Thanx Alec ! .

I now have some really good spring boxes, I ordered up the W126 rubber tube shaped 'inserts' and plan to use those plus pool noodles 'cause I'm :

A. fat (240#)

B. crippled

So I need super firm seats else my back and neck complain vociferously .

At this point I need to source some muslin or good quality burlap to cover and gusset the springs then find someone who'll do the new covers properly .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Since the covers are OK, I would try re-stuffing it. I could swear I posted my rebuild, but can't find. Anyway, some photos below. I wrapped nylon rope on the spring box top and covered w/ carpet protector so the horse-hair (my 1985) or foam (my 1984) doesn't cut thru, added foam in places then covered w/ hog-ringed burlap. Also, note the rubber pad (99 Cent store) I used where the butt sits to firm up the foam. Also fixed a broken spring in 1 car by epoxying a copper tube. Note how I added coil springs to my 1985. I rolled my own from McMaster-Carr spring wire. I found that wasn't needed since the 1984 feels plenty stiff now without any additions.

No more sinking feeling in both cars, and almost sit too high and too stiff in one. I also spend time cleaning and lubing the seat tracks so the height-adjust works easy now.

Attached Thumbnails

     

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

THANK YOU for the photos ! .

You should be able to find your old seat post by searching 'subscribed threads' .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I thought this post was really good, but this thread wins!

“New to me '77 300D, ex Inzgary, ex Oracle12345“

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.

the humor escapes me but i'll take your word for it. i just want a comfortable seat. i am getting too old to work on my own cars.

I feel sorry for all the older professional mechanics who are still working 8 hour days doing this kind of heavy lifting physical work. i really do. i don't know how one can do it long term.

in a few years, when i finally finally get tired of it, I will probably sell it to Strelnik or John in Charlotte for a song.

the motor and transmission is fine shape. the 0-60 time is under 9 seconds which isn't bad for a 31 year old car. the driver's seat on the other hand....

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

You said it ! .

I closed up my indie shop 34 years ago and got a job with benefits and a defined pension and didn't look back .

Actually I never stopped looking back but it was the right move as I'm now disabled and have the helluva time holding my tools .

I can't lift cylinder heads any more and wonder how I'll manage swapping out the noisy pumpkin in my Diesel Coupe......

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

i sincerely hope that your disability was NOT because of your work as a mechanic.

at the end of the day (month, year, or your life) these machines are nothing but cars.....mb, bmw, etc are nothing but different names to the same things....cars. And a car is certainly not worth breaking your back over especially if you don't have to. Just my $0.02

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

The fact is , being a Mechanic is rough on the body ~ cuts and scrapes plus the occasional broken bone, you're in contact with many different harsh chemicals constantly..... cancer is always a worry .

I've had multiple hernias and recurrences from lifting heavy parts .

I knew all this at an early age, I've been working since I was in short pants and all the older Mechanics who taught me , would tell me about their younger lives, raising families in large houses, boats, travel, race cars, so on and so forth .

This when we'd be working in some tiny local gas station back when every one had a garage that made more $ than selling gasoline did .

I'd ask "what happened ?" and the answer was always the same : 'I got old and couldn't keep up the pace so now this ' .

I could tell you some horror stories but I made it out O.K. ~ I had two near fatal Moto collisions in the last few years that just made the normal Mechanic's worn out body worse but I'm still alive and tinkering, always working on this or that as it's what I was born to do like some are born to write, paint, make music etc.


Life is good, very good indeed in spite of the endless pain .

_YOU_ choose how much you'll enjoy life regardless of your circumstances .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better