HI, Just wanna share & also need some advice, sorry for my poor english.
Just got 85 380 SE plan to restore to as much as possible to original condition. the first owner said the car sitting for 10 years in drive ways so the paint really bad, but the body look good, speedometer show 83900 miles, I start removing radiator, condenser,alternator,power steering pump,a/c compressor, clean it check it one by one look all in good condition but a/c compressor have bad clutch & also leaking probably need new one, also found timing chain a little loose, will need new one too, next step will continue check valve condition,still a lot of work to do in coming month or years probably, I am old guy work very slow.all comments and advice welcome. here some picture

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Welcome to the forums.
Looks like you are having fun which is a good thing.
Ask away as you have questions, some very very
experienced folks here.

__________________
1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

thank you Bob. one thing I want to know about a/c before i remove the compressor I found a lot of leaking around the hose coming out from compressor,and there no any pressure no more freon all dry already,my question is if I have to use R134 instead of R12 can i still use same rebuild compressor? how about dryer, and hose system.how about condensor;evaporator.i want to make sure what parts i have to replace and what parts i can reused it. Thanks to "pelikan tech info" I learned a lot how to do with this project. thanks

To get the full benefit of a decent operating system using R134 you need to use an upgraded condensor. The existing condensor, designed for R12, will not flow properly.

You also need to replace the expansion valve and dryer. If the hoses are original to the car you might as well replace them.

I'd suggest getting a new/rebuilt Sanden unit as a compressor and a condensor designed for R134.

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my 85 380se dash is cracked in the same spots, but your interior is much nicer shape does yours have that wonderful high idleitess? and wow what a clean engine. have fun great car

sorry what it is High idleitess?. any one know ho to read color code the label on frame

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Color code 881.

sorry bad attempt at humor, my 380se had a bad idle computer so it had a high and erratic idle and it seems to be a common problem on these cars

no problem , anyway how do you do with that erratic idle can you fix it?
and thank you also for Dr. Sternschnuppeother for color code 881 = metallic green ?

yes fixing a fast idle can be as easy as putting in a new idle control module, its a little black box on the firewall takes longer to get the hood up and the box opened than to install the ICM if your car idles normally but out of no ware jumps its idle to 1500 rpm and then back to normal (550 rpm or so) then that's usually the problem

881 - thistle green metallic.

HI, anybody know where does this vacuum line go,there "thermo vacuum valve" with 2 rubber elbow one connected to charcoal canister but the other one just there no hose attache,see drawing # 5 & second picture is actual location in red cycle;
thanks
Tom

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new picture of my project still(slow)working on interior

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Did you replace the timing chain rails? They are plastic, and break as they get old. When they break, they get under the chain, and ruin your valves. Also, is that a double or single row timing chain? If it is a single, you should change it to a double row.

Good luck with your project!

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09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

yes i did replaced double row chain, the engine now running but got problem with idle. unstable, sometime 1500 some time 1000 but some time it 700
I replaced 02 sensor , cleaned idle speed Valve, replaced idle speed control,
still working with this issue. looking around for ISV but some one asking over $1000. for new Valve it.s Crazy, even used one around $ 400-$500 ???
here some other picture : replaced creaked dashboard too, see the licence plate still have 1985 tag

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