I'm an idiot.

What started out as just a valve adjustment and compression test ended up as a fuel filter replacement, new primer pump, and an emptied/patched fuel tank. Instead of doing the tasks one at a time, I did them all over the course of a week while awaiting parts to finish one or the other task.


Needless so say, pretty much every fuel hose has been disconnected and left that way for a few days.

Since I got it all back together, it's been difficult to start, belches a bit of white smoke at idle, has some nailing, shakes, and leaves a cloud of black smoke when I'm on the pedal.

The clear fuel filter has a fairly good sized bubble, for what it's worth.

I've removed the valve cover and rechecked the valves and the adjustment appears fine. The PO replaced the fuel injectors and engine mounts. He also said there was no timing chain stretch. Compression is 300ish across all cylinders and I removed/replaced the old injector washers. New fuel filters and no crud was found in the tank when I patched a wee hole. There doesn't seem to be any abnormal sounds coming from the vacuum pump.

I've read that injector timing can cause a lot of these same symptoms. However, I don't think that I've done anything to alter it...at least not knowingly.

Could I be mistaken?

Although I don't see any leaking diesel, could it be possible that somehow air's getting into the lines? Given that I've replaced the filters, hand pump, and had the fuel lines off, which are the most likely culprits? Was there perhaps an O ring or something that I might have neglected?

The nearest European specialist is an hour an a half away and my regular mechanic won't touch it. He previously got burned on a bad injector pump install that set him back quite a bit of time and money. So, I'm on my own here in WV.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.