Old Diesel Guy, first MB - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Old Smokey · #1 03-07-2013, 12:33 PM

Just got off the phone with original owner 3 minutes ago and now I have a 1985 300TD Euro spec wagon, NA, auto , white, blue cloth interior, 215000 miles (not km). 1000.00 cash ......It's a beater with moldy smelling interior, minor rust (door bottoms good, fenders ok). I have a lot of experience with rust out, and I know this will never be the beautiful MB that many desire.
My primary auto interest has been old trucks for the past 40 years, and lately doing diesel conversions on these older rigs. I tear into the MB tonight after work. Owner said that when he brought it into the states they made him put a catylatic converter on it and it instantly became a slug. He said to cut it off and I'll be way more happy with the power. Muffler fell off on the way home anyhow, so I just might bust out the sawzall and go straight-piped for a while. I will have a bunch of questions. Some vac hoses open, some plugged with bolts etc etc. Don't laugh, it's pretty rough, but I never abandon a project and soon, very soon it will look way better. Already starts, runs and shifts like a dream.

gatorblue92 · #2 03-07-2013, 02:06 PM

A cat on a diesel? Seems odd. Looks like a fun project.

Old Smokey · #3 03-07-2013, 02:25 PM

Haven't looked under it yet, just what he told me. Said it was for passing emissions.....

SirNik84 · #4 03-07-2013, 02:34 PM

WELCOME!

One of the more senior members from Washington should chime in with the state law, but I've never heard of a cat on one of these old diesels. Surprised the engine can breath. Not even the krazy kalifornia smog laws require this. If I had to guess some shop mistook the resonator in the middle of the exhaust system for a cat, and replaced it with a cat...

Reading your signature, if your 92 f350 doesn't require a cat, then your MB doesn't ether. You can replace the cat with some pipe or if you want a quieter ride replace it with another resonator.

mach4 · #5 03-07-2013, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

A cat on a diesel? Seems odd. Looks like a fun project.

That was the rule in CA in '85. That big ugly thing under the turbo outlet is a trap-catalyst. Most users have replaced them with a "test pipe".

vstech · #6 03-07-2013, 03:12 PM

I'd like pics of your engine compartment, the exhaust with the "cat" in it, and tons of pics of the car itself, inside and out.
I have a euro wagon, mine's turbo, and it's totally euro, no federalization to it at all. it does have A/C added in.

Old Smokey · #7 03-07-2013, 03:17 PM

My F350 has custom tube headers with glasspacks. They are a rare item, made by 'Stan's Headers' somewhere South of Seattle. Original owner had it done right after he bought it. Breaths well. I noticed this Mercedes has what I might call 'cast iron headers', look like the old Fenton cast iron jobs on flathead V8s. Until last night I figured this wagon was a turbo-diesel because it had a 'TD' after the 300. Ok, I'm gonna go down to the shop and look under this thing. Will a cat always look like a cat? (flat section, rounded ends?)......

vstech · #8 03-07-2013, 03:30 PM

TOTALLY depends on the source of the cat.

here, on the MB site, TD means TOURING Diesel. floating around here is the video introducing the 123 wagon, and in the video they pronounce the word... , it's station wagon. as opposed to "estate" or "saloon" diesel

Stevo · #9 03-07-2013, 04:21 PM

That is odd about the cat, sounds like your ready and able to get rid of it. I also have a Euro 85 TD and a couple 240s. We live way south of Orcas on Marrowstone Island but have a bridge to the mainland. Enjoy your new ride.

layback40 · #10 03-07-2013, 05:41 PM

Welcome.
A 300D N/A with no muffler is a noisy critter. You may want to put the back muffler back on.

cooljjay · #11 03-07-2013, 06:01 PM

Would also like to see more photos of it....regardless of conditions I would love to find a euro spec wagon! I miss my euro 300d....he was in rough shape but there is night and day difference between a us spec and euro spec car...

Old Smokey · #12 03-07-2013, 06:12 PM

So you're sayin' this Newbie accidently got a 'good one'? My son just scrubbed it down and next we're rolling it into the shop for a vacuum job. The damp floor mats and etc are up in the house drying out next to the wood stove. It looks like there's a third row seat. How do I open it? Twist the 'T' handle? It doesn't seem to twist. I don't want to break it off. Clockwise or counterclockwise? Haven't looked for a cat because it's pouring out, but I'll be jacking it up once in the shop. Details to follow, thanks for all the help so far. You're right, this is gonna be a fun project.

Stugist · #13 03-07-2013, 07:53 PM

Scrap that silly cat; you don't need it, legally or practically. Really the only reason to keep one on is if it was an actual '85 US California model and you wanted it to stay original. Since this is an import, it's just a piece of junk under the hood.

vstech · #14 03-07-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Smokey

So you're sayin' this Newbie accidently got a 'good one'? My son just scrubbed it down and next we're rolling it into the shop for a vacuum job. The damp floor mats and etc are up in the house drying out next to the wood stove. It looks like there's a third row seat. How do I open it? Twist the 'T' handle? It doesn't seem to twist. I don't want to break it off. Clockwise or counterclockwise? Haven't looked for a cat because it's pouring out, but I'll be jacking it up once in the shop. Details to follow, thanks for all the help so far. You're right, this is gonna be a fun project.

IIRC, you lift the t-handle, and rotate it ccw, and it pops right up.
I think you need to lift the carpet cover first... the forward seat has to lift vertical then the rear seat flips over and becomes the bottom seat.
it's for SHORT people!!!

Old Smokey · #15 03-07-2013, 11:01 PM

I am short 5-6, but I twisted the handle and broke itr off.... now I gotta figure out how to get the dang thing open. There is a phillips screw but it's kinda stiff...... Just got home from a trip with the 300td. 24 mile round trip into town. There is a small mufler looking thing (cat?) in front of the rear axle and the muffler that broke off was behind the rear axle. Not too loud cuz there was two mufflers. Maybe the one was a resonator. Never saw what I would think was a catalic converter. The PO was concientious, but not a 'car guy'. Long story, told short. I LOVE this thing..... owned maybe 50 cars and trucks, but never steered and drove and solid as this..............

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