on more helpful note however I suppose you could cut out the steering lock and replace the cylinder with a new one. You could also order a dealer key for the doors, but the thieves would have the keys to those... You could get a junk yard set and have a locksmith key them to fit the new ignition cylinder key... But all of those seems like a lot of hassle for a car that most likely has a toasted motor... Maybe part it out then scrap the left overs? at least he'd get a few $$ out of it that way....

Insure it, then wait for the lightning to strike and set it ablaze.

Brad seems to think the guys will be back to try taking the car. He said all he wants is the keys back, he is not mad at the thieves. He is planning to keep watch all night from one of the other buildings. He said if they come back and try to take the car, he will hear it cranking and come out wielding a 2X4 and scare them off. Hopefully they will leave the key in the ignition and run. He is going to unhook the glow plug harness so it will crank and not start. Even if they did get the car started, it won't move very fast under it's own power anyway! (we won't tell that to the thieves).

I think I'd let them take it, follow them to know where it is, and let them do some more diagnosis before calling the cops to get the car back.

Wouldn't that be crazy if they figured out how to fix it!

FYI
 

They would break it up - cut it up for the scrap metal value.
In Detroit, unless you run over a police officer in a stolen car, the odds of getting it back intact are 1/7,000..
Patrol officers will not take a stolen vehicle reports.
You must go to the precinct and wait in line for most of a day.


.

WHAT? I get to the end of this thread and thieves steal the keys before the car gets FIXED? And the car isnt worth a new set of keys?

Please tell me you took the car to a "farm".

Rollguy, you win the prize for backing up your buddy like that. In the end, 33 year old neglected cars just die. DP

Thanks for the good laugh this morning, I almost spilt my coffee.

The next exciting adventure is if Brad beats the snot out of the thieves with his 2x4 when they return.:rolleyes:

Charlie

UPDATE:
 

The other day Brad called and asked if he could somehow drill out the ignition lock so he could get the car moved to a safer spot, or sell it. I told him to try drilling out the lock so at least the pin can be pushed in enough to completely remove the lock assembly. I came over yesterday to try to remove the ignition lock so I could replace it with one that has a key. We were able to drill enough to push the pin, and get the lock assembly out. I decided to cut off the collar (I have spares) in order to get the lock cylinder out:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...z/100_1504.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...z/100_1505.jpg

I cut both sides of the collar and pried with a screwdriver, and both halves came off:
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...z/100_1506.jpg

Unfortunately, I/we drilled too far in and ruined the innards of the lock. I will need to find a good one to replace it with. I have plenty of lock cylinders and collars, but no working lock assemblies. At least we can manually start the car by turning the switch connected to the wiring. A friend of mine wants the trans, so I may get the engine and tear it down to find out what caused the problem. The rest of the car may become a parts car (no rust or dents)....Rich

I have a few, lemme know if you can't find one.

what an entertaining thread!
 

I cant believe I actually read the whole thing, albeit not all in one sitting. So anyways, whatever became of this whole situation?

Did Brad ever confront the nocturnal thieves?
Was the lock cylinder ever repaired / replaced?
Did the car get parted for its good components?
Was the engine ever pulled down to determine the cause of the internal friction?

I feel like I just binge-watched an entire series on Netflix, only to have the last episode unavailable! :P

Wow, I had forgotten about this thread. I also had forgotten to post that Brad passed away a few weeks later from an alcohol overdose (he was taking pain medication as well). The car was sitting at Bruce's place, and many times Bruce said that Brad would have wanted me to have the car. Bruce is a hoarder, and I think Brad's car is still sitting there next to the other broken down 'Benz's that he owns. I have tried to get Brad's car from Bruce many times, but he makes some kind of excuse why he does not want it gone. I could just go and take it, but I don't want to get Bruce mad at me for any reason. So to answer your questions, basically it is a no to all of them. I may go and see if the car is still there (I wouldn't be surprised if it is), and maybe talk to Bruce about it.....Rich

Wow. What an interesting thread. I am disappointed to get the the very bottom and find there is no resolution.

The only obvious question that no one ever asked is whether it is a switchover valve problem.