Need a DIY mentor in MA for 1983 300SD turbo diesel newbie.. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jpchleapas · #1 02-03-2006, 03:34 PM

Hi Gang. We bought a Florida car 1983 W126 300SD. I am looking to have someone with a similar model turbo diesel let me watch them adjust their valves and to offer them free help. I would also like to remove or plug the EGR, and find out if my cars turbo is set to at least factory spes. I am not looking for a 12 second 1/4 mile car like my mustang. But it would be nice to know the Alda is functioning right and it is adjusted properly. I would also like to learn if my turbo is at least running at 12-15 pounds of boost like it was spcec'd to by the MB factory design. I would like very much to learn how to do these basic things for myself by learning along side of someone who does their own valve adjustments twice a year in my area. Again I really want to learn the basics from a DIY MB diesel experienced owner/enthusiast. I just ordered the parts to replace the all of the vacuum connectors from DieselGiant in his master kit. I also ordered the radiator bottom hose engine block heater kit, and the little flippers for the transmission from him. The motor in our car sounds great. It starts right up for us and idles smoothly. It does have a sluggish transmission upshift from 2-3. If you let off the gas pedal it shifts right into gear. It also leaked diesel on the driveway so I need to locate the leaks and replace some or all of the fuel line hoses as needed. I have the paper work for the rebuilt transmission and engine. Both were rebuilt in November of 2005. I will bring the booze of choice as needed by anyone who works on their own car that allows me to help them with their own repairs. This way I can learn how to do these things for myself. In exchange I will offer them with bribes like hand washing and waxing of their car if they offer to help me learn. I have orderd the more complete MittyVac vacuum kit from harbor freight. I own a modest assortment of American hand tools, but I need to learn what are the basic metric tools I will need for working on our new to us 300SD. I own basic ramps and a good quality creeper. But I am buying better quality ramps that go up a little higher, and they are rated for more weight to work on our newest member of the family. I plan to spray the underneath of my car with a good rust inhibitor like "CHASSIS SAVER" by Rust Magnet for the lower body panels, frame rails, fuel tank and the underside of the car to help stave off the salt used in the Northeast. I hope to do this in the spring. If I have to buy a used turbine sprayer and then resell it when I am done with it then that is what I will do. I also want to remove the bottom side body skirts and see just what the panel clips have done over the last 20 years with abrasion. I have painted a few cars about 30 years ago. I am not qualifiied to paint a car, but I can paint the underneath of my own car as needed for basic rust prevention. Maybe a few of us can pool our resources and help each other with helping to protect these nice cars from rust? If a few of us did our cars this way we could do them all in a day one at a time in production work over a long day, or over a weekend. So any DIY folks in MA who would like free slave labor to help them work on their diesel cars in exchange for my learning from them please let me know? Thanks for taking the time to read this. John C. from Framingham, MA

Zackb911 · #2 02-03-2006, 04:27 PM

Alot of things are pretty simple to do and there are great DIY articles on this site. I am in Mass and do everything myself but I am learning as well. To disable the EGR just put a B.B in the Vac line coming off it. If you want to remove it completly order the kit from Brian Carlton ~$29. For the boost you will need a regualr boost gauge from ebay or egauges and it simply "T's" into the line coming off the manifold. Alda is straightforward too make sure it gets and holds pressure and adjust it till you get a little black smoke on WOT then back it down some. I recommend just reading up on some of these...

Organized MB DIY links

Zack

Ohh and Welcome!

diesel don · #3 02-03-2006, 11:01 PM

This website is all you need and its better than having a mentor because it contains about 2000 mentors. Literally every problem you encounter has been detailed and written about here.

How do I know? Because in April of 2001 I bought my first MB diesel and didn't know jack.

In five years, I've purchased 14 of them, done two engine swaps and fix about every conceivable problem. How? By the friendly, well-educated community on this site. The threads contain a wealth of information that is better than manuals. Why? Because its written in language that newbie's can understand.

Enjoy and wear out your 'search' function.

dp

vwbuge · #4 02-04-2006, 12:34 AM

Please don't take this the wrong way but.....are you for real?

jpchleapas · #5 02-04-2006, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwbuge

Please don't take this the wrong way but.....are you for real?

Not at all and no offense was/is taken. I would have liked to watch and learn by observing first hand the proper adjustment procedure of the valves on "their" motor not on mine. I am not worried about the vacuum kit from DieselGiant, or the lower radiator hose kit block heater. I am able to clutch the directions in one hand and muddle through. I know this forum is around to offer me advice when I need the help. But it is always easier to watch someone who actually knows what they are doing. Learning from watching the proper valve adjustment pricedure would better prepare me to do the twice annual valve adjustments on my own motor. I really did not think the preventative rust proofing of these cars is such a bad idea either, especially those MB diesels in the high road salt areas here in the Northeast. I will be doing my own car in the spring anyway. Its not rocket science to wire brush the undercarriage of my car, then spray or brush on these new rust inhibitor paints and then top coat them. Thanks for your reply. John

pawoSD · #6 02-04-2006, 10:30 AM

I also would like to watch someone do some of the jobs on these cars like valves....some of the suspension work (lots of experience in that as it is though....) and so on. Perhaps I'll be able to attend a "valve adjusting party" at some point in the future.

There hasn't been much going on lately though....

Brian Carlton · #7 02-04-2006, 10:44 AM

One of our members, Rob, who has been working on a 300D for the past six months lives about 12 miles from you over in Concord.

His handle here is "stayalert".

Send him a PM and see if you two can get together. I'm sure he'll take you up on the offer of spirits for training.

jpchleapas · #8 02-07-2006, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

One of our members, Rob, who has been working on a 300D for the past six months lives about 12 miles from you over in Concord.

His handle here is "stayalert".

Send him a PM and see if you two can get together. I'm sure he'll take you up on the offer of spirits for training.

Thanks Brian. I will email Rob. I used to live in Maynard, MA about 5 miles from Concord, MA. I just want to watch and learn how to do the valves correctly so that I will be able to do it on my own car. I just ordered a decent get me going basic assortment of metric tools, and a MittyVac kit. It looks like I finally have the excuse to buy a roll around base tool box for my upper tool box. I had just found my Dad a excellent running 1990 300SE with a 2004 MB replacement motor in it. Now after spending $2K in repairs I find out my Dad is not able to drive any longer sadly. The 1983 300SD will be the car for me to drive him around in now. I have always admired these fine old cars. Thankfully the diesel engines are strong and will last a long time with good maintenance and frequent oil changes. I like the fact that I can change fuel hoses, fuel lines, and do a lot of the minor repairs myself is a big plus. My friend who owns a body shop will let me do the prep work underneath my car for the adhesion of the rust prevention paints. This wll be to protect this solid rust free Florida 300SD from the nasty road salt used so freely here in the NorthEast. Thanks people for reading my posts.. John

stayalert · #9 02-07-2006, 08:14 AM

These cars have valves?

just kidding. Brian's pretty much right....Although I would hesitate to call time spent around me "training". What I've learned (which is a lot) is predominately from reading/searching this web site. I've also met some great folks around these geographical parts who might be coaxed into attending an informal get together at my place. Let me check my calender...Hmmm. wife 2 kids, work, etc. etc. yup '08 might be cutting it close but might work.....Sorry....just kidding....maybe in a few weeks I could try to assemble some of the other locals and you could wax all of our cars?....I kid I kid! PM me with some contact info. and hopefully we can set something up.
Cheers!

stevelewis · #10 02-07-2006, 08:40 AM

I would also be more than happy to help a new member, Always willing to meet up and talk MB diesels, steve 83sd

dunl · #11 02-07-2006, 10:22 AM

I always thought it would neat to do some kind of a wrenching party as a clinic for the "unlearned."

For myself, it would be worth it for a few things to buy a second part, get a bunch of guys together and watch from doing two installs at the same time - on my car and the car belonging to the party host. (ie. buy two manual transmissions to fit a 300SD like mine, and spend a day dropping both in at the same time while learning a lot.)

cewyattjr · #12 04-14-2006, 08:08 PM

Just adding my "ditto" to this thread. I'm down 126 a bit, in Holliston. Just bought a venerable '82 240D last month. Mostly it is sitting next to my drive way until I get the time to look underneath and figure out whether I've got a fuel leak or a brake line leak (or both). Still, wow, I'm so impressed at 1) How much room I have to work with under the hood, and 2) How incredibly heavy duty the engine looks. My other car is a WVO Beetle TDI.

Would be interesting to join a local valve adjusting party sometime!

-Chuck

deniss · #13 04-21-2006, 02:12 PM

Speaking of valve adjustment... My engine is starting to make these extraneous knocking noises that have developed just recently... Figure it's valves needing adjustment?

Where do I get some instructions for that procedure? Anyone have a snippet of the Service Manual?

jwhughes3 · #14 04-21-2006, 06:50 PM

Well,
I'd be glad to help out someone in San Antonio if they need it - It's not hard and I'd be glad to help out.

John

RiceCakes619 · #15 04-23-2006, 06:05 PM

The last time I tried to do something myself a broke a hose... but then i guess it needed replacing anyway.

I'd pay someone from here to work on my car. I'd trust you to know what you're doing and not rip me off. Willing to pay in cash or car parts