81 300D Engine RnR Almost - A Few Little Questions
 

Woohoo! Almost done . . .

1. There is a small plastic tube coming out of the top of the trans that has broken off - I assume this is just sometype of overflow tube, but I don't see them listed on Fastlane . . . anybody know what this is and where to find a replacement? It doesn't connect anything, I assume its purpose is to allow escape from the trans if it gets to hot, and is routed to keep contaminants out of the transmission.

2. I bent the hard line for the trans cooler past the point of repair . . . I called a Denver yard but they don't have any. I figure I'll head down to the PullnSave today, but just in case, anybody know where to find a replacement for that?

3. There is a plastic piece on the passenger side of the trans that is cracked . . . it looks like it may have been a fitting for a vacuum line. Anybody know what this is and where to find a replacement? I know, I know, the question is vague . . . I'll post pics later on when I find the cable for my digital camera (doh!).

4. The vent tube from the valve cover is different on the replacement engine. The old one connected to the top of the air clear, the new one routes beneath it and into the intake manifold. I figure I can just plug the hole on the cover of the air cleaner. There is also a tube on the air cleaner that on the old engine, connected the bottom of the air cleaner to the oil pan. On the new engine, that tube has crimped and sealed. I've taken the tube from the old and put it on the new so its all connected, but I have to wonder why somebody might have sealed that tube? A mod that I might want to keep?

Thanks for taking the time,
Eric in Boulder, CO

1971 220D
1981 300D

Its just the vent, if you can't find it, I can't imagine it being more than a few bucks at the dealer

Depends on what side. I'd still call around to other yards for one. I have a junk motor here with both lines still on it, but the motor had low compression on one cyl and shook so much that it work through the left line, which was patch welded and reinstalled, and then a few weeks later, it wore through the right line, which was fixed by a section of rubber hose and three hose clamps...

modulator valve. every mb parts place sells it. should look something like this: http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1KG0VXDXG1KG0VXDXF&year=1985&make=MB&model=300-DT-001&category=J&part=AT+Modulator+Valve

Did you go from a turbo to non turbo? the non turbo engines had the line connected to the manifold and the turbo engines had it going to the top of the air filter housing, into the oil seperator and then the drip tube underneath it back to the oil pan. At least the pre 81 US non turbos didnt have it, what year/model is your new engine from?

Thanks for the quick reply!
 

John -

The modulator doesn't look like the piece I'm speaking of . . . I'll have to double check and I'll post pics later on . . . did they change over the years? EDIT - I looked up the part for my year vehicle, that's exactly what it is. $50! I'm hoping I'll be able to find just the plastic cap at the yard.

The hard line for the trans cooler is on the left side . . . I'm off to the yard here in a bit to look for one. Is compressed air enough to make sure its clean enough to go on my trans or should I try something else?

The replacement engine was supposed to have come from the same car, an 81 300D . . . both engines are NA. I thought perhaps maybe the air cleaner or manifold might have been replaced with a turbo version on one of the engines, but wouldn't the manifold be completely different? I've not worked with a turbo (Just in Pictures!) but I thought that the turbo had an entirely differently configured intake manifold.

Thanks,
Eric

If you cant find those parts at a pull it yourself give eurasain a call. They were able to help me with ALOT of MB oddball parts, and I know they have quite a few diesels out in the yard too. Unfourtinatley they pull the parts so the prices are a bit higher...

No Luck
 

Yeah, I called Eurasian first . . . they don't have any at the moment. PullnSave had only one 123+617, and somebody has already pulled the engine and tranny. Bummer. I did get some good interior pieces for my 220D though.

Anybody else have any idea where I might be able to find one of these lines? Or have a good lead on a shop that might be able to weld/repair this one?

If none at Eurasian give Foreign Used Auto a call, if not them just start running down the phone book. I guess it has already been about eight weeks since I went to all the yards. Very surprised that Eurasian had nothing though!