Unveiling 85 300SD
 

Here is the new to me Silver 85 SD. Finally got to a point where I could drive her for the first time :D Wish I would have taken a before snap shot - What a POS when we dragged it in. I actually thought it would drive-handle much like the SDL, but it's a whole new experience, little more agile, 5 cyl has a deeper voice on excelleration :D Figured out the throttle linkage (it was missing quite a few pieces and was made to work with bread ties. Done with the bulk of the engine/transmission stuff (yes I need to get the green anti-freeze out). A few gremlins to work out but the really big stuff is behind me.
I kept this car in the garage away from public viewing - and even the other half was quite impressed with the finshed product. Of course they didn't know it wasn't just me working on the car I had 14, 918 Mercedes Shop Members right there with me :cool:

Nice !!!
 

I wish you had before pics also. It looks so nice now. What all did you have to do to it? Enjoy it, I am verrrrrry envious.......................... :)

very nice. What is that humongous gold colored casting with black plastic box in the lower right of your last photo? My 82 doesn't have that.

Ah, what you speak of is the ABS brake system that was included in the 1985 300SD.

Nice looking ride......

"... - and even the other half was quite impressed with the finshed product. "

That is very important for selling the next project to occupy the garage space....... maybe a Gravely Backhoe?

I was going to put my Gravely in the pic (casually) just for you but forgot about that idea when it was photo time. :) Space has become a problem you can see the tarped wonder and the boat project is still behind closed doors.

It was terrible but mostly dirt/grease/mud, cracked and yellowed light frames missing fog lens. The throttle assembly was incredible, trunk lock broken, dash was trash, 2 injectors shot, 3 glow plugs, brake booster, cruise control, air and oil leaks everywhere, bowden cable, electric fan, 2 boxes of misc parts from Phil :D . 4 ebay purchaces, The complete repainting of bumpers and the infamous pool noodles!
On a lighter side my wife has assisting with the re-attching of the bottom seat cover after the pool noodle repair. We were both sweating - I was using sailor language trying to work that seat lip around - but we were both about to say F.I. when the radio played that old 99 Luftballons song. We both sat down a laughed for a minute, just seemed so appropriate :P

That blue one looks pretty! Diamond Blue Metallic???

The SDL is Nautical Blue Metallic or that's what they called it in 86. I have had several people refer to it as Arctic Blue - don't know what year that was available but must be similar also.

This is Nautical Blue Metallic.

Guess I should never use the touch-up paint that came with the car :eek:

How are the motor mounts (or did you already replace them?)
The SD has the ability to eat a oil cooler hose if the motor mounts fail and the engine drops :)

They have been replaced by a PO - The lower oil cooler line is on my gremlin list for when I do all the fluid changes.

Excellent...
The oil cooler line isn't too bad...I would actually recommend disconnecting the drivers side motor mount (maybe even both) and jacking the engine up a bit so as to sneak the lines out...

Pressurewash first :D