Recently bought a 72 220D from a friend. I new it didn't run well but wasn't sure all of what was wrong with it. But since old stick shift diesels are so rare here in the midwest, I figured that I had better get it while the getting is good.
Just got word from the shop that the injectors in it are no good, and that the generator I just had rebuilt now no longer matches up with the old plugs, despite the alternator guys assertions to the contrary.
Any suggestions, what injectors should I get to put in an old diesel that would maximize its fuel economy? And where should I go for new plugs?
Thanks
Warren

Were the injectors individually bench tested to spec, or is this just a wild guess on their part? Very, very rare for diesel injectors to die under 250k miles. And replacing an entire set is unheard of.

Is it glow plugs yer talkin about? If so then "not matching" is an impossibility because glow plugs run off battery power. And when yer 220D is running with alternator crankin away the GP's aint even drawin juice.

Warren, my advice is find yerself an actual diesel mechanic like at truck stop or ask around at feed store for diesel tractor mechanic. Gasoline engine mech's are notorious for peddling unneeded injectors and treatin glow plugs like spark plugs which they aint got anything in common with.

Good news is the primitive 220D shares injectors and glow plugs with early version 240D up until about 1981/82. Ask around at the Diesel Forum if ye aint done that already. BTW, nice snag - the 220D 4cyl 4-spd... arguably better than later versions.

__________________
'80 300SD/ w116
'79 240D 4-spd
'71 750cc Guzzi

previously owned:

'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
'72 250/8
'65 220Sb 4-spd
'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd

I agree with everything dieseldog said.

I had a 72 220d. Loved it. manual steer with no ac. a simple car ordered by a farmer near here.

just a fabulous driving car. excellent quality.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom, how have you been and how goes the hotrod w123 5-spd 280E w/blue-printed engine project? If it was me, I'd badge that beast and take it on vintage race circuit.

Remember the "Silver Bullet" 1978(?) w116 6.9 that made Vintage MB history heard round the world blowin the doors off contemporary V-12 Benz in 1/4 mile times.

I am having a lot of fun with it. I have done a couple of autocrosses with it already, and am hoping to go sunday to one east of INdianapolis. I just had the rear diff welded so I can get off the turns better.

I have been surprising some faster cars with it.

At Grissom a month or so ago I beat a honda s2000 and three of the five lotuses that ran in my group. Won my class too, but was uncontested in it. The guy who lined up in front of my with the s2000 was suffering to be beat by a scruffy taxi looking 123!

So it is a lot of fun. Prepping it for vintage track racing would involve a fuel cell, an external electrical shut off and a roll bar. Road racing slicks too. It is a little out of my budget right now and after watching them go at it at Road America in Vintage racing, hammer and tongs, I am not sure I have big enough "Cojones" to do it.

It is in my mind though.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I ran it today at colombus at the autocross. It sure changes completely how the car behaves. It digs right in exiting the turns, and if you lose it a bit it is very tricky to catch. Get sideways and eventually it will bite and you are sideways the other direction in an eye blink.

I did a 270 and almost ended in the corn and my lovely #4 daugher who was running the car too ended up in the corn.

But we had a great time. In our class ESP the competition was a new GTO running r compound tires too. The primary driver of it beat me by a whisker and I beat the secondary driver. My daughter was fourth of four in class.

Not bad for a 23 year old car rated at 185 hp versus a pretty new car rated at 350 hp and a curb weight of 3750.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Gotta love the W114/5 chassis with the 4 speed!

Tom, post some pictures of the autocross!

__________________
1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

No no, these guys are legit. It is a fellow just north of Hutchinson Ks, well known in the area for working on all sorts of European imports. Has a huge collection of Mercedes in his front lot. He bench tested all the injectors and found that they wouldn't hold any kind of spray pattern. The plugs I spoke of were the wiring plugs from the generator into the wires leading off to the charge light, the battery and else where. Didn't know if there were any special injectors that I should ask for or what.
Thanks much for all the replies!!
Warren Martin

I will one of these days.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.