I posted some questions a few weeks ago and thought I'd update everyone on my progress.

Question 1 had to do with not feeling like the tranny actually had 4 forward gears: I took the advice offered and started in the lowest gear... and discovered that I do indeed have 4 forward gears -- the low gear just shifts so quickly that I never felt it. I still need to get a tach so I know how fast the engine is runnning at speed (it just seems like it's turning awfully fast at 70mph but maybe that's just because I'm missing the hood pad so it's noisier than it should be).

Question 2 had to do with my carb. I couldn't get it started without spraying starter fluid (either hot or cold). I replaced the accelerator pump diaphragm (it was leaking like a sieve so it was easy to diagnose!). This (along with generally spraying the outside of the carb with cleaner) seems to have worked as I only have to use the starter fluid about 10% of the time (and mostly when the air temperature is warm). I know I have more work to do because I can see gas pouring into the inside carb throat but the immediate problem is fixed. By the way, on the last two tanks of gas I improved from 14mpg to 18mpg so I really must have been losing a lot of gas from the diaphragm.

I had another problem which I didn't post because it was already covered by another posting thread (spongy brake pedal -> bad master brake cylinder). I changed this out last weekend ($110), bled the brakes and wow! I can stop more confidently.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to help a novice MB restorer/owner. I've always loved these cars, and the more I work on it the more I appreciate how good the design and build quality was. I think long-term, though, I'll be trading my coupe for a 280 SE or SEL sedan with the six. I really like the practicality of the sedans.