I'm contemplating making a rustout 115 that I have into a light duty farm hauler . Anybody have any suggestions on how to increase the ground clearance?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Custom springs that are taller than stock? How much lift do you need?

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

You can find some ideas in here:

rear suspension ride height

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

put some taller tires/wheels on and wedge some coil spring extenders in the coil springs. If it stays on the farm, I assume it won't be traveling at high speeds....so larger tires/wheels from an old domestic station wagon or pickup could be modified to fit

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

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

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

29" gumbo mudders in a 14" size I think are availible....jacking up the springs won't be too hard.....

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Depending on what you want to spend, I'm very pleased with my new rear coil springs from Coil Spring Specialties.

I saw William today (MTUpower) and he also agreed that the SDL now sits too high in the back. So, as planned, I will get the next thinner rubber spacer for it.

The ratio of spring length to increase in body height is 2.5:1 on the SDL. It doesn't take much to raise the vehicle 3" if you really want to.

If you wish to get away really cheap, ask CSS if they can "pull" your older springs out so that they are longer. Might be possible and would save you a bunch of money over new ones.

i am assuming yoiu are thinking cheap since you are planning to use the benz as a truck!

so i am thinking the above post recommending rubber wedges is about right, except the part about using ford or chebby wheels. find some 15" mb wheels and use oversize tires and cut out the wheel wells if nec. then post pics.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Hmmm...some really long springs and 15" wheels might just do the trick. Heck, I already drive my wagon all over the daggone farm...not much stops me. A beater diesel UTE with an additonal 3-5" of clearance and a skid plate would be neato...

Brian,
How much did those springs set you back?

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Randy,

If you are going to make a cross county vehicle out of a 115 then you might as well do it right.

Use the back chassis of a WWII surplus SDKFZ 251 Mittlerer Schutzpanzerwagen (half track).

If they could traverse the steppes of the old Soviet Union, it should work on your property.

http://ww2photo.mimerswell.com/tanks/d/sdkfz/sd251/sd251.htm

__________________
Anders

1995 E300
2015 VW TDI Sportwagen 15K
1977 240D (197K)
2002 Subaru Legacy L Wagon (115k) (Wife's)
Gone but not forgotten:
2005 Buick LeSabre
1998 C230
1984 300D
1983 240D
1981 300SD
1974 240D
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
1968 Triumph TR250

The springs were $168.00.

But the shipping added another $30.00
Has anybody else noticed the shipping charges lately are close to $1.00/lb. with UPS? I used Fedex and the same springs went a longer distance (to Arizona) for $22.00.

Don't you need to be fixing Passion Flower?

__________________
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

Can anybody point me to some hard info on these spacers, part numbers, and how to use them to change ride height? I know it's been discussed in detail here but I was unable to find good info in a recent search. I'm thinking about using a thinner spacer in front to lower my wagon just a tad. Thx!

__________________
'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

For the W123, there are four spacers: 8mm, 13mm, 18mm, and 23mm.

Each serves to increase or decrease the height of the body.

On the rear of the SDL, the ratio was about 2.0:1. This means that if you change from an 8 to a 13 mm spacer, you would raise the body by twice the difference (10 mm). However, I don't know if the 2.0:1 ratio will hold on the W123. So, if you want to lower the height in the front, you need a thinner spacer than what you are currently using. If you are looking for a big change (about 1" or so), you probably need to jump two sizes.

if the 123 and 126 rear ends are not identical they are certainly extremely similar. i believe most parts are interchangable. so if it is 2 to1 on the 126 it should be the same on the 123. imho

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

He's interested in the front end, Tom.