I Got a New Toy - W115 1976 300D
 

I saw this car on CL and I went to see it this past weekend. At first I turned it down but I had a change of heart. I thought about all of its issues and decided that they weren't to major, so I went back on Wednesday nice and bought it. The car is almost rust free, there is some bubbling on the left c-pillar and some on the right rear wheel well. There is no rust under the doors, fenders, sunroof, around the windows, in the trunk, on the firewall, or the floor.

When I got it the throttle was only opening up 1/2 way with the pedal on the floor and the pedal would not return, I had to pull it back up with my foot. I fixed that today, the pivot on the right side of the block under the exhaust manifold was rusted and not moving freely. Now the pedal returns and opens the IP all the way. IMO its pretty fast for NA 617, I was expecting it to be a LOT slower.

The carpet is nice, the seats need new pads, the dash has a small crack in it at the speaker cover.

This weekend im going to do a much needed valve adjustment since it hasn't ever had one:eek: I might do a diesel purge too.

It needs a steering coupling, tie rods, tires, and a sway bar link and I would say it's ready for the road.

I will be posting pics and other info as I try to return this car to its former glory.

Here are some pics of it now, I need to start working on polishing the paint when I get done with the mechanicals.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture340.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture338.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...Picture343.jpg

Looks like a good one

SWEET!

welcome to the dark side


bring it to the gtg on the 15th.. do it!

sweet it has a Racor filter


you planning on upgrading the glow plugs as well?

^^I'll try to bring it. I gotta replace the tires and tie rods. After that it should make it to the GTG, if not your going to come get me where I break down, LOL.

lol we'll see.

those injector return lines be needin replacin. body looks beautiful.

Not too shabby at all. Pierre will like it. A nice W115 is very hard to find- I have been looking for a nice 220 or 240D W115 for years.

I'm not sure how the steering coupling is constructed on the W115, but if it is like the W116 you can rebush it yourself rather than replace it. And if the column is like a W116 (and it appears to be from the inside) you can pull the steering wheel with shaft towards the passenger compartment and avoid having to drop the steering box.

Rick

I do indeed like, it Rick.
I was thinking about you the other day. Where have you been?

Joe,
the glow plugs are fine.

Beautiful car, great color (except for the oil-colored engine).
Always had a soft spot for the W115, but they're almost impossible to find without rust. A 300D is powerful enough to make it practical as well.

If it feels good now, I'll bet it will feel amazing once you adjust the throttle linkage properly and do the valves. A diesel purge can't hurt, but probably won't solve anything. After rebuilding my injectors, I'd recommend anyone with original injectors do it at this point. So much smoother. A N/A needs all the power it can get, especially on the highway.

thats hilarious my 75 w115 had a gators sticker on the windshield when i bought it but yours deffinetly looks a lot better than mine did when i bought it i just finished restoring all the rust and giving it a fresh paint job...now all you need is a 4 speed from a 240 i ended up doing the swap from auto to manunal the second week i owned mine..auto transmission is so sluggish, with manual its a whole new car..

About the steering coupler....
 

I have replaced the coupler on my '76 300D and cannot not see any way of completing the process without dropping the steering box. Working from the left wheel well; it's not that bad of a job........about half way up my pain in the rear scale.

The act of actually R&Ring the coupler is super simple but it's amazing how tedious it is hold up that dense chunk of metal with one hand and get the fasteners started with the other when putting it all back together.

Budget 2 solid hours and three busted knuckles.

Beautiful W115, BTW. I wish mine were as nice. If it is indeed as quick as you describe; perform an exhaustive search for a JATO rocket stuffed somewhere up its arse. Though fairly ugly; mine is in a good state of tune and my wife describes its forward progress as "lumbering." Perpetually relaxed, I say.

Very Nice, beautiful color! Is it english red?

I had read your description of the car on another thread and I'm surprised how nice it is!

Diesel Purge worked great in my new 83 300D. Car is smoother and responds better.

Nice, Congrats!