Hey Pyro,
Are you in Strictly Vintage II's, your name sounds familiar. Anyway, I noticed you are in San Diego. I am in need of info for my 1966 250 SE, It was my dad's car and the tranny has gone out and I'm in need of a rebuild. Do you know any classic benz repair or parts shop in San Diego area im in Escondido.

thanks
Rick

Pyroman! How're you doing? Didn't realize you were a Benz guy as well, nice cars.

Thanks! I love the way they ride but simply have too many cars with too little space to keep them.

Much more into my bus than into the Benzos.

www.sv2s.com

Though I am not into trannies, like even pro-racers, I usually take all my tranny work to people that know what they're doing and have all the proper tools. However, the tranny on my '70 was bad when I got it as well as the engine. Back then I had help from a mechanic friend of mine and rebuilt both for about $1500. Now, I can rebuild just about any engine but am not a tranny man. Well, my "friend" told me he'd coach me to do the tranny myself.

As much as I told him I'd pay him for the job he wouldn't have none of it and nearly forced me to do it myself.

Depending on how much a mechanical ability you have, you may want to tackle it yourself and save a ton of money. The one thing I found out about owning a vintage Benzo is that parts are not really that expensive, it's the labor that hits you! Assuming it is an automatic tranny, the thing to be most meticulous about it is CLEANLINESS!!!!! So I proceeded to disassemble it, carefully paying attention as to what piece came out of where, being organized and CLEAN!!! Then took all parts and CLEANED them. Small parts where CLEANED in an ultrasonic cleaner at least about 3 times. Bigger parts were degreased and CLEANED up using a sink or a hose, also at least 3 times. Those parts that were broken or worn out were replaced. Found an outfit near 32nd Street at the Navy base which did trannies but also would sell converters and repair kits and such. They also had a pile of used trannies and this helped replacing a couple of parts for cheap. I can't recall how much was the rebuilt converter but had to be between $50 to $75. The rest $$ was spent on filters rebuild kit and like that. Most of the $1500 went into the engine so depending on the worn or broken parts it should take less than $500 if you do it yourself.

Other than my friend the "ex-mechanic", I really don't know of anyone else that I'd trust or can afford. Good luck!