First day home from vacation, spent a little time under the 560SEL. Feel I reached a milestone in bringing her back to life.

Today I got the new flex disk installed, tranny mount and cross member. Also picked up an exhaust support bushing kit at the dealer (thanks to Aaron's tip) and installed the kit loosely until the weight of the engine/tranny were resting completely on the tranny mount, then snugged the bushings up.





I also installed the shifter, shifter rod bushings and shift rod. I devised a handly little tool for pressing in the bushings. I had the camera in the garage with me, but got on a roll and forgot to document the installation. For future reference the press consists of a 17mm socket, a U.S. quarter (or similar sized coin) and a small clamp. Soak the bushings in hot, hot water for a few minutes, then place one bushing in the hole, place quarter on bushing while backing up the opposite side with the open end of the socket. Sandwich the mess in the clamp and tighten it down. Does a nice neat job of pressing the bushings in. Once done, all the was required was "rolling out" approximately 1/8 of the diameter of the bushing which didn't come through. use a small fine tipped screw driver, slip it under the portion that came through and roll it out. I'm sure it helped that I had the levers in hand, not mounted in the car.

Once all that was done and adjusted, I closed the tunnel and replaced all of the exhaust hangers. The hangers for the center mufflers were real buggers, but persistance and a floor jack paid off. Now the exhaust is sitting factory tight to the floor.

After a short break in the action, I just had to verify that everything worked. With the car still in the air I topped up the tranny and fired her up. After a brief warm-up, I shifted into reverse and surprise, the tires turned - the right way even. Next I ran her up in drive and tires turned nicely, speedo works and there was absolutely no vibration or odd sounds.

Did find out I will have to go through the brakes as the rear calipers appear to be frozen. Parking brake works, but the foot brake slowed the tires very slowly.

Still need to button up the SRS system and reinstall the interior, plus replace the tie rod assemblies (they arrived today, I might tackle them tomorrow). Then it'll be time to replace chain guides and roll in a chain. Someday I'll be done.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Its alot of work but it pays off on a car like this, especially the w126!

Keep us up to date!

__________________
99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

Knocked out the tie rods today in about an hour. Nice to see the front wheels in line with the rears, at least now it will roll without turning.

This is what winching a heavy car using "J" hooks on the tie rods will do. The tow truck driver should have used "D" hooks instead. the part that really irked me was that both the left and right tie rods had recently been replaced with genuine MB parts. I might save the tie rod ends that don't have damaged boots, just to have as spares.



And comparing the old and new side by side.



Once the tie rods were done, I moved inside and reinstalled the crash sensor, the rear air ducts an floor heater duct on passenger side and the side panels for the center console. I have a replacement center console as the original had all the attachment points broken. I couldn't find one in beige but found a nice one in black. I decided to deviate from factory and go with the black console, it should look nice in contrast to the beige, and should tie in nicely with the black dash pad. I'll have a picture when it is installed.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Got the center console installed today. What a PITA getting the rear air vent control cable back on. It was also quite the pain to get all those fiber optic lights back in the climate control. Found it worked good to snake all the wires and optics through the panel, get the panel in place then attach the switches and optics. Made the job much less frustrating.

Still have to install the stereo, but all the major parts are back in place.



Not original, but I think the black console plays nicely with the black dash pad (and the greasy hand prints , of course they'll be cleaned up).

Here's one looking through the sun roof

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I've been following your work rather quietly since I joined a couple of months ago.

I applaud your efforts.

I concur with you that the black center console looks nice, surprisingly. It contrasts well with the parchment interior, and completes the alternating pattern of black, parchment, black, parchment, etc. Just like Greek architecture and landscape design...

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

VERY NICE I didn't even notice at first. Just out of curiosity where are you getting parts from? It was always hard to find that kind of stuff for the 500

Thanks for the encouragement y'all . I have to admit I was a little unsure how it would look myself, thought it would be OK, but wasn't sure. Once I set it in, I saw it looked pretty sharp and knew I had a good thing. Once all the work is done, I have a heck of a lot of cleaning to do. Then we'll get some good pics going.

I'm getting a lot of my parts at the salvage yard Benzman, it just takes a while to find the good stuff. Spend enough time at any particular yard, and before long you'll know where the good stuff is. Plus you'll know when a new arrival has been stashed in the back lot. Those are the ones you want to scope out ASAP.

I'll keep the work documented as I go.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Just was wondering cause I am in junkyards all the time with the BMW and have seen one euro 500 and one v8?? that is burnt. Good Luck I envy you

Dan, you'd probably keel over then if you found out what he paid for that car

Kuan

Mike, you're making great progress. And I agree, that black console looks great, and I had my doubts when I read your original post!

I wish I could get my butt in gear and start my s/c project. I'm painting the valve cover right now, actually, I'm stripping the old paint off the valve cover so I can paint it. I'm also starting a brake upgrade project for the 190. Oy, too many things to do.

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Woke up today determined to make some headway on the 560. Started out with swapping the brake fluid reservior as the old one was cracked on the back edge. This was the reason there were no rear brakes. Once the reservior was installed I filled up with fresh synthetic DOT4 and hooked up my $12 "Donald Swinford special" pressure bleeder . Blew out a lot of nasty looking fluid, then ran plenty of clean stuff thru the lines. About the time I moved to the front brakes the 5 year old wanted to help, so I reverted to the two man method. After carefully explaining what she needed to do and what I would be doing, we set out. A few minutes later the fronts were bled and the pedal was firm. I figured if Larry Bible could make a great brake bleeder out of his daughter, I could do the same .

Once the brakes were bled, I fired the engine and dropped her in gear. Yep, the rear brakes were working.

That test out of the way, I disconnected the battery and finished out the steering column. Replaced the combination switch, face plate on the column, and the steering wheel. Reinstalled the steel plenum, underdash and trays. Pulled the replacement air bag from the trunk, made the connection and bolted it down. Then I made the crash sensor connection. Once that was all done, I hooked the battery back up and climbed in the passenger seat. Took a deep breath, reached across and hit the key.

The engine lit right off, my fingers crossed, the air bad did not deploy, YAAAHOOO, I did it right. Well, almost. I missed something because the SRS light is still intermitently lit. I'm thinking the seat belt tensioners went off when the bag did. So I have to round up a set of tensioners.

Feeling pretty damn good, I decided it was time to take her off the stands. Once I got the car on solid ground I got brave.



I inched her forward, let her see the light of day. Once out of the garage, my driveway slopes away fairly steep, I was feeling good and moved out a little farther, and decided before getting too far out I better check reverse. Stuck her in "R" and the car rolled forward, a little gas and she rolled forward a little more. I thought "S**T, after all that, I'm gonna hafta replace the tranny"!!! Then I remembered the same thing happened after the radiator repair on the 4.5, when I lost about 2 quarts of fluid.

Put a quart of ATF in, and reverse caught. Whew. I had gears in both directions I got brave again. This time took her all the way out to the street. Once on the street, I just had to go 'round the block. Did good, seemed like a little surge at about 20MPH, slow to engage reverse coming form drive, or vice versa. Got back to the house, checked the tranny and added yet another quart. Gotta take another spin. No surging at 20, and nearly instant engagement "R" to "D" and "D" to "R" .

Here she is out on the street.



First time since August that she has gone anywhere under her own power. What a feeling of accomplishment. I wonder if my HOA would frown on a "Mercedes Service" sign planted in my front lawn .

I nosed her in the drive and let her idle for a while. Then I did a power steering fluid and filter change and let her idle some more while I picked up tools for the toolbox and collected broken parts for the trashman. She looked nice sitting next to the 4.5.



Still need to do a fluid and filter change on the tranny and the differential needs a fluid change (if I can ever get the fill plug out), plus a timing chain, tensioner and upper rails. Also still need to locate a fresh set of rims and new tires. But first I have to find out more about the ETR and locate replacements to get that SRS light to go out and stay out. Maybe then I'll sit back and actually take a day off.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

VERY NICE! Congrats

Excellent Work!!! You remind me of my Dad, jack of all trades!

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

congratulations, i can't imagine taking on a project like that! I'm a W126 driver too(albeit a 300SD, but hey, a 126 nontheless) and aside from the lack of power, i love it. I'll bet with you taking care of the car your 5 year old daughter will be able to take her first drive in that thing. congrats on an awesome accomplishment!
Ryan

__________________
83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

It is so awsome that you are doing all of this work by yourself! I love the black console against the seats, but dont you think it would look better against Palimino? Is the V-8 really strong? I think the W126 just looks so (For lack of better word) expensive. I'm interested in puchasing a 560 for a tuner car. Any suggestions?