Well guys, I just got back into Mercedes in April and I have really enjoyed it. And I must say that I really enjoy the forumn immensly and it has helped me very much.
I would like to say however, that there is too much profane and foul language used on the forumn. Hey, keep that bad offensive language to yourself. It is like very bad breath and nobody needs it. This is a Public forumn and why do we want to turn off good people because we use obnoxious language. Keep it in your head! (Or use it on your dog)
That said, first of all I have been busy cleaning WVO. I have a good and simple system in the garage where I can clean 50 gallons in a couple of hours with my homemade filter. I have run about 100 gallons so far at 60 to 70 percent per tank and the 300 has not objected yet. I do find it is hard to eliminate the water from this WVO so this is a special concern. So I do run my cleaned WVO through that filter sold by Western Marine and find that it effectively removes water. Then as a final safeguard I put my clean WVO in the yellow jerry cans, and when I need to fill the car I siphon from the cans into the tank. I set the jerry can on the roof of the car and use a clear 1/2 inch plastic hose for that so I don't have to drink any WVO. It is not real fast, but I can live with it.
Also in June I went to Kentucky to pick up that parts car. I am parting it down, hoping to save all the valuables, and sending only the skeleton to the bone yard. I have sold approximately the same value in parts as I paid for the car which was $152.00. However it cost to haul a non-runner home and that was about $200.00. But I plan to put what I consider the good engine parts and the transmission under the workbench, fuel tank and exhaust in the rafters, you know, just try to keep it hid from the wife. She just doesn't appreaciate good junk.
On my 300, I have put on about 6000 miles, have changed the oil twice and just did the transmission also. I got the car out of New York, (upstate), a Doctor bought it for his daughter to use at college, but the young lady said "she would walk rather then drive that piece of junk and he said, well then walk". It runs and drives perfect, everything works really great, including the AC and CC. The brakes, exhaust, vacuum system and exhaust are all in top condition. The car does have 215,000 miles now and does show the need for some front end bushings, but that will be for next year. It does have a bit of rust damage on the left rear and both front fenders. I am replacing them with the front fenders from my parts car and have them ready to go to the paint shop. Also I am cutting the rear section from the left rear of the parts car and will have that welded in at the same time. I have the wrenches for a valve check, but they still must be bent. However the car runs too well for me to be concerned about the valves at this time. It does zero to 60 anytime with me alone in the car, I weigh in at 280 and that is running the car with the AC off. I switched the passenger seat from the parts car to my driver seat, lower part only. The design of the stiching is a little different between the 83/85 models, but you really have to study it to see it.
Then also, besides being on vacation for a good month, I have been giving "Bajaman" in Lafayette a hand in pulling and dismantleing his engine. Bajaman's post is not getting much action, I think it is now on page 5 and shows Okay, Another compression test post. Engine doesn't exhibit any big failure, but no (very low) compression on #3, big ring ridge around the top of each cylinder and like Bajaman says, "each piston seems to be very loose in the bore. All the cross hatching is gone from the cylinder wall also.
At age 73 I am blest with health good enough to drive School Bus and I enjoy the kids every day. Oh yes, I have to get on them once in a while, but I have really good kids. First a high school load, then a big Elementary, K thru 4 run and a lot of field trips. Too top it all off, the past two years I was running #38, an 89 Thomas Pusher with a NA 3208 cat V8 with an allison. I was at school yesterday and I saw a brand new one in my slot, another Thomas pusher but with a big Mercedes six cylinder turbo and an allison. What a deal, and it didn't cost me a dime to upgrade. School starts two weeks from today. Bye
