Well, I don't have a junk yard with a benz within 200 miles of me. I guess I will have to source parts off the internet.

I got the car to start without a block heater tonight in about 15 degree weather. It took 5 20 second cranking sessions to finally get it to start. It smoked an ungodly amount once running.

I don't think I trust it enough to start in winter to actually use the vehicle as a commuter. So I am looking into what to do now. Should I continue to drive it on occassions to see if the rings will let loose and the smoking will stop? Should I source a replacement motor? Should I put sleeves and rings in this one and be happy? (How much would that cost?) The body isn't great, but still road worthy for many years, so I don't really want to part it out.

Advice and opinions appreciated,
Glenn

fast lane sales the stuff you need
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/part.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=1M40ERRLS1OM0A0NFM&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&year=1977&make=MB&model=240-D-002&category=A&showChildren=false
Cylinder Sleeve Mahle IN STOCK $33.38
Piston Ring Set Goetze IN STOCK $127.83

__________________
Jason Green
1977 240D AUTOMATIC the Beast
1974 Super Beetle



Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

That surely can't be $128 for rings for each piston!!! WOW, that would be obscene. If I do rebuild it how often do the pistons collapse or are no longer reusable with these engines? Also, do they make file to fit rings?

Thanks,

Glenn

Its bad enough at 30 per cylinder for rings. 128.00 must be for an engine set. plus head gasket of course. If you are serious about removal of engine and ring job i would defer any purchase till examination of whats in there. That cylinder at 300-320 lbs indicated original rings have not lost tension from overheating for starters. You could still find a lot of stuck rings on other pistons in there. May be no less worn than the high cylinder. Overall though you might try to find a wreck with a good engine although it seems they are scarce in your neck of the woods. Still could be more cost effective. New cylinder liners are about 35.00 each but pistons are pretty expensive.

I emailed Phil to see if it really was $128 a piston for rings....AND IT WAS. WOW!! He was nice enough to offer a significant discount to me.

Anyway, my used 79 300SD (which had a bad body and good engine) most likely got snatched away from me so I am probably going to tear this one down to see what all actually need to be replaced.

I have one question to start with. In most of the documentation that I referenced it says to pull the transmission and engine together. Maybe with a 5 cylinder there might be clearance issues, but I should have plenty of room to get to the bolts and slide the engine ahead with the 4 cylinder. Any reason I cannot just pull the engine and leave the tranny in the car?

Anyone have a good used engine they want to sell me?

Thanks,
Glenn

Glenn, I have been following your thread.

You are a real trooper!

Why not get the word out in other venues like craigslist.com and advertise your WANT for an engine.
The more feelers you put out there, the more likely that you may find something in your area.
Try calling outfits that take cars as donations. If they have something you like, they may accomodate you with a direct sale.

Good luck.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I have put out a couple requests on internet junkyard search engines. The results are engines for $800 to $1200 with 30 day to 6 month warranties. For that kind of $$ I expect I should be able to atleast tear this engine down myself and take the parts to the rebuild shop to be mic'ed. Then, I can make the decision whether it is more feasible to do a bottom end rebuild on mine or source a used engine.

I am still curious as too why it states I need to remove the engine and transmission together. Any have any clues? Getting to the bolts isn't a problem on the 240D, what else is there to worry about?

Thanks,
Glenn

On my 83 240D, I left the standard tranny in the car and removed/reinstalled the engine that way. It was a pain getting the tranny input shaft to line up and go into the pilot bearing, but all in all it went okay.

__________________
05 SL600 75K
87 MB 560SL 119K
87 MB 300D 180K
83 MB 240D 110K
64 1/2 Mustang
74 Monte Carlo 32K
75 Fiat 124 Spyder
16 Equinox
15 2500HD Silverado

"I am still curious as too why it states I need to remove the engine and transmission together. Any have any clues?"

Its allot easier to cut the drive shaft lose and pull the tranny with the engine. All you gota do is tip the eng with one of those adjustable spreader bars. Be sure to mark the drive shaft incase it comes apart, dont ask how I know

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Worked on getting the engine out tonight. It is hard to find help when it is only 5 F in the shop. So, I have everything setup to just undo the mounts tomorrow when I can hopefully con someone into giving me a hand. I decided to unbolt the tranny while in the car. We will see how big of pain that will be for reassembly.

The only question I sort of have is the engine mounts. I only see one bolt that goes up from the bottom with no nut on the top. So I just unthread that and it is free? I am used to GM motor mounts with a bolt through the mount and a nut on the other end. Isn't that a pain to line up and get the threads started on reassembly?

I can't wait to tear into that engine and see how much of my Christmas money I can spend on it.

Anyone want to come over and help tomorrow?

Thanks,
Glenn

My dad and a friend helped me pull the engine tonight. For those that search, yes, unthreading the one bold from the engine mount will release the engine. Pretty easy and uneventful engine pull. The only odd thing was the torque converter came off with the engine. (Yes, it was unbolted.) Had to use pry bars to get it to release. After we got it off, there was confirmation that the engine was pulled before. I only had 9 flexplate bolts in for 12 holes and there was grinder marks by one of the empty holes. Atleast they were in matching groups of 3 so the engine was somewhat balanced. The engine is still on the cherry picker. I spent the rest of my garage time assembling my Harbor Freight engine stand. 1000# rated stand on sale for $36, even a cheapskate like me can justify that expense over working on an engine on a cherry picker and bench.

The girl will be back from school tomorrow and I still have all my xmas shopping to do so the engine may not get disassembled for a few days. Then again, it may happen sooner than I think because the suspense of how much this is going to cost is getting to me already.

Does anyone make aftermarket pistons that could be bought cheaper than the OEM replacements?

Thanks,
Glenn

Got the engine on the stand last night. I had to grind off 3 more bolts on the flexplate. I just love how you can turn them out by hand once the head is ground off.

I also got all my xmas shopping done in under 3 hours. I may get to tear into it before xmas yet.

Glenn

I got the IP, oil filter housing, manifolds, and other accessories off the engine last night. I lost interest after I saw to get the head off I needed to take off the cam towers and rocker pivots. I wrapped presents instead.

I should get to it again after xmas.

Glenn

Well, it looks like the benz project will be on hold longer now. I was a good boy and gave my mom a ride to work this morning because of the icey roads. She only had to work a half a day today so I was going over on my lunch hour to pick her up when I think my pickup gave up the ghost. I was just under light acceleration when the 4.3L bucked and quit. I rebuilt this engine less than 60k ago, so I thought it was odd, but should start right up. I pushed in the clutch while coasting and turned the key. It rotates real fast with no distinguished bumping of the engine. I coasted it into the lot at Mom's work and left her sit. We both got a ride with her coworker and I brought my Eagle Talon back to work. The Talon has performance tires and mods. She was never meant to see snow, but it is all I have running now. It is a slippery ride.

Merry Christmas, here is a busted motor.

Thanks for the space to vent...

Glenn

"It rotates real fast "

Timing belt tits up??

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"