1980 Mercedes 450SL won't start, fuel in exhaust

[Cyclops]

Hi All,
I'm hoping you can help me. We picked up this 450SL several years ago, it has never run right, low power, rough idle. Last year it was leaking fuel at the pump. I pulled the pump and filter, replaced both and all the hoses. I noticed a lot of debris I. The lines so I pulled the filter screen at the tank and found it was full of sand! I pulled the tank and sure enough it was full of dirt/sand. Looks like someone didn't like the previous owner. Anyway I cleaned the tank, replaced and the back end of the fuel system is clean. I pulled an injector, it was fouled and combustion was occurring up to the seals. I replaced all the injectors and plugs. Then my trouble began. I decided I would clean the fuel distributor, no problem, I bought a diaphragm and oring kit, disassembled it all and replaced all the rings and the diaphragm. It all went back together well. I put the fuel distributor back in and reconnected everything. The car started, sputtered and died, saw gas coming out of the exhaust joints. Plugs are soaked. So my bench adjustments is the fuel distributor must have screwed things up. Any thoughts on where to start diagnosing this fuel issue? Thanks!

[RobertinMN]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Hi All,
I'm hoping you can help me. We picked up this 450SL several years ago, it has never run right, low power, rough idle. Last year it was leaking fuel at the pump. I pulled the pump and filter, replaced both and all the hoses. I noticed a lot of debris I. The lines so I pulled the filter screen at the tank and found it was full of sand! I pulled the tank and sure enough it was full of dirt/sand. Looks like someone didn't like the previous owner. Anyway I cleaned the tank, replaced and the back end of the fuel system is clean. I pulled an injector, it was fouled and combustion was occurring up to the seals. I replaced all the injectors and plugs. Then my trouble began. I decided I would clean the fuel distributor, no problem, I bought a diaphragm and oring kit, disassembled it all and replaced all the rings and the diaphragm. It all went back together well. I put the fuel distributor back in and reconnected everything. The car started, sputtered and died, saw gas coming out of the exhaust joints. Plugs are soaked. So my bench adjustments is the fuel distributor must have screwed things up. Any thoughts on where to start diagnosing this fuel issue? Thanks!

Yikes--I would not rebuild my own fuel distributor. That being said, you still need to set the pressures and need a specific tool kit for that. You must set the pressure to what the manual shows you.

I know, old post, but someone my stumble on to it some day.