New money pit - 1962 300d - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

klaus kallas · #16 09-27-2012, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Looks like an excellent tow vehicle!

I like your style! Hmmm..... A 12valve Cummins would fit just fine under that massive hood!

klaus kallas · #17 09-27-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziad

I have all the parts you need for the 300a, b, c, d series sedans.

Fair warning they are seriously expensive.

Give or take only 3000 were made.

Luckily, other than the hood star, it is all there. However, do need the drivers side axle shaft. Think it may have snapped when po drug it with seized brakes. Can probably get creative at the machine shop, but what would you need for a good one?

klaus kallas · #18 09-27-2012, 09:45 PM

I don't know wether to scared or fascinated by this car. Did a little more digging and discovered the overdrive unit Is driven by a Chelsea brand PTO. There is a lever by the seat that manually engages/disengages the PTO. What combination of levers, knobs, etc that need to be turned to make it move without exploding, I'm not sure. Should be interesting.

As weird as this car is, the work was professional, albeit probably done 25 odd years ago best I can tell. Very excited as to the "resto-rod" aspects of this car. Seen a few mercedes hot rods ( 1952 170, full drag race prepped mid-60s 300 coupe come to mind ) but this one will be bone stock above, but lots of polished aluminum under the hood. The Chevy orange on the engine will definitely be changed!!

t walgamuth · #19 09-28-2012, 09:06 AM

cummins six or four would be sweet!

klaus kallas · #20 09-29-2012, 12:48 AM

Well, got the axle shaft pulled tonight ( with Ziad's invaluable help, thanks!!!

). Was hopeful that it may have been a clean break but it proved to be rather nasty with chunks of metal all about in the center differential. Gears MAY be ok, but for sanity's sake I believe I will be installing a American made solid rear. Thinking something along the line of a early 80's Buick Regal. Need something coil and control arm mounted, with drum brakes and probably a bit narrower than 60" to allow for wheel adapters. Any other suggestions?

Hate to lose the independent rear, of course, but going with this set up I can put something like 2.73 gears into it and eliminate the complex overdrive set up. Also would allow for a single driveshaft. As mentioned before, car is already heavily altered and rusty underneath so not feasibly restorable to stock at any future point ( can you tell I'm talking myself out of guilt

). Really do want to drive this car, and a complete GM drivetrain would be just the ticket for cheap, reliable fun. Heck, would allow for some performance mods for that matter. Has a Stromberg 2 barrel on it right now, but a 600 Holley would be nice!

Anyway, project on hold till a rear end is located! Attached is a pic of the axle, and also a shot of the engine. Yes, that is the drivers side exhaust manifold flipped upside down with exhaust routed over the front of the engine. Rather a clever solution to avoiding the steering box! Note no attempt has been made to clean the car since being drug out of its couple decade slumber.

gatorblue92 · #21 09-30-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klaus kallas

Well, got the axle shaft pulled tonight ( with Ziad's invaluable help, thanks!!!

). Was hopeful that it may have been a clean break but it proved to be rather nasty with chunks of metal all about in the center differential. Gears MAY be ok, but for sanity's sake I believe I will be installing a American made solid rear. Thinking something along the line of a early 80's Buick Regal. Need something coil and control arm mounted, with drum brakes and probably a bit narrower than 60" to allow for wheel adapters. Any other suggestions?

Hate to lose the independent rear, of course, but going with this set up I can put something like 2.73 gears into it and eliminate the complex overdrive set up. Also would allow for a single driveshaft. As mentioned before, car is already heavily altered and rusty underneath so not feasibly restorable to stock at any future point ( can you tell I'm talking myself out of guilt

). Really do want to drive this car, and a complete GM drivetrain would be just the ticket for cheap, reliable fun. Heck, would allow for some performance mods for that matter. Has a Stromberg 2 barrel on it right now, but a 600 Holley would be nice!

Anyway, project on hold till a rear end is located! Attached is a pic of the axle, and also a shot of the engine. Yes, that is the drivers side exhaust manifold flipped upside down with exhaust routed over the front of the engine. Rather a clever solution to avoiding the steering box! Note no attempt has been made to clean the car since being drug out of its couple decade slumber.

How about a Ford 8.8 from a Crown Vic?

klaus kallas · #22 09-30-2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

How about a Ford 8.8 from a Crown Vic?

Read my mind! That is the first car I thought about! Mounting points look very similar on the lower control arms and spring perches. Uppers will need welded brackets. Only issue may be width. 62.8 inches if I recall correctly on the Ford. Need to allow room for wheel adapters. Anyway, swing axle is now sitting on the garage floor for measurements. See photos. Also, pic of PTO unit!!! Done for now, need to go be a dad for the rest of the day

(soon I'll have my little girl out there turning wrenches).

Marrs · #23 10-02-2012, 09:24 PM

Great find, for that money I would have made the same decision and bought it, so you're among friends here!

klaus kallas · #24 10-08-2012, 07:42 PM

Been taking the inside apart to get the wood refinished. What a piece of art this thing is! Half expected to see dove tail joints behind the dash. Little strips of leather to prevent vibration are a nice touch, though!

Feel silly asking, but how the heck do the inside door handles come off?? The window cranks are held on with dowel pins. Appears the handles have a set screw of some fashion but can't tell what is in there. Don't see any discernible Allen head, etc. Don't want to damage the shafts!!

crojack · #25 10-12-2012, 05:31 PM

That's really cool! makes me think of a Munsters or Addams family car, something like that-

klaus kallas · #26 10-13-2012, 01:04 AM

Slowly coming apart. The door panels and some of the wood is out (figured out the door handles unscrew from the shafts, weird). Must say again how amazing the build quality is on this beast. The last few W210's I owned soured me on Mercedes for awhile. Had to ditch those and go back in time to find the quality control I so loved

!

On the rear axle side, appears I can mount a Crown Vic axle and still keep the self-leveling function intact. Should be nifty even if it is a bit useless (unless I decide to tow a boat with it...hmmmm).

Anyone with the Star Classics Vol. 1 CD know if it covers chassis, body and/or wiring on the w189? Looking to buy a copy but have a feeling it just has the engine/tranny/steering manual which I have in paper.

Thanks!!

t walgamuth · #27 10-13-2012, 11:58 AM

I'd suspect a lack of clearance for the center of a solid axle to move up and down.

klaus kallas · #28 10-23-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I'd suspect a lack of clearance for the center of a solid axle to move up and down.

Given the shape of the frame, that should not be an issue. Have a 1985 Ford Crown Vic axle sitting on the garage floor. Stock rear control arms from the benz should work fine, and it has 5 1/2 inch spacing on the wheel lugs same as the Ford

. Heck, it is even stamped as such on the factory wheels.

Upper control arm mounts are going to be WAY interesting to mount. They come off the top of the Ford diff and go out at about a 45% angle. Frame is quite narrow, so may have to fabricate "L" shaped arms and mount them farther up. Mercedes springs set into the Ford mounts, but will need to remove them and re-weld farther to the outside near the end of the tube. Go figure the measurement to the face of the brake drums (where the wheels will mount) is 63" on the Ford and 65" on the Benz. That should give anyone who has not seen one of these beasts in person a sense of scale!! Look at the back of the next Crown Vic you see and ponder it is wider than that!

Anyway, have next week off from work and the goal is to get it moving under its own power!!

Klaus

jackson101 · #29 10-29-2012, 08:38 PM

I love it,...keep the photos coming!

mercmad6.3 · #30 10-31-2012, 06:07 AM

W210? they are Chrysler crap, not genuine mercedes..no wonder you were put off by them.
i wouldn't throw the old axle away ,it's worth dollars to other adenaur owners.
I would also forget putting a solid axle in there. with all the extra work involved fitting a multi link rear ,why not just fit a diff from a W126 560SE/SEL/SEC ? Simple set up,I have even seen one in a model A ford!.
A W124 unit would be even better.
I would also fit air suspension to keep a nice ride and you can keep the height adjust.

I have a couple of customers whose Adi's I look after . I quite like them but the chev engine should make a nice driver although a 300d in good order is no slouch.