new purchase, 1 dollar 240 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JB3 · #1 01-01-2012, 01:39 PM

new years eve my friends 240 suffered a B2 automatic transmission failure on her daily driver she has been driving for 7 years. This was the straw that broke the camels back unfortunately.

I was in the car at the time, I have never experienced one of these failures in person, but it sure was sudden and surprising. Crested the top of a long steep grade, and stopped at a light, at which point, the car never moved forward under its own power again. Reverses just fine. No noise, no nothing, just stopped moving, like turning off a light switch

She said she was done with it, so she gave it to me for a buck. here it is-

Its pretty solid body wise, has some general rust, but no major problems. My plan is the resolve the transmission issue, drive it around for the winter, then offer it back to her for the value of any parts I put on it since I know she secretly loves this car.

First order of business is to get rid of this atrocious automatic transmission. IMO no 240 should ever have come with an automatic tranny.

Biodiesel300TD · #2 01-01-2012, 01:43 PM

I'd buy that for a dollar!

Nice score.

Get that auto out of there. A manual 240 is the way to go.

Stretch · #3 01-01-2012, 01:46 PM

Nice purchase - and nice way of fixing it up for her on the quiet.

But can she drive stick?

Stevo · #4 01-01-2012, 04:06 PM

I bought a 240 once for a buck and when I went to the court house to transfer title they told me I had to pay tax on the blue book value but IF it had been a 'gift" there would be no tax. I went back and got a receipt for a "gift". I let the guy keep my buck

JB3 · #5 01-01-2012, 05:12 PM

way ahead of ya,

already have a printed and filled out "affidavit of gift of motor vehicle", just need to get the bill of sale done up that says the same.

She has driven my 74 to learn, which is not nice to learners with its sloppy shifter, and impossible to easily restart pull knob, but did pretty well.

Trying to clear the lift tonight to get this automatic out.

I have two transmission options for this car, an iron 4-speed, and a cast aluminum 4-speed. Unfortunately, I don't have either of the shifters, will any 4-speed shifter work on either the iron or cast aluminum?

Trying to source one out of the west coast right now

Stevo · #6 01-01-2012, 05:40 PM

I'm pretty sure the same shifter is used in both boxs. All I remember doing is changing rods when switching trannys.

I had to drive about 150 miles back to the PO place to get my affidavit

, we learn by doing

Stretch · #7 01-02-2012, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

way ahead of ya,

already have a printed and filled out "affidavit of gift of motor vehicle", just need to get the bill of sale done up that says the same.

She has driven my 74 to learn, which is not nice to learners with its sloppy shifter, and impossible to easily restart pull knob, but did pretty well.

Trying to clear the lift tonight to get this automatic out.

I have two transmission options for this car, an iron 4-speed, and a cast aluminum 4-speed. Unfortunately, I don't have either of the shifters, will any 4-speed shifter work on either the iron or cast aluminum?

Trying to source one out of the west coast right now

If you get really stuck - let me know - I've recently helped someone else with that problem. Unfortunately (as you know) the shipping costs make me a kind of expensive option. Think about $65 - $80... eeeeeek!

vstech · #8 01-01-2012, 06:41 PM

I"ve got a complete aluminum 240 transmission setup available...

JB3 · #9 01-01-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I"ve got a complete aluminum 240 transmission setup available...

With the driveshaft or front section of it?

Pmed you about this

vstech · #10 01-01-2012, 08:58 PM

yup, got it all. I'll respond to the PM with details, tomorrow.

piccolovic · #11 01-01-2012, 09:53 PM

Drop . . . been watching this forum for awhile and I have to chuckle at your luck!!!! You're one lucky B****** . . . . LOL. Midas touch when it comes to inheriting MBZs . . . LOL. Good luck with your new acquisition, and I think you're paying it forward with your offer to let her have it back for cost. Keep up the lessons with the manual tranny training!!!

JB3 · #12 01-01-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolovic

Drop . . . been watching this forum for awhile and I have to chuckle at your luck!!!! You're one lucky B****** . . . . LOL. Midas touch when it comes to inheriting MBZs . . . LOL. Good luck with your new acquisition, and I think you're paying it forward with your offer to let her have it back for cost. Keep up the lessons with the manual tranny training!!!

Lol, we are on the same page if we both consider an immobile 30 year old paperweight as a lucky break!

. Intead of the normal reaction of "why the heck would you want that ol broken rusty car?"

This was pretty fortuious though, I just spent about a month fixing up an old vw wagon for my winter vehicle, and just this last week have been forced to pull the head to resolve a number of broken manifold studs. Was supposed to be cheap transportation, and it turned into a big project that doesn't run.

There are some further issues with the car, looks like it need all new boots on the rear axles, a pair of front tires, and some suspension repair up front. Inside, the driver seat springs are broken, and you can't turn off the blower. Ill know more once I get it inside for real

texcl · #13 10-17-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

Lol, we are on the same page if we both consider an immobile 30 year old paperweight as a lucky break!

. Intead of the normal reaction of "why the heck would you want that ol broken rusty car?"

This was pretty fortuious though, I just spent about a month fixing up an old vw wagon for my winter vehicle, and just this last week have been forced to pull the head to resolve a number of broken manifold studs. Was supposed to be cheap transportation, and it turned into a big project that doesn't run.

There are some further issues with the car, looks like it need all new boots on the rear axles, a pair of front tires, and some suspension repair up front. Inside, the driver seat springs are broken, and you can't turn off the blower. Ill know more once I get it inside for real

Man I've been there. I bought a 1980 VW dasher with a 1.5 diesel. she ran pretty well but I decided I would change the timing belt and install new gp's and injectors. All went well and after I timed her up was running so much better I had have my wife come out and look. Well she took about 30 extra minutes to come out so for no good reason I locked the IP with the little tool and was checking something, I honestly don't have a clue what I was thinking. Well my wife shows up and starts talking to me and I hop in to start her and hit the ignition only to hear the pistons contacting the valves. I had forgotten to take the IP locking tool out and the belt skipped time, hence the valve to piston collision. Man was I upset. The pistons were ok thank goodness but the valves were tweeked so I had to install a rebuilt head on her. All that (including the injectors ect..) got me into the $700 range. Then the IP started leaking, so I resealed the unit ( did it myself). the nthe shock went bad then the engine block heater went bad, then the water pump went bad then the starter went bad, and the vacuum pump and the battery and it just went on and on. Finally I sold her. The new owner has put like 60k on her without spending a penny

.

JB3 · #14 10-17-2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texcl

Man I've been there. I bought a 1980 VW dasher with a 1.5 diesel. she ran pretty well but I decided I would change the timing belt and install new gp's and injectors. All went well and after I timed her up was running so much better I had have my wife come out and look. Well she took about 30 extra minutes to come out so for no good reason I locked the IP with the little tool and was checking something, I honestly don't have a clue what I was thinking. Well my wife shows up and starts talking to me and I hop in to start her and hit the ignition only to hear the pistons contacting the valves. I had forgotten to take the IP locking tool out and the belt skipped time, hence the valve to piston collision. Man was I upset. The pistons were ok thank goodness but the valves were tweeked so I had to install a rebuilt head on her. All that (including the injectors ect..) got me into the $700 range. Then the IP started leaking, so I resealed the unit ( did it myself). the nthe shock went bad then the engine block heater went bad, then the water pump went bad then the starter went bad, and the vacuum pump and the battery and it just went on and on. Finally I sold her. The new owner has put like 60k on her without spending a penny

.

how familiar this sounds. Mine was a gas quantum, but same process, fixed everything for big moola, got fed up, provided a beautiful reliable car to the next owner at bargain basement price.

we are all doing our parts

piccolovic · #15 01-01-2012, 10:54 PM

Well, those other issues are gonna be piece 'o' cake for you to do, compared to some of the other stuff you've had to do!!! Is this car pretty rust-free??? Hate to see you welding every time you go to do a 1-hr job . . . . and six-hours later . . . LOL.

Have you hinted your intentions? Would she be willing to pay approximately $1,200 to 1800 to get the car back in perfect condition, and all the work done up front?