1987 300TD - I Just brought home the car I'll be burried in.... - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LoosBenz · #1 06-07-2013, 10:53 PM

If it has the original radiator, I would replace that at the same time the fan and clutch get changed.

Codifex Maximus · #2 06-08-2013, 12:09 AM

Congratulations!

Looks like you have a fine wagon there. Cosmetically, it looks sound and spiffy. That's where most of the work and cost are really.

After you get the head taken care of and the braking system fixed, you'll have something to really crow about.

One of these days I'm going to have to get me an 87...

biopete · #3 06-14-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrianfoto

Heading over to the Peachparts store to find a 98-606 fan and a new clutch !

Thanks for the help - I readup last night on the clutch issues for these cars - kinda don't want to try rebuilding one yet.

That is a nice looking wagon. You need a third row seat for those boys. And you'll love it too. You get the peace and quiet a chauffeur deserves

. I actually have a nice one that is the tan color if you need one.

I would drive and enjoy your car in town as much as you want. Since you already know you are replacing the head and fan and radiator , might as well burn the old ones up a little. Just get aaa and Keep an eye on things. What's the worst that can happen? You overheat and need a new head?

My fan did fly off and kill my radiator on a trip to Florida. Lucky it was at a stoplight right as we were turning so I got right into a parking lot. A member nearby had spare fan and radiator he gave me. Did it in the parking lot.

Did you find 98-606 fan? Is that a part number

jbrianfoto · #4 06-14-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

That is a nice looking wagon. You need a third row seat for those boys. And you'll love it too. You get the peace and quiet a chauffeur deserves

. I actually have a nice one that is the tan color if you need one.

I would drive and enjoy your car in town as much as you want. Since you already know you are replacing the head and fan and radiator , might as well burn the old ones up a little. Just get aaa and Keep an eye on things. What's the worst that can happen? You overheat and need a new head?

My fan did fly off and kill my radiator on a trip to Florida. Lucky it was at a stoplight right as we were turning so I got right into a parking lot. A member nearby had spare fan and radiator he gave me. Did it in the parking lot.

Did you find 98-606 fan? Is that a part number

Yup - thanks - I did find a 606 type clutch (on PelicanParts) - it's on the way now.

I did also score a complete, leather 3rd row seat from an E320 wagon last weekend (color matches and everything) - so thanks for the offer! I grabbed alot of goodies from that car, including the hatch struts and a pair of luggage cross members.

I've thought about driving it more, but if the fan lets go I'm sincerely stuck - my worst fear would be it dies on the commute home and I95 backs up from the Pentagon to Fredericksburg because of me (everyone hates "that" guy who has a breakdown and causes a big backup). It looks like I'll get started on the weekend of the 29th if I get the head in time, later into July if the machine work takes longer.

For now it jsut sits in our driveway, waiting. I sit in it sometimes and look for other things to fix until then.

jbrianfoto · #5 06-07-2013, 10:48 AM

Oh- yeah, does anyone know what size the rims are on this car? I was reading about a brake upgrade some folks do but it requires that you have 17 inch rims.....it was too dark this morning to read the tires.

vstech · #6 06-07-2013, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrianfoto

Oh- yeah, does anyone know what size the rims are on this car? I was reading about a brake upgrade some folks do but it requires that you have 17 inch rims.....it was too dark this morning to read the tires.

stock rims should be 15" the 16" rims from the 210 fit fine.
a fantastic brake upgrade is the 4 piston calipers and rotors from the 94 or newer E series. you need to change the lower control arms to fit them in, but they fit behind the stock rims.

biopete · #7 06-14-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

stock rims should be 15" the 16" rims from the 210 fit fine.
a fantastic brake upgrade is the 4 piston calipers and rotors from the 94 or newer E series. you need to change the lower control arms to fit them in, but they fit behind the stock rims.

A fantastic car upgrade is a 94 or newer E series.

Seriously , do you use the lca of the 94 E too? I have a1996 e320 parts car. When I drive my 87 wagon I notice the brakes are a little stiff compared to the w210.

Also Do the ball joints last longer in these? It seems w124 s like to eat ball joints. I replaced mine on my wagon and within 6 months one of the boots was cracked already.

biopete · #8 06-14-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

stock rims should be 15" the 16" rims from the 210 fit fine.
a fantastic brake upgrade is the 4 piston calipers and rotors from the 94 or newer E series. you need to change the lower control arms to fit them in, but they fit behind the stock rims.

Do you need to change the lca if you use the 16 rims off the w210 e?

jbrianfoto · #9 06-09-2013, 09:42 PM

My new friend Paul stopped by this afternoon, he looked at the car with me, after dipping his little finger in the overflow tank we determined the car definitely has at least a cracked head gasket. The fluid looked like flat coca cola. Oh we'll, now I know.

MBZ123 · #10 06-11-2013, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrianfoto

we determined the car definitely has at least a cracked head gasket.

Yes, you actually said cracked head gasket! ROTFF!!! How specific a diagnosis is needed?

It's obvious from your posts trepidation is winning out. Don't allow unknowns to bring on the strife. If finances aren't prohibiting your progress, the only other excuse for not moving forward should be parts availability or lack thereof. You won't know if a cyl. head is needed until it's off and tested. You won't know if only the head gasket is at fault until the ch is off. Head comes off either way, correct? No time like the present.

Listen, strategy is crucial. Your primary focus is getting the drivetrain up to spec. (Yes, this means correcting the ch/hg issue first.) Also, avoid getting mired with "while I'm in there fixes" and unnecessary presupposition. If the coolant system is operating to spec, HEY guess what? You can delay a pricey radiator purchase until it's justified. YAYYYYY! YAY FOR MOAR BEER! Besides, how tragic would it be to die penniless before you got to enjoy the driving experience in your new ride?

Then, when the motor, tranny and brakes are performing as the manufacturer intended, you can safely move onto "correcting" other "important" stuff. Mounting big sassy wheels on your new gorgeous wagon is pretty LAME if all it does is sit...motionless.

[/lecture]

Sir, your wagon is WAY cool. I, too, hope to own a 124 wagon soon. If its condition is as good as yours, all the better. And whooooooeeeeeeh, nothing says 80's like a sweet color-match pinstriped family truckster! You even scored one with the two most desirable options available. Manually drawn rear sunshades and "extreme" candlepower front bumper mounted spots. JK! I couldn't resist. But, can you say "re-purposed" class? Looks like Johnnyboy's old bed sheets and a couple reflectors from those old six-volt household flashlights. Now that's double BADD in my book. Totally love it.

Keep us posted, please.

MBZ123

jbrianfoto · #11 06-11-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBZ123

Yes, you actually said cracked head gasket! ROTFF!!! How specific a diagnosis is needed?

It's obvious from your posts trepidation is winning out. Don't allow unknowns to bring on the strife. If finances aren't prohibiting your progress, the only other excuse for not moving forward should be parts availability or lack thereof. You won't know if a cyl. head is needed until it's off and tested. You won't know if only the head gasket is at fault until the ch is off. Head comes off either way, correct? No time like the present.

Listen, strategy is crucial. Your primary focus is getting the drivetrain up to spec. (Yes, this means correcting the ch/hg issue first.) Also, avoid getting mired with "while I'm in there fixes" and unnecessary presupposition. If the coolant system is operating to spec, HEY guess what? You can delay a pricey radiator purchase until it's justified. YAYYYYY! YAY FOR MOAR BEER! Besides, how tragic would it be to die penniless before you got to enjoy the driving experience in your new ride?

Then, when the motor, tranny and brakes are performing as the manufacturer intended, you can safely move onto "correcting" other "important" stuff. Mounting big sassy wheels on your new gorgeous wagon is pretty LAME if all it does is sit...motionless.

[/lecture]

Sir, your wagon is WAY cool. I, too, hope to own a 124 wagon soon. If its condition is as good as yours, all the better. And whooooooeeeeeeh, nothing says 80's like a sweet color-match pinstriped family truckster! You even scored one with the two most desirable options available. Manually drawn rear sunshades and "extreme" candlepower front bumper mounted spots. JK! I couldn't resist. But, can you say "re-purposed" class? Looks like Johnnyboy's old bed sheets and a couple reflectors from those old six-volt household flashlights. Now that's double BADD in my book. Totally love it.

Keep us posted, please.

MBZ123

Howdy - yup - it's money right at the moment. I have this way cool car sitting in the driveway that I can't wait to start driving. It's killing me - hence the pensive questions. We are sure that there is something to fix with regards to the head, I gotta pull it off anyway, so whatever I find, I'll fix. It's sorta like realizing you've got a bad tooth and you are worried about getting it pulled out.

The good news is that we sold my wife's BMW and were getting paid today, so that'll help fund the necessary parts to get this rolling again. I am trying HARD to not get sucked into "replace, replace, replace while it is open" syndrome. That's a hard urge to fight and I know it'll get in the way of driving the car everyday and tweaking it along the way. Think REHAB, not REBIRTH.

Thanks for the helpful input !

vstech · #12 06-10-2013, 12:02 PM

IIRC, car manufacturers don't differentiate color and drive train...

so they'd have the total produced in a certain color, and the total produced with a certain engine, but not the total green ones with the OM603...

Jeremy5848 · #13 06-11-2013, 03:33 PM

In re: title of your OP.

Would be a shame to bury the car when you leave us. Can't we just cremate you and put the ashes in the ash trays?

Jeremy

jbrianfoto · #14 06-11-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

In re: title of your OP.

Would be a shame to bury the car when you leave us. Can't we just cremate you and put the ashes in the ash trays?

Jeremy

Yeah, you're right. Ash tray is fine, and maybe a metal plaque riveted into the frame somewhere with my name and birth/death dates.....and the date I bought the car + total miles driven.

Jeremy5848 · #15 06-11-2013, 06:22 PM

Credit where credit is due.

The ashes-in-the-ashtray idea came from Click and Clack, The Tappet Brothers. The plaque idea is yours, however, and a good one. Maybe put it on the grill with the mileage awards?

Jeremy