A Star is Born, Again! (the 300 SDS is BACK!) - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alfa 75 · #16 12-21-2007, 10:49 AM

Holy damn, I just saw this thread.. great looking car, I'm fascinated by the manual. A manual 300SD/L has been a crazy dream of mine for quite some time now. Do you know who did the conversion and what not? I wonder what you have to modify. Is it a pretty standard fit?

Apotheoun · #17 12-21-2007, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by easy_asW123

If you're sure you have a noisy bearing on the countershaft, that's not a difficult fix. Could you describe the noise and when it occurs, and what makes you think it's the countershaft? Does it only happen in reverse, first, second, third and not in fourth? If that's the case, it's definitely something syncro or countershaft related because 4th gear should be 1:1 direct, and in direct no powerflow goes through the countershaft. If it indeed IS a countershaft bearing, all you need to do is drop that sucker, take the rear countershaft bearing seal out, inspect and replace with a new or reman roller bearing. It's not all that hard

then again I do disgnose mack 18 speed tripple countershafts so anything under a 10 speed is a walk in the park

But again, how do you know it's a countershaft bearing issue? Describe the problem a tid bit more

Hi Easy,

Thank you for your great expertise which I appreciate (and I see we are near neighbors)! Actually I don't yet know the location of the noise symptom, but I'll give a better description. I have no idea if it's in the main shaft or counter shaft, front, rear, or middle. Kurt, at Ditmire's took the car for a diagnostic spin with me last week, and while he also did not come to any conclusion of which bearing it may be, he thought the rear one on the main shaft could be a good bet, but he also mentioned the counter shaft.

The noises are most apparent while accelerating in 1st, and seem worse than it was a year ago, since the noises are spreading into 2nd, and in 3rd, and Reverse (but as you point out, NOT in 4th). In addition, coasting with the clutch pedal pressed down produces a less stressed continuation of the same sounds (until coming to a stop). Also idling in Neutral (clutch engaged) produces the same result that increases in magnitude with faster RPM's.

The sounds: Essentially, the transmission is noisier than the engine in all gears but 4th. The dominant gravelly sound is likened as a bucket of marbles pouring down a metal sliding board, coupled with a pinging rotational knocking rap on each rotation that sounds similar to a broken governor weight knocking up against the armature on an antique Victrola. This rotational knock becomes more as a softer whoosh-whoosh-whoosh along with some light bell-like metal pinging at idle in neutral, or very slow low-stress maneuvers. Upon deceleration, there is a related gravelly whine (with less knock because it is less stressed) in all gears but 4th. Agitating the throttle to produce a small cycling of torsional alternating bucking, indicates there is a quiet sweet spot in the no-stress middle of the cycle, sandwiched between the loud gravelly whine of acceleration and deceleration. That is as best as I can describe it. It seems somewhat like the sound of an old brown UPS step-van grinding from delivery to delivery down the street. The clutch components are new, and the synchronization seems perfect throughout, except of course in Reverse. The gravelly knocking sounds are just as audible to a passerby on the street, as they are from inside the car.

That about sums it up! I hope that is descriptive enough for a diagnosis. Otherwise the "SDS" seems about perfect. How long can the transmission go in miles with a noisy bearing?

Again, thanks for your help,

Garth

Apotheoun · #18 12-21-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I don't believe it is the same length, and I don't think that one on ebay has all it's parts.

Thanks Jimmy! I'll not likely bid either since it looks longer in the back. The drive shaft fit is critical in my car.

alfa 75 · #19 12-21-2007, 12:35 PM

Apotheoun, could you take some engine shots of the car if it's not too much trouble?

Apotheoun · #20 12-21-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Oh this is just great, a wonderful Christmas present for you to enjoy. I remember so well this tragedy about this car, and was one of the claque cheering you on and hoping you got her back on the road.

A lot of less aware and savvy people than you would have just given up.

It is a beauty, reborn, and at a time when cars like this are spiralling up in value as people realize the inherent goodness and intrinsic value in a good W126 Mercedes Benz diesel, in these times of rising fuel prices and interest in biodiesel.

Plus it is probably still a one-off, ultra-higly desirable manual shift conversion, making it highly covetable for just that reason by itself; a car that was WELL worth saving..

It's the PERFECT car for the times, though we never worked out what SDS ever meant - it is the only one that has ever been seen.

Just curious, how did the insurance issues work out? Does the car have a salvage title on it or not? Did you get a rental car, a fair bodily injury recovery, and any pain and suffering recovery for this?

Looks like you are gonna have a happy holiday, with this good news, but here is wishing you one anyway!!

Thanks so much Jim!

The insurance covered most of the costs with a few added expenses on top for clutch repair, etc. In a real sense it probably should have cost double than what I paid for all the work that went into this reconstruction. However Bill Ditmire is an honorable man and will keep his word on even a verbal contract. He said he would do it and he did it! By working with a new donor body with a clean title, we avoided the pitfalls of a salvage title. It has a normal clean title. The irony is I had to purchase the car twice!

I never got a rental, or did anything for pain and suffering. The mild wip-lash is faded away for now. That's all in the past. I bought a bicycle, dipping into part of the insurance, which became my main transportation for many following months. The exercise worked wonders and seemed to strengthen and heal my neck and upper back over 2,500 miles of riding.

Best holiday wishes to you as well!

Garth

Apotheoun · #21 12-21-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

And I thought there was only one resurrection in all of history. Can your SDS drive on water? I know my benzes seem to have healing powers with me.

I'm probably going to get struck by lightning after that joke

Hi Tyler,

I think you're okay and safe. From what I am gathering lately, it seems there were perhaps parallel preceding Easter and Christmas stories, B. C. (google zeitgeist, but this will probably get me into a lot of trouble here). As far as driving on water, I don't think I'll point the car into a flood if I can help it, but the tires are pretty good in the rain. It's a pretty ordinary car in that respect! Thanks.

Garth

Apotheoun · #22 12-21-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliveryValve

Garth,

That is awsome that you had the drive to make this car alive again! I was just wondering not too long ago what was happening to the SDS. I am glad to see it again. Get that SDS badge back on!

So the question I have is... officially is it still an '84 or is it now an '83?

Richard

Hi Richard, I just saw your related PM from some months back; I'm sorry it took this long for an answer! Officially the car is a new VIN and Title, and now a 1983, despite the '84 (and '74??) components. Thanks!

PS: Actually the '83 body is only two months older than the former '84 (a late '83).

Apotheoun · #23 12-21-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfa 75

Holy damn, I just saw this thread.. great looking car, I'm fascinated by the manual. A manual 300SD/L has been a crazy dream of mine for quite some time now. Do you know who did the conversion and what not? I wonder what you have to modify. Is it a pretty standard fit?

Hi Alfa, and thanks for your enthusiasm!

I don't actually know who did the first conversion. Since I already had the parts, they just bolted right up to the same car.

As far as a 300SDL conversion would go, I am not sure, since the engine and drive components are somewhat unrelated to the earlier cast iron head five's. There is a lot of thought planning and measuring twice involved before cutting. You will need to invent or create a home made rotational electronic pulse signal generator to run the speedometer, odometer, and cruise control, or you will have nothing to read on the dash.

This is the case with my conversion, which was finally made right. It formerly utilized a poorly hooked up 240D speedometer that was horribly inaccurate, and now it has a correct 300SD speedometer. To make it work though, Kurt had to invent a new signal generator by welding four magnets onto the drive shaft and attaching a nearby sensor, completely hand wrought. It works great, but nearly self destructed in the first two miles due to faulty clearances. The magnets are still bent over from the initial snafu, but work just fine. What a noisy racket that made!

I am busy till Christmas and it is raining outside, but I will take an engine shot in a week or so to reveal the conversion. The pneumatic relay is gone, among other things, on top the valve cover.

Good luck in your quest!

alfa 75 · #24 12-21-2007, 02:16 PM

An SDL is just wishful thinking at this point. So is an SD, actually, but hell, it's been done once apparently, no reason why it can't be done again.

Looking forward to the conversion photos, thanks a lot!

pj67coll · #25 12-21-2007, 02:24 PM

That's a fantastic looking car. That midnight blue is my favourite color for a 126. Particulaly the early ones with the non color-coded side mouldings. There's a 500SEL with the same colors where I live. I think they are just beautiful. Well done for resurrecting it. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

- Peter.

crashone · #26 12-21-2007, 04:39 PM

I remember the story here and have often wondered about this car. You have done an excellent job getting this back on the road!! Cool ride good luck!

Apotheoun · #27 12-21-2007, 08:41 PM

Thanks Peter and crashone!

To me the car looks much more expensive than what it cost. It was surprisingly affordable. The main thing is it feels so safe and sturdy, as a compliment to the classic style.

Apotheoun · #28 12-22-2007, 12:14 PM

I was wondering if an outside temperature indicator can be added to the instrument cluster? The first '84 SDS had one, but this '83 does not; there is nothing in the slot where it would be.

Thanks in advance.

crashone · #29 12-22-2007, 05:09 PM

I have wondered about installing one on my SD but it seems to me I was told you have to disassemble a lot of the dash and fenders to route the temp sensor wire. If any one has done this or has some better advice I would like to read up on it also. Thanks.