Everyone say hi to "Mert"

[JiveTurkey]

Hello peaches.
Here's "Mert" the '73 280 from Wolf Walker (Rex) who is a damned nice guy and a solid mechanic. Long story short I love this car. Its the first M110 I've ever had and I now know why so many people say Mercedes never should have ceased production of the M110. Wolf managed to even get the solex to start, idle, and run which is indicitive of godlike powers when it comes to carburettors. I spent the other day detailing "Mert." Below are the results.

Most importantly... I've already put a tank of gas through the car and I have to say Lead Substitute really makes the carb and valves happy. The occasional hesitation on heavy accelleration is now gone, and the valves are nice and quiet.

Quick Question...
Does anyone have an overflow pipe for a 617 IP I can borrow? I've got to set the timing on mine and there are no junkyards around with injection lines I can use to make the tool. I'll mail it back to you and cover the shipping both ways.

PICS!

Mert on the trailer on the way back from Rocky Mount. The powerstroke managed 16.7 mpg over the trip back with the car on the trailer.

After I got him home and before I set to work detailing.

On the left is the paint after I buffed with 3M rubbing compound with my 12amp orbital, hand buffed with finishing compound, clay barred, and waxed first with meguairs sealant followed by a coat of carnuba. Its the original paint and its like a mirror now.

Mert while I was detailing. You can see "Karl" the SD in the background (begging for an overflow pipe) and the Kubota.

These /8's are getting addictive.

I'll post more pics later as I do work on the beast. I'd say my hands are full now. Old Wilma needs a fuel pump, fuel pump relay, and pressure accumulator. The SD needs me to put the IP in and time it, (not to mention the intercooler and holset turbo and headers that I'm adding ) and the Powerstroke needs ARP head studs, a new oil cooler, coolant flush and filter, and EGR cooler delete before I can start adding insane ammounts of power to it. I'm planning Banks torque converter, SCT tune, Banks intake, Bank technicooler, and Banks exhaust.

And my Kawasaki mule blew another head gasket. And the bush-hog on the New Holland blew its hydraulic line...

In other news, theres a really nice looking 350SE w116 at a local wrecker yard. Has some rust, called the owner (remember I live in redneck land where these cars are called Murrrrrrrsedes) and he said it needs a "fuel sumthin" which I'm betting is fuel distributor. He said it was his moms car for a while and it hasnt been driven in the last two years. Its silver and looks pretty decent. I have some pictures if anyones interested. I can also help with delivery as I dont mind making a trip to in the powerstroke to help a forum member. PM me if youre interested and i'll relay the owners infor to you. I have no relation or affiliaton with the guy but this W116 looks too nice to see it sit and turn into oxidized death.

[USAROVER]

Glad to see all is well!

[79Mercy]

HII MERT!!!

haha, keep us posted as you continue with her restoration. Looks like a great car.

I love the M110 motor(never drove a carb'd one tho, or a EFI one for that matter), who cares about gas mileage when your driving a M110 powered vehicle.

[JiveTurkey]

So I'm thinking Mert deserves higher compression pistons, a new timing chain und tensioner, better cams (more lift perhaps?), a reliable replacement for the evil solex, a reworked cylinder head for more flow, headers, and dual glass packs...

What about you guys?

[TheDon]

It runs, don't fix it.

[JiveTurkey]

Originally Posted by TheDon

It runs, don't fix it.

Its 38 years old and the solex was a **** design from the get go. The cyl head will probably need work anyway so improving it without ruining the car won't be difficult. Since the head will be removed it will be cost effective to improve the cams and replace the timing chain + tensioner. Higher compression pistons will require better fuel for sure. Headers and glass packs never hurt anyone. I can make the headers from sch. 40 weld els (mild steel industrial plumbing.) This stuff is all standard old hotrod tricks to make the most out of a stout engine that was bogged down by the fuel-pinched seventies and choked by a fickle copy of a rochester 4 bbl carb.

[TheDon]

In the end it's your car. Have fun with it.

[JiveTurkey]

I'm just shocked that your response to the aforementioned upgrades was not overwhelmingly full of encouragement. Save your lack of mirth for those who put big silly wheels and overwhelmingly annoying stereos in their cars. If you still don't feel better go start an oil debate or make passive aggressive comments about alternative fuels.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by JiveTurkey

I'm just shocked that your response to the aforementioned upgrades was not overwhelmingly full of encouragement. Save your lack of mirth for those who put big silly wheels and overwhelmingly annoying stereos in their cars. If you still don't feel better go start an oil debate or make passive aggressive comments about alternative fuels.

I learned that changing it far from the original version can be a headache later down the road when trying to sell.

[JiveTurkey]

Thats true, but I always form an emotional attachment to the old ones and can't sell them. Thankfully I have a converted barn-shop-arage which can house the battered old Mercs (mert excluded, he's in wonderful shape.) I'm fighting the urge to bring home the 350SE I mentioned in the OP.

[930dreamer]

A very nice ride, keep the pics up.

[meltedpanda]

Turkey man - glad to see you are still at it!! Nice ride. i am still thinking about a late summer GTG in Central KY .. Willl keep you posted

[Tomguy]

The only thing I wouldn't do is glass-packs. Just doesn't have the classic MB sound. I prefer the sleepers though - the ones that sound stock but aren't - so I'd use two OEM mufflers for dual exhaust, hopefully keeping it factory quiet while adding more room to breathe.

[JMURiz]

+1

Keep us posted on the upgrades and the success of them. I'd keep the muffler/resonators stock (I think mine has a cool enough rumble as-is)...a sleeper is a really cool thing IMO.

I'll be following this thread for sure.

[Dee8go]

Nice ride, man!