New 1976 (115) 240D (for me anyway)

[piccolovic]

Well sports fans, I brought home a $500 240D which was leaking oil, fuel, and power steering fluid like a seive!!! Got the leaks fixed before I left LA to return to Montana. This car is basic manual everything, and no A/C. Put used injectors that were tightened and tested for psi and the engine is quieter and black smoke went away. However, now I still have white smoke and lousy mileage and still using some oil. Any suggestions besides STP additive? I also replaced all the fluids in 4-spd trans, rear end, oil in engine, replaced all filters, windshield wipers, front brake pads, drained the cooling system and replaced the rusty water with real coolant at 70% which is recommended for my weather, etc.

The car feels solid, doesn't shake and drives cool. I still have questions that my limited manuals don't answer.

I seem to have a rear window defrost system that I don't know how to turn on. Where would the switch be, if there is one. I don't know if this year came with one and mine in simply a replacement rear window.

Also, I have a complete 190D 2.2L, 5-spd drivetrain. What would it take to put the 190D drivetrain on this body? Is it more trouble than its worth?

Oh, the color is horrific -- butterscotch. There is some rust, but not too bad. It does need an alighnment, but does not shimmy right now, just lightly pulls to right when braking. Tires were in excellent condition with aggressive tread, which was a surprise for no-name brand.

What are the three or four positions for on the ignition switch? It has a pull-switch for the starter. Which position is for the glow plugs? Right now we rigged up a Montana glow plug system by putting in a push button activator for the glow plugs.

Dash lights don't work and already tried replacing the bulbs. Any known common way to fix this?

Any other suggestions on checking/replacing as part of bringing home this big ??? car with unknown history?

I appreciate any helpful hints I can get, especially if they're cheap to do.

Thanks,

Vicki
piccolov@3rivers.net