The ups and downs of owning a W123.130 (non turbo 300D) - Conversion to petrol / gas! - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gatorblue92 · #1 02-14-2015, 06:44 AM

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about the impending move. Is it possible to rent a trailer over there to get the car to your new place in the UK once you get settled?

Stretch · #2 02-14-2015, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about the impending move. Is it possible to rent a trailer over there to get the car to your new place in the UK once you get settled?

The chap who transported the car to the storage place did it for a reasonable price: 70 euros (including sales tax) for nearly two hours work and the tow truck wasn't a bad deal. Apparently he does this towing as a sweetener for his "real job" which is collecting cars from other parts of Europe and selling them here in (expensive) Holland. I suggested he should have a look at the prices in the UK which are really low compared with Holland. I then suggested that with that in mind perhaps he'd be interested in bringing the car over to me in the UK when I get settled - because he could load up with something else for the trip back...

...we'll see how that pans out. Other than that an other option is to speak to my uncle who used to be a mechanic and see if he's still got his trailer. Otherwise hire of a self drive tow truck would be about the best part of 500GBP for three to four days in the UK.

There's also a vague possibility that I have to come back to Holland after all - but that depends on some legal **** that's going down. I'll know for sure by the end of March on which side of this little bit of water I'm going to be.

Stretch · #3 02-14-2015, 10:37 AM

20 points to the first person who can figure what this is going to be =>

cfh · #4 02-14-2015, 11:25 AM

Looks like you're building a shipping crate - for a motor?

Stretch · #5 02-14-2015, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfh

Looks like you're building a shipping crate - for a motor?

Yep - well done. I'll bung up the measurements for it when I'm done (and if it fits!). Perhaps these will be useful to others.

My OM617 has been rebuilt so I want to make sure it gets to my final destination in one piece. I've got to make up something for the rebuilt 722.118 too and I'll probably chuck in the 722.112 and the spares I've got from another 722.118...

Shortsguy1 · #6 11-07-2018, 09:58 PM

Hi Stretch. It was nice to see posts from you today. Whenever you become officially "back," the forum will be a better place. Hope you are well.

Stretch · #7 11-07-2018, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

Hi Stretch. It was nice to see posts from you today. Whenever you become officially "back," the forum will be a better place. Hope you are well.

Thanks chap - PM sent

Stretch · #8 11-08-2018, 11:13 AM

Hired a Transit van (I still like them even though they've gone through XX generations - one of the really good European products in my humble opinion - not as nice as a Sprinter with a twin turbo and automatic gearbox however - but hey - different price class) and went and got the engine =>

Fitted easily into the SWB Transit - I got a load of other stuff too

M115.954 with 722.119 transmission

All the bits are there except a starter motor and a dynamo. I've got a dynamo from the 300D but I have a sneaky feeling not a single one of the three 300D starter motors I have will fit!

The chap I bought it all from is a good bloke. He said he enjoyed hacking off the front of the car to remove the engine (!)

He seems to have taken his time sealing and caring for the engine - which is nice - note orange tape for example.

##########

HOWEVER - Drums please

The good thing about this purchase is that I think I've got everything I need to do the conversion (I expect a few technical hitches but on the whole I'm close to being "all set" as most of you guys in the US of A say)

#########

Additional spares =>

^^^^

One correct propshaft

One set of front springs (so I won't have some sort of messed up Mexican low rider stance) - I'm not 100% sure these will come good - they do "ring true" [clanging springs together to hear them ring is a good start - dull thuds = stress fractures / cracks] - but they are a bit heavily pitted in places

^^^^^
The correct air filter housing

Stretch · #9 11-08-2018, 11:36 AM

^^^^^
One instrument cluster with the all important speedo

84775 km == 52677 miles

I got a whole load of paperwork with the purchase. The car sat under a tree from 1981 because of a tie rod end APK failure (annual safety check). By 2013 the tree had done its best and the chassis was so rotten it got cut up and chucked. So that was the end of that.

^^^^^^
One correct fuel tank - with the anti-slosh / swirl chamber gubbins for petrol fueled cars

^^^^

One wiring loom with most of the connectors still there

^^^^
One correct differential
(That came attached to the subframe and trailing arms etc - I didn't really want the rest of the stuff - I'm not sure if those parts can be salvaged - they look pretty rough in places)

#########

Well there you have it most of the important parts for the conversion.

All in I paid 600 euros for the bits - felt bad about it and bunged the guy an extra 100 as a "gift".

So 700 in the hole - an effing good deal here in Holland - I couldn't have got a whole car for that - I'd be stuck with loads of stuff I don't want if I had got a whole car donor - and I'd have to have spent a few days stripping the bits out.

So bargain - I'm a well happy chappy here in Holland today

Downside=>

The workshop is a mess.

I guess I'll be spending the next few days tidying organising and storing bits...

...ahh "bits" => my favourite things...

Diseasel300 · #10 11-08-2018, 07:02 PM

So glad to see you back. Your threads are always such a pleasure to read with the back stories, the wisdom shared, and of course the pictures! This thread, your 201 thread, and your epic tome over on the LandRover forum (link in your signature) were a major part in inspiring me to create my own LTR thread on The Diseasel.

Stretch · #11 11-08-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

So glad to see you back. Your threads are always such a pleasure to read with the back stories, the wisdom shared, and of course the pictures! This thread, your 201 thread, and your epic tome over on the LandRover forum (link in your signature) were a major part in inspiring me to create my own LTR thread on The Diseasel.

I'm glad to be back - I think I let OD get me down - even though I didn't join in with the political threads. I've decided to "put that part of the forum on ignore" and just use the forum for what I think is more important - all things automotive...

...I will try to stick to the Mercedes theme as much as possible (!)

It is funny coming back to this forum it must be a little bit like cheating on your girlfriend / partner - you flounce off with a few different manufacturers only to find you really preferred how your first love was put together.

It is also good seeing that most of the good people are still here (as well as the OD warriors who don't join in with the technical side). In this age of insta-crap and arse-book many forums have been suffering from the exodus to these silly platforms. This forum too isn't as busy as it was but (kinda like I said) there's a strong element of keen enthusiasts here. That's a good thing that needs to be supported.

Thanks for reminding me about your thread: I've just caught up. I didn't realise you have a helper =>

That's almost cheating!

Diseasel300 · #12 11-08-2018, 08:33 PM

I tend to avoid the OD forum like the plague. I get enough politics in my normal life, I don't need bickering and in-fighting on a forum about CARS!

I actually have TWO helpers, the queen just tends to stay off to the side until her limousine is ready for her evening constitutional. So funny to see him in that picture, he was about 9 months old then, he turns 2 tomorrow. How time flies!

Keep up with your build threads, they're always interesting. I have a multi-part update for my own that I've been procrastinating on, maybe this evening is the time to finally update it.

Stretch · #13 11-08-2018, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

...

Keep up with your build threads, they're always interesting. I have a multi-part update for my own that I've been procrastinating on, maybe this evening is the time to finally update it.

Of course it is time!

As I'm sure you know these long thread are sometimes a bit lonely for the authors but they're also rewarding when you look back and think - "wow to think I used to struggle with adjusting valves"

Diseasel300 · #14 11-08-2018, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

As I'm sure you know these long thread are sometimes a bit lonely for the authors but they're also rewarding when you look back and think - "wow to think I used to struggle with adjusting valves"

This is true to an extent, but it's also interesting how many private messages I get from people who are helped by my long, boring, coma-inducing threads. I learn from other people's mistakes, I just hope that by documenting things that maybe someone can learn from mine. If I can help just ONE person who's struggling with something, that's rewarding enough for me.

Stretch · #15 11-09-2018, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diseasel300

This is true to an extent, but it's also interesting how many private messages I get from people who are helped by my long, boring, coma-inducing threads. I learn from other people's mistakes, I just hope that by documenting things that maybe someone can learn from mine. If I can help just ONE person who's struggling with something, that's rewarding enough for me.

I too always try to help - that's why I try to post on other threads too.

I think the blogging element of threads like these is also to "spread the fun" - I often enjoy fiddling and fixing stuff and want to share that enjoyment. Sure there are times where you wish you hadn't started something but if you own up to your struggles often someone will pop up with a helpful comment to speed you back on track.