Based on what you saw, do you think there is a way to connect the two control arms/rear suspension so that I can tow the car (all 4 wheels on teh ground) to the scrapyard? I'm pulling the rear diff out of a '79 280CE to put in my 300CD after the 4sp conversion.

I'm open to suggestions, but hope I won't have to do any fabrication to make it work. The tow will be about 15 miles so I can just drag it either. I'm guessing I'll have to pull the rear springs as I'll be fighting them in the process, but haven't looked that closely at what else will be necessary. This will all be done next week in the evenings and/or next Saturday morning FYI.

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-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

You will not be able to tow the car without a differential or some other structure to hold the subframe A-arms in place. Otherwise, the wheels will retreat so far into the wheel wells that the car will drag on its frame and the interior ends of the sub frame.

You may be able to get by using a tow dolly with the rear of the car on the dolly, but you'd have to go really slow because the front ends of these cars are pretty loose.

Perhaps you could tow the car to the scrapyard first and then remove the differential there?

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Exactly my experience.

The rear subframe is attached at three points, and one is the diff case.
You may be able to fab a bracket to hold the subframe up by attaching said bracket to the diff mount.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

we thought of it but then thought.. well.. if its going to be draggin they might not like that on their scale... but so far its the only idea that will work

Got a PM from a forum member with a solution...it'll be rigged, but it worked for them...so I'll keep my mouth shut...until I've attempted it and it works. The tow vehicle is a '94 Caprice Wagon with an LT1 and T56 so I'll have plenty of power...but not if I'm draggin' azz all the way there.

__________________
-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

lemme know when you want to do this... I've got tons of free time..

Jack up the two axles until they are level and square both up and down and front and back. Weld the axles together with angle iron or a pipe slipped over the axles or 2 flat bars. Use 7018 low/hi rods since the axles are high carbon steel. If you are only towing it a few miles at low speed it should get you there.

Perhaps the axles could be taken out to save them, and then chain the hubs together with about six feet of strong chain. You'd need to tow slowly though, because when the car bounced up, coming down it would snap the chain tight again.



Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

If you need a "plan B" I have a tow dolly you are welcome to use.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

why not tow it safe and remove the diff at the yard?

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I've thought about that first, but don't know if they yard will let me do that...as it's a dirt lot basically and I like to be under the car on concrete for stability. Last time I was there they already had about a dozen cars ahead of me so they come off as a "stack it high, watch it fly" type of place and don't have time for that. I'll call next week and see, but the solution presented to me sounds safer than anything offered so far...other than the dolly. I'll report back next week on the results.

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-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

um, why not put the bad dif in the junk car...?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

the Diff in the 300CDR(roadster) is currently in use... soooooooooooooooo I think it would be wise to keep it in there.. plus its still good...

the only issue that we have is the diff supports the rear subframe and etc...

my solution


massive quanties of duct tape

bungie cord?

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Find a new friend with a flat bed. Is it that expensive to pay for a flat bed to tow it 15 miles?

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys