I have not installed a set of stem seals since the mid seventies.
It was on a small block chevy. I would like to see a picture of the tool which you used to compress the springs. I also changed a spring on a toyoto ( that I borrowed from a friend at the wrong time). Had to make the tool on that one too. I just traded a 240D for this 380SE and had nightmares the first night after the trade. Perhaps you can help me along by sharing what you know about the 126 380 series.

Dan

emmydotnet: Seems I may have failed to answer your compressor question so will do so now. I assume you are referring to the air compressor for charging the cylinder, so would suggest that you look into Checker/Kragen/Shuck auto part stores. They frequently advertise a small chinese "Nokita" brand twin-tank contractor-style unit for $99 which is a wonder of capability in my little home garage. It puts out 115 psi and about 4.5 cfm which is suitable for most of the jobs you'll ever have to do, except paint the car, not enough capacity/tank volume for that. Mine is wonderful, nicely compact and handy as a pocket on a shirt. I coupled it with $40 worth of good rubber hose and connectors from Home Depot and a set of Costco air tools for $89 and man I'm "Mr. Nascar pit-stop" for tire changes and everything else my old bod can handle.

Cheers,

230/8

230/8..
thx for info on the air compressor. i will check it out.

Make sure the timing chain is a duplex and not a simplex one, i.e. dual row not single row. Next, make sure the chain guyides are in good condition otherwise the drivers side one can break, get sandwitched between the chan and sprocket causing the sprocket to slip. If this happens, the valves and the pistons collide and you can figure the rest.

What nightmare?

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

Dan: Just a test, but if this works, here's the tool I made/used:
http://testpractise.homestead.com/SpringCompressor.html
(For the life of me, I've tried to post a picture directly using this forum's attachment feature, but after an hour of frustration, I give up. For anyone who knows, how did the poster of the topic "Orion H2 15.2 box build.." in the Car Audio forum manage to post all those huge pictures??)

Anyway, I made this from tubing, some 1/4" rod, a clevis pin, bolts, and washers, all stuff laying around my shop. I use a short piece of slightly larger pipe slipped over the handle as an extension. There's a tool on EBay that is the real mcCoy, so you can compare. Search under 'Mercedes tools'. Also, see other posts with pics on this forum.

emmydotnet: My compressor is 5HP, with a 30 gallon tank. I made it from parts ordered from a supply house, a second hand tank, and a used motor from a local repair business. I would think any 3 - 5 HP unit should be able to sustain 100lbs pressure, though, for the time it takes to do each valve.

Re. the 380, I was fortunate to get this car from who I believe may be the 4th owner. I know for a fact that the owner previous to him let the motor go dry of oil , so he had my friend (a now retired MB trained mechanic) rebuild the engine (a 5-figure job, BTW). That's how I know I got a good car, as the body has been redone, and the inside is nearly immaculate.

The only real bugaboo that irks me is the hardening of all the rubber bushings underneath. I think that it would ride 100% better were I to take the time and bear the expense of replacing all of them.

__________________
1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus