That direct, constant drive has worked well.
Very durable, and a little quicker performance wise, as I guess the air momentum is maintained?
Just make sure you keep the electromagnet coil or an equivalent resistance attached to the computer, or it will assume the supercharger is offline.
You will know if that happens. Let's just say performance suffers....
Next stage will be overdriving the supercharger.
Has this undersized driven pulley made by a guy in Europe, to my spec.
This is the more cowbell part... note the old pulley diameter.
My pulley decision was based on the Eaton Supercharger charts for airflow & eff / rpm plus a little extra, to be sure it was too much.... because challenge.
I'll also be adding some instrumentation so I can see how it's really working out. Depending on the budget, they might still be installed after development.
Since killing the supercharger clutch and fixing it, Ive added almost 4000 more miles, for a total of almost 6k since buying it last Dec. Not bad for a $1000 project beater.
In the last few days, however, I've been working on the suspension.
BTW, if you do springs on a MB like this SLK230, you MUST have this spring compressor:
Action shots:
It can be very helpful to compare the position of the compressor on the old spring to the new spring and mark the new spring to approximate how the compressor was attached.
There is little room for a compressor that is out of place.
The new springs are supposed to lower the height by about 1.5 inches, and be much firmer.
New vs old:
I bought a set of shocks because it sounded like I had a bad one on the front right. Turns out the lower mount bolt was a little loose. Not loose enough to feel on inspection, but loose enough to bang around (see the three flat threads, below). The old OEM shocks felt fine and were very stiff still with what felt to be a ful gas charge still. HOWEVER the KYB shocks were crazy stiff, and rebounded VERY slowly. so, what the heck, I changed out the old 'good' shocks and took a little budget hit with the KYB units.
Installed shocks and springs, front and rear:
The new tires arrive tomorrow.
Just need to mount and balance them.
I bought a set of these from tire rack: (225 rear, 205 front).
Cheapest set for my car, and a 300TW rating. Challenge material!
Because there is always a budget....
a_florida_man said:
The new tires arrive tomorrow.
Just need to mount and balance them.
I bought a set of these from tire rack: (225 rear, 205 front).
Cheapest set for my car, and a 300TW rating. Challenge material!
Because there is always a budget....
Please post how those ride and perform!
In reply to yupididit :
Will do, or better yet, we can discuss it in person in two weeks, lol....
a_florida_man said:
I'm back.
:)
I just registered the SLK for the 2k challenge.
I had to take the spring and summer off to do a LOT of grown up stuff...now back to the fun.
Besides this whole project was disturbingly on track and without any looming deadline angst.
Fixed That!
So, as we last discussed the car and it's possibilities, I recall someone warning me not to ruin a good driver.
I think that was Pete.
On that note, please allow me to share some photos of developmental stage shrapnel. (Sorry Pete)
This is what is left of the plastic drive plate on the supercharger clutch.
I tried to up the boost by limiting the pressure pop off valve. Bad idea.
Luckily the clutch gave out before the supercharger was damaged by the heat.
Soooo... I decided to manufacture a direct drive clutch hub with the old hub spline and a piece of plate steel.
That's brilliant.
Looking forward to seeing this and meeting you in a few weeks.
Anyone have issues with Tire Rack and shipping lately?
I ordered 4 tires, should have been here today. Tirerack online says shipped, UPS says nope.
I just emailed Tire Rack CS.
Something always has to go wrong, right?
I had no issue a few weeks ago when my Challenge tired were delivered.
stafford1500 said:
I had no issue a few weeks ago when my Challenge tired were delivered.
Yeah, if this were a "few weeks ago" I'd be less uptight, lol.
Wow. I just opened this thread for the first time...and read the whole thing! This era of cheap German cars are a bit scary to me but you did an amazing job with diagnostics and frugal fixes. The car looks great. I put a set of those Ripken Raptors on my Challenge Chevy truck a couple of years ago. I was pleasantly surprised with their performance.
New shoes!
Old tires were all 4 different brands TW rating age and tread.
This has got to be good...
This is going to be a busy weekend!
One of the coolest things lately, has been the interest in "what Dad's doin'?".... the challenge has been redirecting the energy.
Then I remembered.... Jack LOVES to clean stuff... and I have a set of Mercedes Wheels that haven't been really cleaned since 1998, so....
And he stuck it out! Cleaned all 4!
So, he earned his spot on the race team. Honestly I was surprised at how happy this made him.
This is a good day.
Interestingly, the "best" of the old tires was a Goodyear Eagle.
It had some stiff side walls, and was a little tight coming off.
The Riken tires were actually MUCH stiffer than the Eagles.
Not as stout as race slicks, but close.
If I hadn't salvaged a cheap Chinese tire machine with 'arms' I would have had a lot more to post about.
Tires Mounted.
Now for some less run of the mill activities.
!!MODIFY!!
(stay tuned)
In reply to a_florida_man :
You are a lucky man! To have a son to share your interest and enthusiasms with?
What’s more to have him enjoy time with you?
Well, will wonders never cease?
I just stopped by Advanced O'Reilly Zone and lo and behold, they had cat back exhaust systems for SLK230's IN STOCK!!!
Soooo, pretty low now.
Need to check that the rear shocks aren't on the internal snubbers.
In my opinion, right where MB should have started.
Nocking out the important stuff.
;)
Probably have to redo the 2K. It's crusty.
