240D & Ru$t - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vahe · #1 03-21-2004, 11:45 AM

I have a 77 240D, mnual trans., two years ago I installed a new engine in this car, this engine was purchased from Houston MB dealer and it has about 28K on it.
My car has some rust, with that in mind let me ask this question, I have two options to consider:
Have a body shop take care of the rust and repait, my guess here is about 4K total.
Or,
Find a late model, 82/83 manual 240D, reasonably rust free and install my engine in it, this will probably cost about the same.

Question: will the 240/77 engine fit a late model 240 without much custom work?

Thanks,
Vahe

Stevo · #2 03-21-2004, 02:20 PM

vahe

I would look for a rust free car

No problem swapping. Just use the new style GPs and the later 240D wiring. The transmission reverse linkage rod may have to be swapped also but really not a problem.

jim16671836 · #3 03-21-2004, 02:39 PM

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND HOW IS YOUR INTERIOR????????You can fiberglass a lot of rust for very little money...borrow a small grinder or buy one and grind out the rust and then fiberglass it....if you do the work your self it will cost including buying a 50 dollar grinder less than 200 dollars to do a car with a lot of rust...and it doesn't take a lot of time to do it...buy a couple cans of primer and a couple cans of paint that are a close color to your car...any area you primer go ahead and spray with the close color..this stops moisture from penetrating primer...you work the fiberglass down with about 100 grit and then 220 and then sand again after primer and then after painting you 400 wet or 600 wetsand. Then if you want you buy acouple cans of matching paint about 18 a can and go over all the area you have painted...it is easy after a little practice..
if you want more information maybe your local library or call me...jim harris 1-812-897-0022 during the day...southern indiana

vahe · #4 03-21-2004, 02:58 PM

"WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND HOW IS YOUR INTERIOR????????"

Currently the car is in the eastern Washington State, a true desert climate, where I am on a temporary assignment, but soon hope to return back to Houston, this is a 20 year Houston car, the interior is near perfect, the dash is original with no cracks.
The extent of rust is at the bottom/inside face of the two front doors, couple of spots extending under front windshield and some areas under the car, the pan, directly below the seat areas.
Unfortunately I am not a DIY'er, so I will have to take it to a body shop when I return to Houston.

Thanks,
Vahe

william rogers · #5 03-22-2004, 03:37 AM

If you have no underbody rust sounds like a keeper to me, I bet you can get quality body work and paint for under 4 K if you shop around.......

William Rogers........

jim16671836 · #6 03-22-2004, 09:03 AM

If you are returning to Houston you mught try a tech high school..many of them do body work to train the kids...they charge very little...Be sure you talk to them about using fiberglass. It is not much higher than using bondo for the materials....their are 4 types that I use...3 in cans...one is kitty and the hair is the largest and then a can that is medium sized hair and the third is very fine and the forth the angel hair comes as a cloth type and you mix rosln with a activator and coat the cloth on both sides....It is really easy to use the can products and not much harder to use the cloth

whunter · #7 03-22-2004, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jim16671836
If you are returning to Houston you mught try a tech high school..many of them do body work to train the kids...they charge very little...

I second that motion. Re: Tech School