I got my new air cleaner bracket in the mail, immediately went to put it in, but it doesn't fit! I can get the three bolts on the top side of it in, but that means the bolt for the bottom isn't lined up and vise versa. Then went to see if the air cleaner could be set on, and even that doesn't line up right. This should be a 15 minute fix, but I'm on my second hour of trying, mostly making sure I'm not just making some dumb mistake. But no, it simply doesn't fit. Has anybody else had this issue?

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1981 300SD, odometer stopped at 188,000

how does it compare to the old one?

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Cheers,
Robert

It looks exactly the same to me, if there are any differences it's too subtle to my eyes.

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1981 300SD, odometer stopped at 188,000

After a frustrated walk to the store and back, plus a few beers the air cleaner was able to fit on. Huh... Still though, the bottom bolt hole will not line up for the life of me. And without this bolt in, the air cleaner still shakes around and knocks against the part next to it. Bleh... At least us Oregonians get to enjoy perfect weather today!

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1981 300SD, odometer stopped at 188,000

On the new one I bought, there are two holes for each of the three mounting bolts, I was able to line it up.

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83 SD

84 CD

I had that issue too. The crappy fixtures they use to weld those together with don't quite line up with the holes in the engine - so the bracket doesn't fit right. I put bolts in loosely through the lowest hole and one of the upper ones, then leaned on the bracket until the other hole lined up. Then I tightened all three bolts and everything is fine.

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1984 300TD