116.120 Goes Back Home:
 

Here are a few photos I took today of my 1978 300 SD at the dealership in Fresno, Ca. Look closely...that's 27 year old original single-stage paint.

Hope you like the pics...Bert

that looks wonderful! It is the 'taxi' yellow I remember from growing up in the fatherland. Can you tell us a little bit more about this vehicle, mileage, condition etc. Why the white wall tires? Ever thought about going to 16 inch wheels I did that to my 6.9 with dramatically improved handling

Superb.

I think that single-stage paint holds up better than most of the basecoat/clearcoat stuff. I still have all original paint on my 240D. I thought my 300SD was all original (yuk brown) but some of it has been repainted. What is still original looks fine. I can't figure out why the PO or PPO repainted it. Then again, I'd also like to ask them why the oil pan is almost squashed.......

Here is another shot...Bert

It is a one-owner 1978 300SD with 250,000 actual miles. Paint and upholstrey are original. The factory spare has never been on the ground. Since I used to work for the dealer, I still get employee discount. Here is what I did to it. Everything was done at the same time, so it would be like a new car.

Engine:

617.950 engine rebuilt by myself.
New pistons & liners
All new valves, guides and springs
6 angle valve job (back cuts on either side of sealing surface)
Stainless aftermarket valves
New '05' cam and follwers (Camshaft advanced 4° from stock setting)
All new chains & sprockets
Larger T6 Turbo with Buick 3.8 Grand National Exhaust Turbine
Fully polished turbo inlet and intake manifold.
Turbo/Housing & Exhaust Manifold 'Jet-Hot' Thermal Barrier Coated
Boost pressure 12.8 psi @ 4500 rpm
Fuel Injektor Delivery Pressure raised from 1700 psi to 2100 psi
Injektor pump delivery ranges adjusted for better performance
Injektor pump delivery advanced 4° from stock setting
Governed rpm raised to 5100
All new motor/transmission mounts
All new MBZ hoses and Continental belts
New surge tank
New radiator & oil cooler
New Climate Control Servo & Amplifier

Transmission:

722.1 transmission rebuilt by myself with MBZ bands & friction elements
(6) springs added to direct clutch piston
Clutch packs set to minimu clearance with selective steel plates
Type 'F' Fluid used for more aggressive shift feel.

Chassis Modifications:

New springs, shocks and suspension bushings
New rotors, pads, pins, wheel bearings, CV boots & brake hoses
New couplers and intermediate bearing
All new (stock) exhaust system (1-piece fully welded MBZ)

I actually didn't spend that much, since the car only cost me $400.00 in June of 1998. I got some really great deals on the parts by using employee discount and shopping with BMA Auto Parts in Los Angeles and SSF in South San Francisco.

The power upgrades are immediately evident when you drive the car. It is a powerhause, very unlike your average 300SD.

I was careful when making adjustments to the injektor pump to keep smoke output to a minimum. This is a very clean burning engine. Fuel economy is excellent!!!

I am really enjoying this car...Bert

Nice car and smart mods. I passed by the Fresno dealer the other day for a smoothy and a few parts. They don't give me a diccount though, I really can't imagine why??????????????????????????????????????????????

I had a 1980 SD just like yours and the original paint shined real nice. So nice the neighbor had to have the car, so I reluctently sold it to him. He was not mechanically inclined so he ended up trading it in on something from Japan. I offered to buy it back when I sold it to him, but he traded it away. The milage when I sold it was 390,000 and the car was still real nice. He claimed 30 mpg.

If you happen to know of a clean 123 car with a BO motor let me know. I have good engine and trans that I need a donor body for. I'm just up the hill from you in Sonora CA.

Take care

Nice to meet you!!! I will keep your desire in mind...Bert (559) 622-9749

Nice looking car............. :D From a fellow member with a '79 model

By the way,

My phone numbers have changed, but you can write to me via email on my profile page...Robert

Doktor Bert. I'm intersted in power/milage results. Have you DYno'd the car or at least gotten a new 0-60mph time? The new cam I was wondering is just the same as the 125hp 617.952 cam (compared to the 617.950s 110hp cam). Also, did you raise injection pressure with the pump or shims in the injectors? Thanks! -Luke

I wish I could see the engine...

Don,

Looks totally stock. All the modifications are internal...Robert

Well,

It certainly has been a long time since I last posted to this forum. Things here have been quite busy with the purchase of a new home and a new baby. I recently started working on my 116.120 again and thought some of you might be interested in an update.

As you may recall, my oldest son was involved in a collision with my car on April 21, 2006 on SR 99 in Kingsburg, California. Although he was unhurt, the car was moderately damaged. The impact destroyed the grille assembly, core support, auxiliary fan, condenser, radiator, oil cooler, fan shroud, fan assembly, water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, headlamp brackets, headlamp surrounds, turn signal assemblies, headlight filler panels, cold air inlet duct, bumperettes and bumper cover.

The car sat for quite some time in storage as I just didn't have the time to devote to repairing it.

I decided to keep the costs down by using as many good used parts as I could possibly find. I located a 116.120 in Lucerne Valley, California, from which I obtained a good aluminum hood, auxiliary fan, condenser, oil cooler, 9 blade nylon fan and clutch, fan shroud, A/C compressor, P/S pump, headlamp filler panels, bumperettes, cold air inlet duct and headlamp brackets.

I found a very nice used grille assembly at Pik-N-Pull in Fresno, California for $35.00 which I thought was a good value.

I ordered quite a few parts new from MBZ. I started with a new core support (116.620.06.72) which cost me $345.60. I bought both headlamp surrounds (116.826.03/04.89) new for $76.50 each and both turn signal assemblies (000.826.17.18.57) new for $126.10 each.

I then ordered a new grille badge (115.880.03.88) for $10.35 and all the aluminum mouldings on the grille. The center piece (vertical) is unique and is available under part number 115.888.23.85 which cost me $5.63 and the six horizontal mouldings are identical. They are available under part number 116.888.01.85 and cost me $4.73 each.

The horizontal moulding requires (3) special plastic clips that are available under part number 003.988.20.78 and cost me $0.75 each. There are (18) plastic clips that are used to attach the (6) horizontal mouldings and they are found under part number 201.988.25.78 and cost about $0.50 each.

I had a good used radiator, which I had cleaned and I bought a new drier for the A/C system. I replaced all the seals in the A/C compressor and P/S pump, and then installed a brand new water pump.

I polished my good used grille frame and repainted the plastic grille with metallic gray from a 1990 BMW. I then affixed the new mouldings and grille badge. I re-installed the original grille 'star' that managed to survive the collision undamaged.

The finished grille looks brand new and cost less than $75.00 to produce.

I hope you find the information contained in this post interesting and informative.

Best of luck on your projects...Robert

For those of you in the Fresno area, there are two 116's at the Jensen Avenue Pik-N-Pull; a 116.032 (V8) and a 116.120 (Diesel).

There are several 123's with diesels, inlcuding one 300TD with the hydraulic pump and related system intact and (4) 126's with V8's.

Hope this helps...Robert

Darn, if you go back can you check to see if the fuel sender is still there on the 300TD. I need one!