Hi

I'm new to this forum, and it looks very interesting. I just got my first diesel Mecedes 1981 300 SD trubo. never had a diesel before. I'm toying with the alt fuel thing, at this point not sure if WO or Biodiesel is the way to go. Seem that diesel prices are gong up and up (both for the cars and fuel) Being in an appartment situ makes me think WO but who know, maybe I'llbe moving soon, co-op?.

So anyways I got it from ebay check out item #190133846558 if you care to see it. The mechanic I got it from is very helpfull, but the problem is that his shop is so far from my place that I want to do some of the work in parking lot at the apartment /home, I've already fixed the dr sidedoor window, it was having problem closing completly it came out from it track. This morning I was going down the freeway and lost power. It was my stupidity, I ran out of diesel. I was told that a light on the dash would come on when I was down to about the last gal. giving me approx 20-40 miles to the nearest gas station. So I guess the light is burned out or the sending unit it dead or something else. Anyway, I wanted to run it down to that point so I could measure mi/gal. but I guess I'll do that another time.

While I was waiting for fuel I popped the hood and noticed that there is a hard black tube that goes from the underside of the air filter unit to the turbo unit had fallen off. This would probalby explain the suglish take offs this morning. After I got back to the parking lot I tried to replace it and noticed it would not fit correcly. I also took off the air filter pan/unit and found some standoffs, that kind of held the unit to the engine block, were broken and I'll replace them soon. Anyway it seem that the tube is not bent correctly it appers that the tube is bent in a U shape and if I put the side that goes to the turbo first, it will not quite fit on the upper port of the air filter, and vice a versa if I put the tube on the air filter port first. It seems as if the pipe needs to be about 1 inch wider apart. Does this make any sense? Any suggestions?
I was thinking of going to the junk yard and finding a simular tube and splicing it in, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go. Perhaps the tube is the incorrect version? perhaps the air filter/pan unit is the of the wrong type or is bent. another idea just pop into my head if I remove all 3 of the stand offs that would lower the air filter down some, maybe that will lower it enought in hight to allow the pipe to fit? Any help is appreciated.

TIA
Nooner