Long awaited project- 1982 300TD restoration - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #1 01-11-2018, 12:20 AM

I bought my TD about 5 years ago, and have finally got the chance to start working on it. The guy I bought the car from ran it out of oil. It had major oil all over the engine and bay, so I imagine it leaked quite a bit. I bought a rebuilt wagon engine about a year ago, and plan to install it as soon as I get the engine bay clean. I pulled the engine/trans the other day. It will get new engine mounts, new style primer pump, all new hoses, new radiator, new (rebuilt) oil cooler hoses, new fan clutch, new battery, and a Sanden compressor and PF condenser (of course) with the FIRST Gen III bracket.
The exterior of the car is near perfect. I will have my polish the paint (he is an expert at this). When I got the car, there was not one crack in the dash. Despite the car being covered and under a carport, the heat/cold cycles we have here in the desert of So. Cal. caused the dash to gain a few cracks in the time it was sitting. The seats, although showing a little "pinkomino", have no cracks or tears, and still look pretty good. I will post more photos as the work progresses. The engine bay before cleaning:

ROLLGUY · #2 01-11-2018, 02:08 PM

I was able to get the car on my trailer and tow it to the coin-op car wash. The only tow vehicle I had access to was my CDI. I have to say it did rather well. I had no problem stopping, and of course the car had gobs of pulling power.

ROLLGUY · #3 01-11-2018, 02:14 PM

With a lot of scraping with a plastic putty knife and scrubbing with a stiff brush, plus my favorite degreaser, the bay is mostly clean.

greazzer · #4 01-11-2018, 02:37 PM

Nice Job ! What a transformation a roll of quarters can do ...

andrewjtx · #5 01-11-2018, 02:52 PM

Looking good! Glad to see another wagon being restored at the same time. We should have a parallel progress report thread.

Walter K · #6 01-12-2018, 09:45 AM

Keep the pics and posts coming! I'm very interested in watching your progress. Glad to see another wagon getting fixed up.

W.

ROLLGUY · #7 01-12-2018, 10:20 AM

It will be slow going because I have so much on my schedule. It is also winter here, so many days it is too cold to work outside. I don't really have the space inside to even work on the engine, but thankfully it is mostly ready to go. I don't know the condition of the transmission, but I assume it was working when the engine was ran out of oil. I plan to at least reseal it as best I can. The next step is to put the engine and trans together in the cramped space in my garage, and then install them in the car. I hope to have time to do this in the next couple weeks, but no promises.......Rich

t walgamuth · #8 01-12-2018, 10:35 AM

Great to see your progress! Looks like it will be a nice one!

ROLLGUY · #9 01-12-2018, 10:55 AM

Here is a photo of the interior:

dieselbenz1 · #10 01-12-2018, 10:58 AM

Eating whale blubber makes you stay warm in cold weather.

chrisgt · #11 01-12-2018, 01:23 PM

Wow your dash is in great shape, bit tight around the gauge cluster popping the top out, but no cracking. That's the one interior thing that's really trashed in my td.
Making me miss my 84, it's parked in a shed and snowed in good and solid until april probably. Can't wait to see more!

ROLLGUY · #12 01-12-2018, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisgt

Wow your dash is in great shape, bit tight around the gauge cluster popping the top out, but no cracking. That's the one interior thing that's really trashed in my td.
Making me miss my 84, it's parked in a shed and snowed in good and solid until april probably. Can't wait to see more!

There are cracks you don't see in that photo. I wish it was not cracked, but nothing I can do about it. It still looks better than most........Rich

Skid Row Joe · #13 01-12-2018, 04:04 PM

With a CDI, you don't need another TV (tow vehicle).

ROLLGUY · #14 04-14-2018, 08:01 PM

I got the engine in and running! It was a lot of work. Almost every part had to be cleaned before installing. It still has some issues, but I should get it on the road next week. It needs a brake MC (all the fluid leaked out while sitting the last 8 years). I got a custom stainless steel exhaust system on a parts car I bought, and modified (lengthened) it to fit the wagon. Photos coming. More updates as the work progresses......Rich

SonnyMorrow · #15 04-15-2018, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I got the engine in and running! It was a lot of work. Almost every part had to be cleaned before installing. It still has some issues, but I should get it on the road next week. It needs a brake MC (all the fluid leaked out while sitting the last 8 years). I got a custom stainless steel exhaust system on a parts car I bought, and modified (lengthened) it to fit the wagon. Photos coming. More updates as the work progresses......Rich

Good job, I'm happy for you! Looks very good man