Amazing find, and the best deal ever
 

I saw this post http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/3686662-post33.html and called my friend (Blue) that was looking for a transmission for his W115 Coupe. He called the seller, and told her that he would come and pick it up in a week. Fast forward to a couple days ago. Blue drove up there from L.A. in my 350SDL pulling his small trailer (his 300TD was at my house being fixed). When he got there, it was raining and the engine and trans were out in the back field with many obstacles in the way. It was also so muddy, they had to just wheel the trailer back on boards. There was supposed to be a hoist available, but it was found to be inoperable. Blue now had to figure out a way to get the engine/trans off of the bench it was on, and on the trailer. He was expecting a Diesel engine (listed in the ad), but after uncovering it, it was found to be a Fuel Injected 280! The lady that was responsible for cleaning the yard must not have known the value of what was there. That was another reason why it was only $20!
But wait, it gets better
Blue inspected the engine closer after getting it on the trailer, and it looked fairly new. He inquired about it from the lady, and she said it belonged to her father (I think that is what I remember hearing), and he told her to clean up the property (she rented from her father?). After getting it loaded and Blue getting out of the rain, he and the man (lived next door?) talked about the history of the engine and trans. He was a Mercedes-Benz mechanic years ago, and had a shop. He said the eng/trans came from a car they had years ago that they were restoring. He had actually rebuilt the entire engine (almost $4,000), but decided not to restore the rest of the car for some reason (rusted too bad?), and put the eng/trans out back under a tarp. When Blue got all done, he asked the man how much $ for the eng/trans, and he said $40. Blue said something like "you are telling me that you are only asking $40 for this engine that thousands of dollars were spent on rebuilding it?" The guy said something like "you did just spend the last two hours loading the engine in the mud and rain with very little help, and drove up here from L.A., so yes, just $40".
It gets even better.
When Blue was about to leave, the guy says wait, and he came back with the injection pump and handed it to Blue and said "you might want this too". He said it was rebuilt many years ago at a cost of $1,300. It had plastic caps on the delivery valves and other openings, and looked new. What started as a long trip to get a needed trans for his 115 coupe for only $20, turned out to be a gold mine of usable parts worth thousands of dollars. Way to go Blue!
Photo is of the engine at a place that does "Dry Ice Blasting" (more on that later).

That's an awesome deal!! A little work to pick it up but well worth it... :):)

Nice find, it reminded me of the Monty Python skit about a piston engine. it went something like this, with two "old ladies" at a park bench with an engine on a dolly
#1 asked: where have you been?
#2 answered: out shopping
#1 asked: What did you get?
#2 answered: Answered a piston engine.
#1 asked: Why did you buy that?
#2 answered: Because it was a bargain.

Dry Ice Blasting
 

After Blue picked up the engine in Nor.Cal., he drove down to San Diego to a place (the only one on the West coast) that does dry ice blasting. This process cleans without leaving any residue of any kind, and does not harm paint. You could even clean electronics and circuit boards without harming them. Blue even took the valve cover off and had the guy blast the cam and everything else under the cover. This is an amazing process.
Photo of engine after cleaning:

Photo of the trans before blasting. After photo in post 13. You can see the injection pump on the left:

If that is a six outlet injection pump I think its from a Pagoda SL and worth a good deal more than the three outlet which is correct for a sedan.

Nice haul by the way!

It is the one that came on the engine from the factory.

VERY COOL! (Sorry, couldn't help myself)

Dan

selling my 99 E300TD no rust , 148,000 miles on it
 

you want a solid and fast diesel with OM606 turbo ? let talk . ask all questions you want . i have too many cars one needs to go

Wow, I'm jealous! $40? Deal of the century.

What a score! Congratulations Blue!

So the transmission will not work on the diesel, correct?

What year engine?

I adore my M110 in my 280TE, never thought would. Yes, not the best fuel economy and a bit pricy, but what a different experience!

Wow I like the ice blasting idea never thought of that we clean parts where I work like that very nice.

A photo of the transmission after blasting:

The engine was supposedly a 68 from the ad. The transmission is very similar (if not the same) as the early 240 trans. So yes, it would work on a Diesel.

Interesting, thank you Rich. My 280 transmission looks entirely different and since concerned about gearing, just will have it rebuild while out.

That dry ice blasting is amazing! :eek: How much more expensive than soda?