PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

NC240D76 · #2 01-10-2003, 09:09 AM

I had not received a reply to my first post so I thought I would try again. The car is a 1976 240d with automatic transmission.
Restore is the wrong word, I am just trying to get this car to run and operate as designed.
I bought it from the North Carolina DWI auction sight unseen for almost nothing thinking that this would be a good motor for a small workboat. After getting it running (ATF down the cylinders, new fuel and a good battery) I liked driving it so much that I started fixing things and bought a parts car.
The cars starts quickly until it gets below freezing then it likes the block heater first thing in the morning or it is hard to keep running, the rest of the day it starts great no matter what the temp is. It makes a good puff of smoke when first started and slightly noticable smoke after that.
It is very slow off the line and has shifted into third before thirty mph but will run 75-80 and keep on accelarating although it is loud at cruising speed (mostly wind and diesel noise).
I have checked the linkage for wot as suggested in another thread and the transmission does shift through all three gears but I have yet to figure out what if anything the kickdown switch under the accelarater pedal does. As far as I can tell depressing it does not make a differance at any speed or in any gear.
I also have a speedometer that registers 70 mph when running aprox. 62mph, is this adjustable? Thanks in advance for any help.

Work done on the car so far;
changed all fluids and filters and belts, rebuilt starter and all four calipers and replaced pads, new tie rod end, new tires, packed or replaced the wheel bearings, repaired the windshield washer footpump system and replaced the ignition switch and crossover lock. I also converted the ac to r134 and it will freeze you even at idle. (it did take me a while to figure the climate control system out)
Stole from the parts car;
Front seats, door and trunk locks, interior lights, switches and knobs and a side parking light.
Any advice on the kickdown switch, how to stop the smoking and how to repair or replace dry rotted vacuum lines to the locks would be appreciated.