240D, 4Speed Manual trans needs motor - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

markk · #1 08-25-2006, 02:10 AM

Greetings.

I have been following this forum for awhile and found the information
here very useful. I have need which
I hope there may be help.

I own a rather nice 1983 240D with 4 speed Manual transmission.
Remarkably every thing works on it

Cruise control, Antenna, Powered sunroof, AC works, blows cold.

It has about 340k on the motor and during the course of the last 6 months, i have replaced the following parts.

Front end work including.
Upper control arms.
tie rods and steering shock.
Rear "pumpkin" differential.
Rear Window seal.
left door regulator and door latch handle.

This car has very very little rust other than in the battery area
and some in the left lower floor pan due to leakage from
hole in the fire wall, which looks small and can be patch with that
"magic stuff and fiberglass"

The engine has lots of blow by and in my humble opinion needs
to be R and R.

Now my question is were can I score a good used engine and or
is a new rebuilt one is better?

I will, in a few day post pictures of this car.

Also, I have some interest in a rust free, 300D and would entertain a "possible" trade with terms negotiable. (Assuming I can fall in love with the 300d)

Any rate. My on going goals is to fix the following problems.
Dash replacement or cap... it has a royal blue interior and the
dash is a mess. (car was from Georgia).

Replacement of steering gear..it's loose. Front end tight, but to much play in the steering wheel... (2 1/2 in).

General repair of minor stuff.

Any rate, Thanks

bgkast · #2 08-25-2006, 03:13 AM

New from MB is best, but if you don't want to part with several thousand dollars I would try searching local junkyards by calling and through carpart.com. You should be able to find a good runner for less than $800. You could also replace the 240 engine with a turbocharged 5 cyl model.

vahe · #3 08-25-2006, 10:08 AM

4 yeras I bought a new motor from MB dealer, longblock with everyting on it, these are remanufactured for MB somwhere in Europe and they come with a fairly generous MB warranty. The cost was $3600.00 plus installation. If you wish to keep the car it is worth it, what you find in junkyards is most probably another junk.

Vahe
240D 77 350K

Hit Man X · #4 08-25-2006, 11:18 AM

What's your location?

barry123400 · #5 08-25-2006, 11:25 AM

I would buy a rusted out 240d with a good motor. If it is runnable it is fairly easy to establish the engine condition accuratly in the car. On the otherhand you may not live in a rustbelt area. Also dropping in a five cylinder and changing out the pumpkin from the donar has some appeal as well. Both options should be about as cheap as it gets. It depends a lot on where you reside of course if the above are possible. Selling some other parts off the donar you purchase might make the replacement free. My favorite kind of engine swap.

pj67coll · #6 08-25-2006, 12:14 PM

I have an 81 240D 4 speed manual. Mine is nowhere in as nice a condition as yours and I'm treating it as a rolling restoration. I'll have to do a lot of the same stuff you've done and then some. But the motor was rebuilt at 160000 and now has 380000 on it. If it were me I'd keep the 240D rather than trade - sideways - for a 300D. I've fallen in love with this car and I cant think of any situation which would ever make me part with it. One thing though. I'm fortunate that I live in Phoenix and this has been a south western car it's whole life. Dash has canyons in it but there's not a speck of rust anywhere on the car, nor any leaks for that matter. If it were a rusted out rust belt hulk things might be different. I guess if it were me in your position I'd look at getting a new motor from MB. Assuming the cost was managable with all the other stuff youre in the process of changing out or have already fixed, a new motor should see the car lasting another 15 to 25 years easy.

- Peter.

markk · #7 08-25-2006, 12:26 PM

The car is located in the Chicago area, 25miles west of the loop.

The motor from MB dealer may be intresting if it's under 3k
There is an outfit local, Lockport Ill that is a large rebuilder of
motors, including OM616. the link is below
http://remanufactured.com/Mercedes_Engines.htm

Now, it would be nice to find a rusty 240D with a good motor.

It any one may have one to sell, I would give consideration to it.
I have been told, such a donor car, with a good running motor
should cost about 800 to 1200 dollars.

I am looking for a little wisdom.
Thanks

bgkast · #8 08-25-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vahe

The cost was $3600.00 plus installation. If you wish to keep the car it is worth it, what you find in junkyards is most probably another junk.

I think the price is more in the $4-5k range now. IMHO it does not make a whole lot of sense to spend that kind of money on a car that is worth $2500. If the car was totally rust free and in perfect condition I might consider it, but in most cases it makes the most sense to find a good used motor. There are plenty of good running engines for these cars in junkyards. Even small accidents usually cause these cars to be totaled due to the relatively low cost of the vehicle and relatively high cost of bodywork and replacement parts.

leathermang · #9 08-25-2006, 02:46 PM

The 240 is way less expensive to rebuild than the 617 turbo engines....
These are sleeved engines so getting the bore back to perfect is pretty straight forward... and you can probably use your pistons.... but even if you need new pistons they do not cost nearly what turbo pistons cost...
You need the FSM for the 616 engine to do this properly....

mybenz123 · #10 08-25-2006, 07:15 PM

Hi Mark.

These sites might be of interest to you.
http://www.tristarparts.com/company_profile.htm

http://www.msdra.com/mercedesparts.htm

http://silverstarrecycling.net/modules.php?name=html&file=mbz_models

I'm sure that you can find a good used engine from one
of them.

Louis.