The valves were set when it was rebuilt. The engine was redone by my best friend who is known around here for honesty and quality, so you won't be finding any bad pistons or such. I was in and out of the shop and did some of the work myself. I bought all the parts after discussion with Homer as to which ones to buy and which ones to re-use.

I pressed out the old sleeves and the new ones in and probably did some disassembly. I also may have cleaned pistons before Homer measured them.

I don't trust myself on assembly of the bottom end so they did all that. I might have installed things like oil pans and other thnigs that won't go bang if there is a loose fastener.

I am confident that the engine is sound.

Testing one cylinder on a cold engine does not tell the story.

The dipstick tube is another matter though. Its loose and has been since the motor was redone. I believe there is a tab on the side of it down by the injection pump that was supposed to be under a bolt which was missed.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

he definitely needs to retest it then. Sounds to me like they were just out of adjustment, and if what you have both said about the power and peppiness of this car in this thread alone is true, I find it hard to believe that anything really big could be wrong with this engine.

My point with the horror stories was just to illustrate that "rebuilt" effectively means nothing unless you really know how it was done or were involved personally, and you were in the middle of it and did a lot of stuff personally, it sounds like just a bad reading that needs to be redone.

No car would be driving as it sounds like it is if it had bad compression, certainly not starting like it sounds like it is.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

" number one cylinder boasted a whopping 305 psi. "

This is 8 psi above spec minimum. I am surprised you haven't done the compression test on the rest of the cylinders and instead, dipstick tube, manual steering, and elec water pump and rust related work.

Stop all work! Adjust the valves and do a compression test! Measure and record the valve clearances (and post them here) before adjusting them.

Edit: You did the valve cover gasket, that would have been the time to adjust the valves. Maybe you did already?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

walgumoth - I always sold my old beaters because I wanted them gone. Looks like this one didn't quite leave?

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

I didn't see the car either. Read Tom's ad and was interested but busy. When did come to go look at it, Tom was already dealing with this buyer. Tom's initial listing price was pretty high for what you got reading the rest of the ad, but a big adjustment was made to that asking price. Hey, buying a car always involves some difference in opinion. Like I said, I didn't see the car, but it seems to me Tom's listing of the car here on the
Forum was pretty accurate. I hope it all works out well for Geazzer.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Well, yeah, selling a car to another member is like selling to your brother or sister, or kid. I have done all of the above.

My Dad essentially made me buy back one of my first benzes from a sister who bought it, drove it about 30,000, never changed the oil and ....well you know, Dad figured I could afford to buy it back.....and I could, so I did.

I never sold her another car.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Why do people do that? [Not change the oil]

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85 Merc 300D - Unwinding 31 years of wear
86 VW TD
Mahindra Diesel
Iseki Diesel

In 2007 I didn't own a diesel.

And where is it supposed to go anyways ?

And yes, Tom's former car is quite the beater ... But, she is on the way to being a studd !

Yes, it appears you are working hard in that direction and I'd bet you get it to a much better place than when you took ownership.

While Tom has not outright been called a swindler in this thread, I've been very surprised by the implication in that direction. Wasn't it a 30 year old car for only a couple grand which was not advertised as "mint" or "fully restored"? Certainly makes me think twice about selling anything on this forum if I'd be subject to the same.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

Here, here!

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1981 300TD 310k miles
1970 280sel 172k miles
1966 230 Fintail 162k miles

"Where are we going? And why am I in this hand basket?"

You have obviously taken a somewhat extreme interpetation of what was posted. Actually, my out of pockets just for the car are over $3,300 and that's before repairs. That is an extremely high price for a mechanically problematic 5 speed and a week NA engine. Period. Virtually every single thing that I have posted has been supported by a picture. If not, let me know and I will show some more pictures. Further, I have been presented with a growing list of things that have been true surprises, and I use the word "surprises" because it was the PO who stated to me that he forgot to mention this or that. So, I guess you're free to use any term you want and to draw any conclusion you want, but at no time did I ever present any information whatsoever that was not indeed 100% factual. And, as I said, if the listing or advertisement clearly pointed out this flaw or that flaw, then what I post is nothing more than my repairs of what has been obviously pointed out prior to sale. Why don't you take a look at the listing and the pictures and I will certainly be posting some more and you can compare and contrast. Heck, I am on the prowl right now for a new body to transplant the drivetrain since the body is about shot and not really safe to drive anyways and probably not worth salvaging. So, being a little bit more factual and a little less rhetoric may be helpful for you.

1. No thanks. There is nothing that can be posted short of sawdust in the tranny, odometer roll back, or some other form of blatant fraud that would change this from the purchase of an old cheap car that was not advertised as perfect. (yes, $3,300 is cheap for a car)

2. I'm not in need of help. Tom sold an old car he no longer wanted around. Instead of it leaving, Tom continues to be "politely" slandered on the forum as it comes across to me.

If you believe I'm misunderstanding the slant to this thread, then put up this poll;

- Tom swindled me by falsely advertising the car.

- I'm picking an old beater to death instead of realizing the car as what it is, an old cheap car. Maybe I paid more than its worth, but that was my decision to make.

If I'm totally wet and misunderstanding this thread then you have my apologies in advance.

I do hope you restore the car to the level of your satisfaction and get years of great service out of it such that you ultimately realize value in your purchase. Good luck.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.

Two comments:
1. The engine will prove to be sound.
2. Your cost of travel is not a fair inclusion in the cost of the car as purchased from me.

I wish you the best in your adventures with "the sleeper".

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Well Mr. Walkevol,

The only thing that I can support is the 1st Amendment and your right to post whatever you wish. My guess "slander" involves saying something not true or accurate. That here is simply not the case. I posted and pictured what I discovered. I intend on posting pictures and comments along the way as I restore this car or junk it. Whatever comes first. Period. If you do not like it, then you do not have to comment or participate.

Since you think $3,300 is "cheap", would you like to the buy this car "AS IS" right now for $3,300.00 ? I will drive it to your house in TN. The only thing I would do is put in GREAT Bosch Nozzles instead of the Elsbetts. I will include my really nice passanger seat. It currently has no passenger front seat because I am concerned it will fall thru or sag thru.

So, do you want to buy it at $3,300 DELIVERED. I will have it at your house this weekend. Just let me know. If not, then I guess its not so "cheap" as you put it.

Waiting --

Sorry, don't need another beater for $3,300 (although post #29 indicates the price was "$2000 plus a surplus 300D flywheel") or $300.

Was shopping this weekend with the wife who's ready to replace her Lexus. Those >$40,000 sticker prices makes $3,300 appear pretty cheap to me. Guess cheap is a relative term when it comes to car prices. Personally I'm driving a 190D I picked up 20,000 miles back for $1,000 so according to the wife I'm cheap...go figure?

What I've written is what you've communicated to me via this thread. I've got no dog in the fight as I don't know either you. If you think I'm completely out of line post the poll and prove me wrong for which I will humbly appologise.

Again, best of luck with your project! I admire how quickly you've resolved many of the car's needs.

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You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need.