Overland Journal: G-Wagen

[Scott Brady]

Man, G wagen just looks the business. Awesome.
Can you share more about your G wagen engine and other electronics reliability?
Were you specifically looking for the 320 engine?
Do you consider it powerful enough for say a fully loaded expedition G? Thanks

Well, the truck has been perfectly reliable over the last 1.5 years and then a few weeks ago, I needed to swap an ignition coil. In reality, the condition of the truck and the perfection by which it goes about its duties is shocking given the 190,000 miles on the chassis. The motor/trans/t-case has less than 30,000 miles on it.

This truck (a G320) has a Brabus 3.6L that was swapped in. I consider it more than adequate on the trail and road with that motor (about 285HP). These are heavy trucks though, weighing 5,400lbs. stock. It is no speed deamon.

[Mike Serpe]

Here's the dealio....

On the G, the removal of the front sway bar will have a variable affect.
What it comes down to is the following....

How much weight do you intend to carry, and what engine weight?

What springs you want to run?

What type of offroading do you do?


If you don't do rock crawl stuff, then removal of it is without purpose, it surely will help in a panic steering situation on a baja highway if your car is loaded with gear, and especially all of those roof rack loaded Gs are helped by keeping the bar on.

If you tend to get car sick, or your passengers do, then the bar definately helps that issue on twistie mtn roads.

The stock springs are not that stiff, so they allow for a good bit of body roll if you are not a trained driver, or react too quick to a suprise deer in the road.....here the front bar helps keep both front wheels on the ground, with more equal weight. Anytime you get a lot of body roll, and there is weight transfer, then even if your outside wheel is still on the ground, it still has less traction.

However, if you lift the G, you need to remove it, or make it's hangers longer.

If lifting it means body lift, then this is not relevant, but if lifting it means a spring lift, ie stiffer springs, then you can be OK removing it, because the stiffer springs will not allow the G to be so prone to body roll.

Part of the benefit of the progressive coils in the back, is the ability to load the car up and have it react the same as being empty when turning at speed. Rebound of the suspension is very well controlled.....unlike leaf spring vehicles which are like shooting a bow and arrow on release.

The springs in the front are not progressive because the front axle weight does not change that much with load differences as compared to the back.

The bar is there mostly for sharp turn in body roll limiting.

A well trained and practiced driver, is not going to do sharp turn-ins in a heavily laden truck at speed......but a novice? or a panic brake/steer responder?

you can see why the lawyers keep it on the car.


I've always told my students, in a panic situation, you still need to somehow refrain from sharp driver inputs. The best drivers are able to stay calm in these situations enough to react, but do so with a fluid style...


in my own opinion... I'd rather hit the deer, than go flying off the road or flip.

But if that deer is an Autocar dumptruck, well then one must find a path around!

[zimm]

I have to agree that the G wagen looks the best in white.

yes, but white REALLY needs a black grill. the all white grill makes the truck look like the car version of a NJ beach guido. you know, wearing all white accessories, watch, belt, sunglasses, hat...etc.

[Scott Brady]

white REALLY needs a black grill.

Zimm speaks the truth.

I just got some quotes on the repaint. To go silver (what Stephanie wants) and repair the b-pillar rust and a notable DS door ding, it is going to be $5,000. I have no idea what repaints should be for.

This guys work is nice, and he specializes in show cars, restorations and custom work.

[zimm]

Zimm speaks the truth.

I just got some quotes on the repaint. To go silver (what Stephanie wants) and repair the b-pillar rust and a notable DS door ding, it is going to be $5,000. I have no idea what repaints should be for.

This guys work is nice, and he specializes in show cars, restorations and custom work.

too much. youre gonna use the truck off road, and while where you live there arnt as many branches, in the eastern forests trails grow partially over in one year. the first time you hear the screeching noise from inside the cab, youre gonna regret spending that. this isnt the 65 mustang of your dreams, its a truck.

besides, its a color change. unless you yank the drive train and interior, it'll never be "right" and perfect.

if its gonna drive you that nuts, you'd be better off selling it for 18-20, adding on the 5, and getting a 2002 with all the bulletins completed. even if it costs you 2g more, youll end up with an all factory rig (easy wordwide repairs at MB compared to explaining to the colombian service tech about brabus motors) with 100,000 fewer miles.

i think youre at the point where you either use it and enjoy it, or ditch it for the right color, magazine articles be dammed.

[Scott Brady]

It is Stephanie's car, and she likes it. I really enjoy it for what it is too. This is just not the right car for a long trip out of country. I also have no intention of selling it. If the b-pillar rust and door ding wasn't there, I would likely just leave it be on the paint side.

If I were to own a G for me, it would be just like Steve Smith's- a perfect G-Klass IMO.

[zimm]

skreeeeeeeeech.... butt pucker.

[4Rescue]

Nice G Scott, it sure is a neat truck eh. Glad you're enjoying it. If only more G-Wagen owners in this country knew what they had eh.

...
I've always told my students, in a panic situation, you still need to somehow refrain from sharp driver inputs. The best drivers are able to stay calm in these situations enough to react, but do so with a fluid style...

Spot on... It's funny, I was teaching my GF how to drive in the snow (or just drive well really) and I always repeat my mantra: Small inputs to the cars controls are always better. brakes, Gas steering, whatever, SMALL INPUTS... I'm not a 'professional" driver, but I've had ALOT of track time adn I'd say I'm in the small percentage of people in the states that are "very good" drivers and this is what I've ALWAYS been taught. Small inputs keep you on the road. It's never let me down yet eh I also am one of those "cool under pressure" folks (kinda have to be in my line) and I think it makes me a far better driver then people who are agitated adn nervous... Take a deep breath folks, and focus on the task at hand eh. You can't get to step B without completeing step A, at least not in my world. Or better yet: What good is it to rush around and not finish ONE thing just so you can start 20 other things???

Cheers

Dave

[stevegsmith]

It is Stephanie's car, and she likes it. I really enjoy it for what it is too. This is just not the right car for a long trip out of country. I also have no intention of selling it. If the b-pillar rust and door ding wasn't there, I would likely just leave it be on the paint side.

If I were to own a G for me, it would be just like Steve Smith's- a perfect G-Klass IMO.

Ah shucks Scott, I'm blushin.
I know you're talkin about the truck but I can't help embracing the compliment.

Dude, I realize this is probably pointless but Stephanie should know that silver is the most common G color known to man and womankind and I know Stephanie is not a common woman. I also realize you didn't ask for advice or comments but Zimm makes a couple good points about retaining the color and/or moving on. If $5K covers wrapping the paint work to the interior and door sills, I'd say that's a steal if the job is done right (I stripped mine myself including glass and it still cost me almost that in just the paint work. I had to put it all back together myself after the fact). G's are much cheaper these days (amazing since they're still practically coach-built). You may want to keep this one stock and look for a silver G down the road. A lighter interior also wouldn't hurt in your climate.

Hey, Serpe would probably consider selling you his. Food for thought yo.



p.s. Ignore everything I just said if Stephanie is a diehard Silver Bullet drinker.

[Fernweh]

If I were to own a G for me, it would be just like Steve Smith's- a perfect G-Klass IMO.

But there is always the non-white option available:



Come and visit us at the Overland Expo in Tucson, April 16 -18, 2010

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