Thanks for the feedback. Got to work this afternoon - clearly need a tool for the tie rod and drag link removal/installation. Any DIY suggestions for this? I was able to remove idler arm nut an free the bolt. Removed the bottom bushing with a slide hammer puller - easy enough and could probably be done with simpler tools as one is actually pulling on steel that's part of the bushing itself.

Now, as Rahulio suggested, with that top bushing in place one cannot draw the bolt out straight on 400E 119,V-8. 4"/10cm is about the max at which point you hit the exhaust system. I believe that I read earlier that pushing out the top bushing allows enough free movement in the bolt to get it up and out of that tight space. I'm thinking a piece of the correct size pipe will help to get that top bushing out with bolt still there.

Assembly would be the opposite with the bolt in-place as the top bushing is installed. My plan at this point is to use the old nut and using the idler bolt & hardware itself with some heavy washers on the bottom to press first the top bushing into position, then a rubber mallet for the bottom bushing and that same setup to press the bushings as a pair into position - I can see no other way to do this, shy of removing the exhaust system, and there's no mention of the need to do this in the MB shop manual. Any thoughts out there?

Weather was turning for the worse, so I just put everything back together for now. I'll try to work on this in the next couple of days and post on any developments.