in the same factory -in Graz, Austria- as the GWagen? "

the Golf Country was lhd only and is an extraordinarily ugly beast, Pauls is a 1.8 synchro which unlike the Country is not jacked up and the drive train is a torque sensitive set up which gives power to the rear wheels when the fronts slip. The drivetrain for the transporter synchro and the Country were Graz products though the golf synchro I believe was not, owing much to Inglostadt rather than Graz. To improve performance of this car you could go the whole hog and copy the G60 Limited with its supercharged 16v engine but it would be easier and lest costly to fit a 16v engine and run it on twin webers, but I would still uprate the brakes to late Mk 2 16v spec.

regards

Paul

Hi guys ,

I'm very local to you too. I live in Breedon on the Hill (Nr East Mids Airpoirt) if you ever meet up, give me a shout.

Regards

James

PS, how the hell do i post Photos on here?

All you need now is a pinz, haflinger and a fiat panda 4x4!