Took Radiator apart and back together 300SDL
 

They said it could not be done.
Car was overheating, plugged up by previous owners stop leak.
He put a new rad in but did not flush thus crud.

Well a new rad is $400 so I took an afternoon popped the plastic tanks off.

Rodded it with the little metal strip on the side of a wiper blade.
Flushed with Lime-a-Way.

Then the "O" rings had grown an inch and a half.
So, cut the "O" ring put it back in with a dab of silicone at the splice.

Then 2 motorcycle ratchet straps to squeez it together, bent the ears in and wow, never over 80 and has been in the car now about 2500 miles.

This is the 300sdl that had a miss that ended up being a bent connecting rod.

Just wanted to let ya-all know it can be done.

Dave

It was worth a try, I'm glad it worked out.

I keep a spare used radiator that I know is clean and leak-free. If something happens with my current radiator I can swap in the other one and get the damaged one fixed or find another spare.

Who said nobody fixes things anymore? Good job saved some serious $$$$
My $.02 Don

I DIY'd the tank on my "spare" 77 240D as well. It was leaking badly at the top tank to core joint( the lady who owned it I guess kept adding water) so I unbent all those brass tabs, reamed it out and put it back together with some non-hardening Permatex. Good as new now, I think. No leaks and runs cool. It can be done.

Rick

how did you get the tabs bent out? I looked at mine, and I swear at it often... got any pointers for getting the tabs opened, so the plastic tanks can pop off?

I don't really remember-nothing exotic- I think just a thin screwdriver to get some leverage off the tank. Each one individually is very pliable. I think I recrimped them with a set of channel lock pliers.

Rick