Getting closer to relaunching my fin
 

It's been a while...

Just a few more pipes - keep going

looking forward to the launch! Been driving mine daily , so much fun!

It was a greasy mess before.

Good to see another Finny getting ready to hit the road.

CTD, I like your collection

Thanks! The 220D is my long distance driver, and the 230 (fintail) is used for shorter trips around my state. It's got the M180 with twin Zenith carbs, four on the floor, and about 100,000 km on it. Those old finnies are wonderful cars, aren't they?

CTD, how do you define long distance in your 220D? 3 years ago I drove my 300D from Cali to Massachusetts. The car handled the trip great but I didn't push it too hard. The flow of traffic was definitely beyond my pace and I concluded that these things just weren't practical for interstate travel anymore. (Road/wind noise, no A/C, slow)

Next time I move, I plan to take smaller scenic highways when I move the diesel. Ah, I should specify that I mean the non common rail diesel.

I used to do about 100 miles a day commuting with the 220D - mostly two lane roads at 45-50 mph. I also continue to use it for 1500-mile trips up and down the East Coast, typically over the Interstate highways at about 60-65 mph (it gets rather noisy at 70). The 220D does very well with that, getting over 30 miles per gallon and 500 miles per tank. Never did an East Coast to West Coast trip in it though!

I've put about 100,000 miles on the car over the course of my ownership, bringing it up to around 400K total.

I got everything hooked up today and she actually turned over! I really didn't have any idea if she'd actually run or not, given all that I tinkered with.

I had to head off to work so I didn't get into adjustments. There were also a few leaks at the carbs, hopefully that's normal after a rebuild, just needs tightening.

She did get a little fussy when I turned her off and tried to restart. I hope that's not an indicator of a problem I didn't correct.

Spent some time on her today and she was not playing nicely at first. The same sputtering and stalling that sent me into the carb rebuild 9 months ago was back. I just couldn't get her to stay running and was starting to sink into despair. Then for no particular reason, after the nth restart, she just settled into an idle and stayed there.

This gave me enough time to hook up the timing light and dwell meter and take some readings. I made adjustments to the idle mixture screws and that brought the idle up to about 1060 RPMs. The idle adjustment screws aren't even pressing on the linkage so that RPM seems high according to literature with just the mixture screws alone, but it sounded ok and I was able to blip the throttle without it dying. A hot restart was also easily achieved. (This is a small miracle in itself)

Some of the leaks were controlled by tightening, but the fuel return valve incessantly leaks. I can only pray that MB still has this available.

I may have to remove the carbs from the intake again to tighten the throttle body to float body screws. Also, my generator is not supplying any voltage, so even though I took her out of the garage just to move the wheels, she's a ways away from a drive and I don't think that will happen before we get our first snow/road salting.

The 1 yr old gas continues to languish. I might limp it up to the gas station just to get some fresh fuel in it.

I really don't know why she started to cooperate all of a sudden. I can't say it was my mechanical prowess. I think these things are mysterious and they test you. The MB spirits showed mercy on me.

perhaps some air in the lines, and old gas can be an issue. If you can set the points to correct gap then start and time , I bet your idle will come down . have you adjusted your throttle linkage to make sure it is not pulling the throttle bodies open ? The valves are available, but are pricey, did you replace the washer between valve and body?

Yep, replaced the washer. It's spewing out past the pin so based on the epc view, I'd bet that internal diaphragm is shot.
Dwell was showing 42 degrees and timing 10* BTDC at ~ 900. A bit off but I was just so thrilled that it ran.
Linkages should be ok but will check again.

Can you post a pic of the connections at the voltage regulator at the firewall? That's the one thing I didn't photograph before removing.

Thanks!

sure , I should be able to do that tonight

not sure this will help, the color is gone from the wires and I shrink wrapped them , sorry . All I can tell you is that the brown small wire goes to the left ground screw. The first wire may be yellow, I would be guessing on the others
sorry