Coda, 1986 300SDL, the journey continues........ - Page 21 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #**301** 05-23-2010, 11:09 AM

Cool idea John. I just checked out eBay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-w126-Door-Rear-Speakers-420sel-560sel-560sec-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c10ed335fQQitemZ120543064927QQptZCarQ5fAudioQ5fVideo#ht_2918wt_941

Unfortunately, my MB budget is dry.

$120 isn't a bad price for those shipped.

I usually have my 2 and 4 year olds in the car with me and don't have the volume up much anyway. It would be nice though.

brandlj · #**302** 05-23-2010, 11:37 AM

The rear speakers are the ones that I found. I did not do the door speaker upgrade as it would mean getting later model door panels or cutting into my original panels. My 86 sdl came with just the 6 inch speaker in the rear deck and they were OK but the additional tweeters from the later model really made things nice. I would keep looking on E-bay. I believe I won an auction for just the two rear speakers at $25.00 plus shipping. They were worth it.
As for the subwoofer, all it added was some deep bass. There was a subtle change inside the car. There is so much insulation and your fuel tank in between the trunk and the interior. I do not play my music very loud, but I like to hear everything.
Keep up the good work on Coda!

Chad300tdt · #**303** 05-23-2010, 11:53 AM

Did you just swap the speakers and use the amp in the head unit or did you add an amp for those rear speakers?

vstech · #**304** 05-23-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Cool idea John. I just checked out eBay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-w126-Door-Rear-Speakers-420sel-560sel-560sec-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c10ed335fQQitemZ120543064927QQptZCarQ5fAudioQ5fVideo#ht_2918wt_941

Unfortunately, my MB budget is dry.

$120 isn't a bad price for those shipped.

I usually have my 2 and 4 year olds in the car with me and don't have the volume up much anyway. It would be nice though.

soooo, I should have pulled the speakers out of the SDL at the PNP? I was focused on seats, didn't pull the speakers... pooh!

Chad300tdt · #**305** 05-23-2010, 12:00 PM

Perhaps you could find some of the late model SEL rear deck speakers in your travels and bestow them on me for a good price?

EDIT: Bring them to my GTG in September and I'll make sure you get filled with good food and beverages as well.

brandlj · #**306** 05-23-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Did you just swap the speakers and use the amp in the head unit or did you add an amp for those rear speakers?

I used the internal amp in my Panasonic stereo. I am even still using the original fader in the console. My Panasonic is 50W per channel times 4. I have the subwoofer attached to the RCA low level out put jacks of the stereo, and then then I am utilizing the internal amp for the out put to the fader which then fades front to rear. I use the fader in the stereo to vary the sound level of the subwoofer. With the fader in the stereo to F9, all I have is the regular amp output to the speakers in the car. As I go to Rear3 or 4, I then get the bass coming in from the subwoofer.
I am sure there are audio purists that would cringe at the simpleness and cheapness of this audio setup but it rivals and beats the sound in my 2007 BMW 530i factory system.

Chad300tdt · #**307** 07-04-2010, 09:13 PM

Today I ordered some upper control arm assemblies and sway bar end bushings. They should be here Friday so I can install them this coming weekend and then get the front end aligned ... again.

It seems that after the lower ball joints were replaced, the upper ball joints couldn't handle the stress and gave out.

Hopefully this will be it for a while. I have a 3k mile trip in 2 weeks that I planned to do with this car.

Chad300tdt · #**308** 07-10-2010, 09:43 PM

The upper control arm assemblies are complete, but I discovered that I have to replace the tie rods now.

I also found a big mouse nest and some rust under the battery tray. The tray is rusted as well.

I just finished treating everything with marine clean and metal ready. Tomorrow I can coat it all with POR-15.

Hopefully the tie rods will get here Mon. or Tues. and I can get this thing back on the road.

Chad300tdt · #**309** 07-13-2010, 05:29 PM

All done!!! I took the SDL out for a test drive and MAN what a difference.

I'm dropping it off at the garage tonight and they're going to check over my work and do the alignment.

I also found that the wastegate hose was worn out and blowing oil around.

I replaced that and there's no longer an audible whistle when the turbo spools up.

Chad300tdt · #**310** 08-09-2010, 10:32 AM

On my recent road trip the AC blew fuse #5. Johnhef and mrelbe helped diagnose the problem and we believe the compressor clutch is the culprit.

I just ordered all the parts I need to do the suspension bearing bracket bushings and the guide rod bushings and mounts. Once I get those parts installed, I'll take it to my indie shop and get the front end aligned and have them repair the AC.

Chad300tdt · #**311** 08-17-2010, 03:13 PM

Today I'm replacing the lower control arm bushings, guide rod bushings, guide rod mounts and suspension bearing bracket bushings.

So far I have the coil springs removed and I'm getting ready to remove the lower control arm and suspension bearing bracket.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly. I'll post again when it's all done.

Chad300tdt · #**312** 08-19-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

Today I'm replacing the lower control arm bushings, guide rod bushings, guide rod mounts and suspension bearing bracket bushings.

So far I have the coil springs removed and I'm getting ready to remove the lower control arm and suspension bearing bracket.

Hopefully everything goes smoothly. I'll post again when it's all done.

The SDL is complete.

I took it out for a test drive today and it sounded like the coil springs were seating in better at first. Then it seemed fine and there's no more front end shudder during braking and no more clunks. The guide rod mounts were completely beat and torn completely around. The bushings in the suspension bearing bracket were pretty bad too.

I have an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday to have the front end work double checked and aligned and have the AC fixed.

Chad300tdt · #**313** 09-25-2010, 07:23 PM

I fixed the trunk light which was due to broken wires at the trunk hinge.

The AC is fixed as well, although it was unfortunately converted to 134a by the shop I took it to even though I asked that it remain R12.

Oh well, it still works pretty good.

There was still a mystery clunk after I rebuilt the front end and it turned out to be the driver side motor mount 8mm bolt. It was cross threaded and only screwed in about half way.

Today I replaced the motor mount arm and 8mm bolt and the clunk is gone. (thanks for the tip 79Mercy

)

I also overhauled the rear brakes since the rotors were warped, the hoses were swelled shut and the inside half of both calipers were siezed.

Coda received new calipers, pads, rotors, hoses and e-brake shoes (which were down to metal). Then I flushed and bled the brakes. Good thing too, the fluid was brown with black grit in it and it looked milky.

No clunks and smooth strong brakes. Next project is to hook up the keyless entry with flip key.

brandlj · #**314** 09-25-2010, 09:17 PM

I sure do enjoy the updates! My poor 86 sdl has been sitting in the garage all summer as my A/C went out in late June and this has been the hottest summer since 1936. I have been ordering and receiving all of the parts I need which include a compressor, drier, and expansion valve. New cans of R134A freon, as my compressor is set up for R134A and my expansion valve says R134A on the side of it. I have some Refrigerant line cleaner, a vacuum pump and assorted seals. I am now waiting for the weather to cool off so that I can actually get to work without having a heat stroke in my garage.
My KLIMA worked as it was supposed to, because when the compressor seized, it immediately shut off the compressor clutch. That saved my serpentine belt.
Here comes a question, my 86 has the single aux fan in front of the condensor, but I have a very nice set of dual fans from the 350sd and 350sdl sitting in the attic. Has anyone converted from the single fan to the dual fans and has this helped A/C efficiency at all?
I also have to remove my instrument cluster as my odometer and trip meter have stopped working. I figure the gears must have given up the ghost. Opinion? send it off to be fixed or order the gears and DIY?
Thanks for the input and am looking forward to getting my car back on the road.
Don't feel bad for me over this hot summer though, I drove the 07 BMW 530i every day instead of just a day or two per week. Unfortunately my warranty expired on the 530i and I decided on an American Muscle car. I now have a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 as my daily driver. First American car in over 30 years. Most of the suspension and drive train except for the motor is Mercedes E-Class so I still have some German blood in my ride!

sixto · #**315** 09-25-2010, 09:40 PM

The dual fans can only help but they won't make up for a bad fan clutch.

While you're working on the AC system, get a can of evaporator cleaner and clean as much as you can with the blower removed. Something like this -

http://www.amazon.com/FJC-5914-Foaming-Evaporator-Cleaner/dp/B002EAKX88

Sixto
87 300D

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