Not that this is the source for the noises, but while the injectors are out, change the glow plugs and ream the holes if they haven't been changed lately.

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Brad
1981 300TD - daily driver
1963 Chevy II
2001 F-250 7.3 Power Stroke

The frequency will allow you to diagnose more accurately which part or parts are involved. If we know the engine speed, we know the rate of all moving parts and their time based actions.

I am concerned about the vacuum pump.. but I am not jumping to conclusions.

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Did that one last year. Good call though!

So bro; worst case scenario... what does fixing that bearing entail? It's probably something I'd leave to a pro... just wondering how involved the repair is.

There's no doubt this thing needed some serious TLC.

100% of the valves were too tight. I got up early this morning (before I had to run the kids to daycare) and did the valve adjustment. The nice thing was that since I had my injectors and lines pulled out I didn't need those fancy offset wrenches! Just a regular pair of 14mm's did the trick!

Anyway, valve adjustment was loooong overdue.

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

It doesn't sound like it's coming from the pump. I recently replaced it anyway and it's been fantastic so far. The first time I just "repaired" it, but apparently I overtightened something inside that caused the center of the pump housing to bust out! I ran to the pick a part and robbed a new (old) one and re-used my brand new check valves.

Unfortunately at the moment my tach is inoperable. I'm this close to sending Mr. Myers $46 for one of his awesome new ones.

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

Nearly finished installing new injectors/nozzles. The amount of crud under the heat shield in the injector cavity was INSANE! I'll put up a pic of it here in a few mins.

Might it help you guys identify the clank if I take a high quality recording (using a nice condenser mic) and slow it down? I could post both the normal speed and slow speed. This is assuming I will still have the problem after the maintenance I'm doing right now....

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

Woot!

Done!!!

How about this?? Does that look normal? Ha!

Substantially nasty in there. Anyway, it's all clean now. One big difference (probably due to valve adjustment) is the engine sounded MUCH tighter during cranking. Given that I replaced the injector nozzles, I had the pleasure of hearing it crank for quite some time.

Bad news; the clang is still there. I seem to remember my idle speed being just under 1000rpm, and the clang happens 10-12 times in 3 seconds. Any ideas? (please don't be a bearing... please don't be a bearing!)

Where would this worn bearing be located? I assume somewhere below the piston? I'm going to go check my FSM to see if there's an exploded engine view. I'm just a shadetree guy and I've never done any major engine work so please excuse the ignorance. Hey, we all start somewhere right??

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09

GONE!!!

I just road tested the old beauty and BAM!! Sounds awesome!

Before I got the maintenance done, I had taken her down the highway a few times at 65+ for about 5 mins each time. Upon returning home (overall 10 min trip) the clank would start.

Well gents, I just performed the test again after the valve adjustment and nozzle replacement and was a bit discouraged at first. After a couple revs in the driveway, the clank returned (faintly).... now after I sort of "broke it in", she sounds better than ever! Better still, the Darth Vader syndrome is nearly all gone.

I found a couple other issues: 1) She's running hot (near 100 mark. Used to run a tick above 80). I suppose this is because she hasn't been driven much in the last year and a half... maybe needs a new thermostat. Then again it could be because it's over 100 degrees out here in Houston today! 2) Whining sound coming from the power steering pump area... could be vacuum pump... who knows... 3) I have a BIG vacuum leak somewhere. I bypassed my 3/2 valves hoping to improve the vacuum problem, but that only made it worse. Shifting is crazy right now! Shifting at 3/4 throttle is pretty good; less than that is all whacky. 5) I think she needs a new turbo. Anyone ever rebuilt one of these?

Does anyone have experience reducing the amount of smoke coming out from under the air cleaner? I guess my blowby is now bad enough to make it seem like there's a fire under that thing. If I remember right there's a tube under there with an O ring on it than jams into another tube down to the oil pan. I'll start with a new O ring and see what that does for me.


BOTTOM LINE: I was seriously considering selling the old beast until this situation started improving today. Then I remembered how much sweat and love I've put into this beautiful car... not to mention that the w123 is the best looking car ever made! If I do ever sell this one I'd just replace it with another w123. Everyone in my family thinks that stupid, but what do I care?

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'90 300SE --- 173k miles --- (Odometer just stopped working!)

'85 Cali 300D --- 193500 miles --- (Second one) Sold Nov '10

'82 300TDT --- 236,xxx miles --- (My first one) Sold July '09