Jimmy drove up yesterday in his beautiful white TD and delivered a set of tail lights. After looking at Jimmy's wagon mine is looking more like a $500 one.
There's lots of work to do to the exterior, starting with a little body work in order to install the left light.
Jimmy pointed out a crack in the front fender well. It looks as if the top of the shock came loose and punched the sheet metal from undeneath. I've seen this same damage on another W123. What the heck happened???

Chad, the "Bumbo" is great. Sarah seems to enjoy sitting in it watching everything going on.

BTW, I believe Jimmy was more interested in her than looking over the TD.

Welcome to the wagon club, Dan. That's a cute baby ya got there, too. The inside of your wagon looks a lot better than mine does.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I would be too ... your wagon will probably last long enough for Sarah to drive it. She on the other hand will be changing quickly.

Good luck with the "restoration" and I look forward to updated pics along the way.

__________________
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

Thanks. I really need to start taking and posting decent size pics myself.

This morning I straightened the tailight area, sanded it down, applied some 'metal prep' and epoxy primer. I'm going to let my body shop guy do the filler work. At least the tail light fits nice now and its sealed.
Dang Jimmy, no bulbs?

I may have it ready to pass inspection tomorrow. Still need to flush the coolant, change the oil and check the valve clearance. While Jimmy was here I found an empty can of "Trans-X" under the passenger seat. I hope that's not a sign of transmission trouble. Maybe a test drive tomorrow, when all the lights are working, will be trouble free.

I told Dan and Tab that my wagon was a good 10-20 footer. Dan's wagon can claim the 20-25 foot designation. No worries with the appearance of his new "very cost effective" wagon.
The undercarriage looked great also!


BTW, the tear was more like one of the seams of the driver's side shock tower. Both had some kind of "bump" that looked like it could only be from the upper control arm. His other W123 had a bump there also.
The tear will have to be dealt with. Engine looked awesome!! Sounded great too. And I usually try never to cuss, but damn, I have never YET seen an OM616 or OM617 with less blowby. The loosened cap doesn't even MOVE!!



Boy, sure didn't keep her from crying after I held her for awhile, but we'll blame that on a wet diapee. Expertly changed on the rear seat of a W126 {that was still thawing out}


I'm a slacker! Never looked.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Jimmy drove up yesterday and brought me a few small parts I needed for the wagon. Last week I noticed during a short run down the alley the car never shifted out of first gear.
Yesterday, Jimmy gave me some pointers on vacuum routing so, after repairing a broken vac tee I whipped out the mity vac and did some checks. Vacuum to the trannie modulator valve looks good now and drops as the throttle is increased so, we took her for a short test drive.
First... there's second gear... hear comes thiirrrrd (slight flare). We turned around at the end of the block and headed the other way. This time it did a little better at shifting but went into forth just after the third shift.

Back in the drive we briefly checked the SLS and worked on the tail light installation. We found intermittant turn signals and brake lights. Jimmy had to leave at that point and did so with a heavier load than he came with. It seems he has a thing for old fans.

Cleaning up all the fuse contacts fixed all the electrical issues.
With the oil change and coolant flush felt it was roadworthy so, off a went on a longer run this time. Within three or four blocks the transmission shifts better. In the four miles I noticed the NA engine has plenty of power and the chassis is very tight. It handles well with no rattles or play at all in the suspension. Brakes are a bit weak and feel like they could use bleeding. Time to flush the old brake fluid anyway. Not too bad for a car that has been sitting for over ten years. It sure feels like it only has 56K miles.

I'm going to try a little color sanding with 2000 grit to see if I can improve the scuffed paint. Maybe post a pic later today.

Here are a few pics Dan asked me to post. Man has he poured himself into that wagon in a very short time! It has come a long way in a couple weeks, and the low mileage is amazing.
I can't wait to drive it and see how it feels compared to my wagon and also how much it was like the old smoker {may he rip} The Flash was an '80 also, and like Dan says there isn't a thing wrong with an NA OM617.
Here is the el-cheepo wagon: {what a deal!!!}







Man I wish my back seat was that firm looking.

Can't wait to see it again. Guess I need to think of an excuse to go back to Dans......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

That's the good side. The other side didn't 'buff out' so nice. I could use a rear driver's side door. It's pretty rough due to a previous botched up repair leading to rust near the bottom.

I'm headed out to get it inspected this morning. I did discover a fluid leaking (more of a seep) from the CV boot just right of the diff. I thought it was a SLS leak from above dripping down but don't see anything up there leaking.

It's looking good Dan. Good luck with the inspection and the weeping CV boot.

vstech is parting out some TD's ... NC may be too far for a door ($hipping), but if you can't find one locally it's an option.

Looks like I'm in trouble... anybody need any 123/126 parts?

Don't forget to tighten up those nets.

__________________
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

Thanks Chad. Lots of searching here about wagons kept finding your work.
I'm unsure about the weeping CV. The fluid smells like either diff or SLS oil. Is the axle stub going into the pumpkin open allowing 90wt to the cv?

My bodyshop guy says he can fabricate and weld a new bottom piece in the door. I hate to be without it for who knows how long though so, I'll drive it as is 'till I'm ready to get it painted.

I don't believe the diff oil can pass through into the CV boot. There is a grease inside the boot, not oil. My wagon came with reman Axles so I haven't needed to get into that stuff yet. I also have read that the oil in the diff will smell pretty bad unless it's been replaced recently.

If the SLS lines are leaking, they will only leak when the valve is activated unless the leak is really big. My SLS lines were weeping under the subframe until they finally let loose. Once the hole was all the way through the line, fluid would shoot out like a squirt gun when the lever was in the fill position.

__________________
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

I think there is more of an oil in the cv boots and not grease. At least factory ones. Or am I high......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Maybe it gets like oil once it's in use?

__________________
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

Double checked all the fluids before I left this morning for the journey to the ranch then inspection station.
It took just over eight gallons to fill her up. Must have been a decent amount of old fuel in the tank. Set the trip to see what the first tank mileage looks like.
It drove very smooth as I gradually pushed it up to around 65mph where it kept up with the flow of traffic effortlessly. I discovered the cruise is inop... oh well.

At the ranch I was greeted by several MB enthusiast of the bovine flavor.
I believe they approved 'till one spotted the evil servo. Another little guy checked out the CV leak underneath.
Twenty eight miles into the trip the odometer rolls over the 57K.
The inspection passed and I was on my way back this time with the AC on cruising at 70mph. Although the AC works well it's not the meat locker my W126 is( just as Jimmy warned me).

Hope these pics come thru.

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:d

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