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  #1  
Old 01-14-2009, 11:09 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
300SDL Resurrection

It's time I started this thread. I bought a 1986 300SDL on eBay in the winter of 2002-2003.



This was the sale picture of the car. It was non-running. All I really knew was the engine was blown. I had the car delivered and I trailered it up to my moms farm (we can't have non-running non-registered cars here) for later disassembly. The exterior of the car looks great. The paint is in like-new condition. However, the interior was very worn. The springs were shot in both seats, and the texture was worn off the steering wheel. My suspicions were confirmed. I don't think this car has 216k miles on it. I think it is more like 316k.



In June of 2003 I took out the engine and trans. Here is the engine out on on a stand. You can see a LOT of oil all over, and a hole in the block where the number 6 piston resides. In fact, you can see the big-end of the connecting rod in the hole. I took most of the engine apart and later that year I had the transmission rebuilt by a shop in Cummins, Georgia.

Most of the next 5 years were spent on construction projects and acquiring parts. First, I needed a block. A nice forum member donated a block wich I had shipped from Oregon. I got a whole piston set for less than $1000 on ebay and I also acquired all the seats and door panels from a '91 560SEL and a replacement carpet set. It looks like I'll be rebuilding the interior as well as the drivetrain.



I brought the car back home this fall so I could work on it here. First, I washed out the engine bay.



This summer I had the block resleeved and the crankshaft reconditioned. Then I got busy with rebuilding the engine in a 240D my son bought. Now that that one is done, I can get to this one. I put the engine on my engine stand last weekend and now I'm getting my connecting rods ready. I was missing an end-cap and another nice forum member sent me some. Now I;m mating pieces together and with some grinding tomorrow, will get 6 balanced connecting rods.

It appears that the engine was rebuilt for, or by the previous owner and the conrod end-cap came off. I don't know why. The bolts didn't break. There's nothing in the threads, which means they both loosened up and came off. Looking at the number on the connecting rods and end caps, it also looks like it was assembled with parts from multiple engines. Lucky me, they used a #22 head.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)


Last edited by mplafleur; 01-14-2009 at 11:15 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-15-2009, 12:01 AM
JimmyL's Avatar
Rogue T Intolerant!!!
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Sunnyvale, Texas (DFW)
Posts: 9,675
I look forward to following this thread. Keep the pics coming, it looks like a worthy car to redo!
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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
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  #3  
Old 01-15-2009, 03:24 AM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
Those look like WA plates. Keep up the good work
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
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  #4  
Old 01-20-2009, 08:10 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Since I was waiting for engine parts, I decided to drive up to the farm and pick up the seats from a '91 560SEL that I bought 4 or 5 years ago. I got them and then took out the old broken down ones that were in the car. Here is a comparison of the front passenger seats.



This is the area of the car with the seat removed. You can see the four bolt locations. I've cleaned this area up a little. I found some change and a fuel receipt from April 2002. Maybe the last time this car was running.



You need to be able to move the seat up to get at the rear bolts for removal. The same with the fron ones. It helps to move the seal back. I used a 10.. socket with a universal joint. While the rear bolts are angled, you still can't get a straight shot at them.
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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #5  
Old 01-20-2009, 08:16 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
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These are the new and old driver seats. I like the newer style. They are very comfortable and offer a lot of support. Time will tell though since I haven't driven in one of these yet. The old seat had 4 broken springs and one of the broken springs had cut through a wire bundle underneath. I bet something didn't work. The new seats are heated, although I haven't hooked them up yet.



This is the driver side area for the seat. Same as the passenger side except for one additional connector, which thankfully were the same on both versions. I have new carpet for this car, but will change that out when warm weather returns.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #6  
Old 01-20-2009, 08:22 PM
71inka02
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 286
WOW - that's a nice looking car...should be great ride when complete - look forward to following it's resurrection!

Are those standard wheels for the 86?
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71Inka02

62 W121 190DB - Original CA/AZ Car - Excellent Example
99 E300 Turbo Diesel - 362,000...Awesome Daily Driver
01 E320 Wagon - 297,xxx (wife's work car)
01 E320 Wagon - 131,000
02 Land Rover Disco SE- 110,000
87 BMW 325is (E30) Full Restore - Son's
06 Mini Cooper 'S' - Son's
87 Toyota FJ60 Land Cruiser - Showroom Condition - 152,000

84 300D - 142,xxx :cool - "Sold"
83 300D-"Sold" - 211,456
85 300SD-"Sold" - 213,789
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  #7  
Old 01-20-2009, 08:27 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
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Here is the final product.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #8  
Old 01-20-2009, 08:32 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 71inka02 View Post
WOW - that's a nice looking car...should be great ride when complete - look forward to following it's resurrection!

Are those standard wheels for the 86?
Thanks. And no. I think standard was the square/rectangular slotted ones.
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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #9  
Old 01-20-2009, 09:09 PM
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Diesel Dean
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Canterbury CT
Posts: 204
I am a bit green with envy. My 87 has the burgundy interior and it too has been rode hard and put up wet. I would love to freshen it up but the funding is drying up quickly. I would even consider changing it over to all black, if it meant i could find all the pieces for the right price. Mine is also in need of some body work.

<<<<<<
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  #10  
Old 01-20-2009, 09:57 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Wow.....maybe I'll get to see this car at a Michigan meetup sometime! Nice!!
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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  #11  
Old 01-20-2009, 10:12 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
Wow.....maybe I'll get to see this car at a Michigan meetup sometime! Nice!!
Yeah, I've not had anything nice enough that I'd want to be seen in yet. I've been waiting until I get this thing done. Adam's a hard one to compete with!
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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #12  
Old 01-20-2009, 10:24 PM
Hit Man X's Avatar
I LOVE BRUNETTES
 
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Location: FUNKYTOWN
Posts: 9,087
Thumbs up

Didn't we trade some 603 parts for some booze?
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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.
[/IMG]
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  #13  
Old 01-20-2009, 10:29 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hit Man X View Post
Didn't we trade some 603 parts for some booze?
We might have. I had to acquire a lot of parts for this project over so many years I've forgotten where most came from.

You in Hell, Michigan? I can arrange it. I bought the instrument cluster for my Harley there.
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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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  #14  
Old 01-20-2009, 10:30 PM
Hit Man X's Avatar
I LOVE BRUNETTES
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: FUNKYTOWN
Posts: 9,087
Thumbs up

Quote:
Originally Posted by mplafleur View Post
We might have. I had to acquire a lot of parts for this project over so many years I've forgotten where most came from.

You in Hell, Michigan? I can arrange it. I bought the instrument cluster for my Harley there.


Further south.
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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.
[/IMG]
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  #15  
Old 01-20-2009, 10:32 PM
mplafleur's Avatar
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Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hit Man X View Post
Further south.
I remember!

Did you enjoy the bottle?

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

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