Well, it seems that when it rains, it pours.

I was shocked today when I parked the my 1987 300SDL and smelled a strong odor of antifreeze. I was hoping at best it would be an old hose had started to split, but when I squeezed the upper hose I was greeted with a sucking noise and saw liquid bubbling through the upper crimped looking section of the radiator.

I did some looking a found a Flex-a-Lite for $499, which is utterly sickening for my bank account to even contemplate.

Could it be fixed? I can swap engines, but I know nothing about radiator construction....

Anybody have an alternative? I did find one post from a few years back that said they used a rad from a 300TD, but it was thinner. There was no update as to how effective it was at cooling. Although it would be the same engine in both applications.

Summer and 100+F is coming soon to South Texas....

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.

Wizard Cooling. Just buy a new one and be ready for it to last and last and last.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

If your wallet is really hurting, my local pik a part has a price of $35 for a radiator.
Clean and flush it good before installing of course.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Is it from an SDL? They are specific to them.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I would love to go that route, but I'd be looking at $800 after taxes. Which is $100 less than what I paid for the vehicle. There is no way on God's green earth I would be able to swing that at the moment.

No SDLs in the area. Already tried that path...

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.

I paid $650 for mine ten years ago, I have probably put $4k into it parts alone over the years from tyres, front end, full brake job, Bilsteins, new Behr rad when avail, glow plugs with extended glow kit, 150A alt, etc, etc, etc

About to swap on a No 17 head, new timing cover, new chain, new expansion tank with all hoses, and all that jazz.

Hell, good tires for these cost nearly $700 now. If the car is worth keeping, do the Wizard radiator. It will hold its value big time.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I understand your point, 100%! I put close to 3K into that 300D I had and it was without a doubt worth it.

Like I said, I would if I could... But I just picked up a set of those $600 tires you are talking about, on Thursday, unexpectedly. That was after I had a $700 weekend escapade of having to leave the car 6 hours away from the house because one of the wheel bolts snapped off in the middle of nowhere after I had 2 tires go out on me. Had to get it towed to the closest town, only to find that everything was closed since it was after 12pm on a Saturday. Got a rental, drove home, had to take off work to get it, then only to be followed by having another tire go out on the truck (which was brand new with only 500 miles on it) as I was driving the trailer to go pick it up the car.

I have every intention to hold on to the car and I know it would be worth it, but I would have to take out a loan in order to pick up that Wizard.

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.

This place looks promising for $200, all aluminum also.
1987 Mercedes Benz 300sdl All Aluminum Radiator | All Aluminum Radiator | Mercedes Benz Auto Parts

.

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

ALL ALUMINUM RADIATOR, ALUM (16-7/8 x 26-1/4 x 2) - 2 Rows. --PLASTIC, 28 lbs,



Hmmm, plastic is in the description.

Either way, looks like a great deal.



If it makes you feel better, I have had THREE flats in a few weeks.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Yeah, not sure what the plastic means.. But the picture looks all aluminum.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Strange.

Beats a used one of unknown origin.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

Looks like a steal of a deal!

I saw that too, said plastic and all aluminum. But the picture looks it should....

Sounds like the route I'm going to be going. For that price, I don't care if its all aluminum or not, as long as it doesn't leak and cools alright.

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.

Let us know how it goes if you get it from there..

__________________
1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Will do. Soon as I get paid I'll be making the purchase. Hoping for good things, fingers crossed.

Thanks for coming across that.

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.

Well, its ordered. $195 shipped to the house. Not a bad deal at all if everything is up to par.

I'll post an update when it gets here.

__________________
'85 300D ~ 381k, HD Bilstien shocks, 27.50x8.50x14R General Grabber AT2 tires, 4 E-Code headlight upgrade with 90/130w bulbs, boost turned up, new timing chain, and injectors. SOLD

'85 CJ7 ~ OM617 swap, Tarus electric fan, T5 trans, Dana 300, 4.88 R&P, Mile Marker locking hubs, ALDA removed, AMC 20 rear disk brake conversion, Aussie locked with 33's and 5" Rough Country lift.