Introducing Gunther, my new 72 220D
 

I made a post when I was going to look at the car but thought I'd start out with a proper one and keep it as a running documentation of the work I'm doing.

Details

72 220D 4 Speed Stick with unknown miles. OM615 swapped out for an OM616.

Car spent its whole life in Texas and then was bought and driven to Philadelphia in 2012.

I've put about 250 miles on it since purchasing it last Wednesday. Runs really well!

Items I've done to it:

Had new oil cooler hose made and replaced

Changed motor oil & filter

Changed primary fuel filter

Buffed the paint

ToDo List

Diesel Purge

New fuel tank (currently the primary fuel filter keeps filling up with rust :eek:)

Change the power steering hoses

Get a matching tobacco rear seat

Take care of the rust spots in the rear floor boards (not too bad yet)

Adjust steering box

Fix trans leak, thinking new shift selector seals will help this?

Full detail

tires (stole these from my 82 240D)

Figure out why neither air conditioning nor heater blow will come on

Figure out transmission mount.. currently its bolted on one side.. when I bolt the other side up I get terrible vibrations at a certain rpm throughout the cabin. When I got the car it had no mount connected at all and ran fine

On to the pics!


Here are the photos from the add when I purchased him

https://i.imgur.com/Ng7JfHg.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/YGsry81.jpg


And after I got him home

https://i.imgur.com/pGsaBys.png


Quick cutting compound sesh

https://i.imgur.com/Hn0usO0.png

This thing is cool! Cut and polish on the single stage paint of these cars works wonders. The earlier 70's bumpers look SO MUCH better than that hideousness the US Gov't enforced in the later 70's.

For the trans seals, I'd worry about part 115 from that image I uploaded falling down inside the trans when you unbolt the shift lever. Maybe you could do this with the thing in neutral and the case on its side, nice and level.

I've always wanted to pick up a 115. Good Luck and keep us posted.

Hmm.. so part 115 in that diagram on my car looks like a washer? and it kinda loose? it this how it should be?

Looks like shifter bushings????

Looks like you're off to a good start ! .

I went back and looked through some pictures I took when rebuilding my transmission and then pulled up the parts catalog. That part 115 is the actual seal ring and not a washer. There is no washer on the back side of the shift lever to shift fork.

A picture I found on the internet:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...h545-no/15.JPG

Attached an image of the back side of my shift lever.

It will be helpful for the OP to first identify the transmission that is installed in his car. The one illustrated in the posts above (aluminum case, no side cover, shift arms point down) was first installed in model year 1981. Although it is entirely possible that along with the 616 engine, a trans from a W123 was installed, the original trans has a cast iron case with a separate side cover, and shift arms that point upwards.

Honestly I am pretty sure the bottom of the trans was cast iron.. I was wiping it clean yesterday as it has a minor seepage / drop coming from the two shift linkage bushings. I believe they point upwards.

The bushings/ seals were loose and had some play between the transmission and the shifter arms. Can I simply loosen the bolts on the shifter arms and slide them over?

Also does anyone have a diagram for the correct manual trans shift bracket and mount? this car definitely does not have the correct one installed as it only bolts on one side and hangs. When I bought the car there was no mount installed at all:eek:

It drove just fine and I didn't realize it until I got under it a few days later!

Lastly, I noticed that going from 3rd to 2nd is a bit difficult. Not sure if this is normal or if I should maybe consider changing the fluid. I know they take ATF and from what I saw from the wetness/minor leak it is def not ATF in there.

mabbonizio,
Gunther looks terrific after the cutting compound. I am a total novice when it comes to working on these older diesel Mercedes, but look forward to followimg your progress and can hopefully catch on.

Thought I'd post a quick update on my progress thus far.

Threw together a roof rack from some scraps I had laying around the house and took a ride to the beach.

Trans is shifting great with the synchromesh. Seriously like a different transmission.

Charged the AC and it works! Albeit a bit funny sometimes.

Noticed that the release bearing or throw out bearing makes some chirping noise with the car in neutral idling once its warmed up and sometimes when cruising along in gear. If i gently press on the clutch it goes away instantly. I had a VW that did this for 100K miles so it doesn't bother me too much but I am curious if anyone experiences the same.

Went to a show in Cape May, was the only Mercedes there but had fun none the less !

Coupe pics off my insta:

https://i.imgur.com/lcrM0yl.png

https://i.imgur.com/MxVMx1V.png

Looking good ! .

Remember to seal the now open paint with a good coat of wax or the shine will go and be much harder to bring back .

Very nice that you are giving that solid car a new lease on life. I like the color scheme, exterior and interior colors, a lot.