yep. Must have overtightened it, cracked all the way around the neck. Judging from the looks of it, the crack may have started a long time ago. I've searched and learned a bit, anyoner else care to chime in on options to reattach the last 1" of the top neck (on the driver's side)?

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I have seen copper pipe placed inside the neck and epoxy. If fact, **************.com carried a "kit" for this malady.

__________________
Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

IMPOSTER!!!

I'm the only retard around here!

__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

If it cracked that easily it was probably brittle and would have happened soon anyway. At least you found out about it now and not while you were driving down the road like I did.

Scott

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

This kit is intended to prevent said malady, not remedy it.

Radiator shop may be able to replace the top tank.

The cost of a new radiator is cheap insurance.

Yes do a search, someone posted where to buy the top. I may have it saved at home, but I'm away from my DT right now. If you find it post it or I will when I get home.

__________________
1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

I did the same thing--

tip on radiator replacement

__________________
Nello Tare

1982 300D (266,001 mi.) looking and running great

Previously owned:
1976 450 SLC
1983 300D
1976 300D
also
1982 Jaguar XJ6 (loved, but gone)

Pete, A Radiator Shop should be able to fix that for you. I'd definitely go there first, because if you try to repair it yourself, you could end up doing more damage.

Buy a new radiator and put MB or Xerex G-05 coolant ONLY in it -- the green stuff seems to make the plastic get brittle faster.

Don't bother trying to fix it, it will only break again in a few months, probably while driving and you may roast the engine. Rad is cheap.

For the W123, you can get a copper and brass rad, and avoid this problem completely.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Interesting subject hear, I've read a few post earlier about the weakness of the top rad fitting. I purchased a 300dt from it's owner about 5 months ago. And we meet at a halfway location. I was inspecting the engine compartment and low and behold I think I leaned on the fitting and I finished it off. After all the posts that I've read (lesson learned). Anyways there was about 1/2" left of the fitting, just enough to get it on and safely get home. So another project to keep me busy this winter.

82' 240d Suzy
82' 300dt Lizzy

I haven't taken off my radiator hose, but there is dripped/hardened JB Weld underneath the neck on the fan shroud. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess what's under there. Great, another thing to fix.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Thanks guys. I'm trying to find a good way to repair it. I have a spare tank top from a radiator might be good otherwise if it didn't have salt rot. This one ( a Behr) looks real good all around. Sure, I know I could spend $400 on a new one, but SWMBO has been a royal PITA about spending money/time on the car lately. I just finished repairing a major oops the other day (and doing some much needed work replacing ball joints and brake parts), and I'm not ready to fork over more dough right now. I have to make an honest attempt at a proper repair on the cheap. I know that sounds contradictory, but God, I am stubborn. Does anyone know what type of plastic that is? Is it ABS? I'm thinking a metal sleeve in there or maybe a sleeveof ABS. This might be the straw that gets me off my a** to hook up the lathe and get that working again.

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

I think you can get a better price on a radiator.

Identifying plastics is a large topic unto itself. Some plastics are marked with a little triangle symbol. I doubt something that old is marked. I doubt that it is ABS.

If you have a spare tank top, I would check a radiator shop. They may be able to do a quick swap.

IMHO a new radiator would be the correct way to go. I paid less than $250 for mine. I believe Phil has them here at Fastlane and I found several Radiator Only places on the web with overnight delivery, but I bought mine locally. I found out that not too many shops continue to fix tops only.. most have done away with crimping machine that is needed. However, if you can find a shop that does still perform the task it would be the cheaper alternative. Also, Nissens is a very good brand that fits our vehicles, but I bought a CSR. Mine does not have the metal reinforcement in the neck, but I don't care.. just don't overtighten clamp and keep the right coolant in and it will last a long time anyway.

here are some more discussions on topic that I found useful when deciding which way to go regarding repairing mine. Eventually, performed a DIY with a lotta help from friends and it was a breeze.. plus saved money for labor.

Good Luck.


Radiator Top source

Anyone Running a Repaired Radiator Neck?

Broken radiator piece where overflow line fits

__________________
Nello Tare

1982 300D (266,001 mi.) looking and running great

Previously owned:
1976 450 SLC
1983 300D
1976 300D
also
1982 Jaguar XJ6 (loved, but gone)