Hi folks,

I'm wondering if someone familiar with a W123 with the 1985 California emissions package can help me. Part of the engine swap I'm working on requires a body-mounted air cleaner instead of the engine-mounted one that we're used to.

The air cleaner "can" itself is identical on the 1985 California 123 and 126 models. On the 126, it mounts to the body with a bracket off the radiator support and has a round plug that fits into a hole on the "frame rail" behind the passenger-side headlamp.

I looked at my 1984 300TD and could not find a corresponding hole for the bottom of the California air cleaner. I also did not find a hole in the inner fender for the fresh air tube.

If someone with a 1985 W123 with California emissions can explain and/or photograph the way the air cleaner mounts to the body, I'd much appreciate it! If the car in question is a wagon, I'm also curious as to where the suspension fluid bottle goes.

Many thanks,

Ted

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K

The air cleaner sits on a 3 legged pedestle with 3 screw holding it down.
I did not hook up the air inlet hose to the outer fender.

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1985 300D California w/cat. (257,000 + Miles)
1980 300SD (208,000 + Miles)

Thanks - if anyone has any pictures or part numbers for the brackets that would be great.

Russ, does your car have that hole in the inner fender?

Ted

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K

Took me a bit to figure out how to up the pic,s.
Yes, it does have the hole for the fresh air in the right fender, but I do not use it. It was not connected when I bought the car, maybe to much dirt and stuff getting in the air cleaner?

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1985 300D California w/cat. (257,000 + Miles)
1980 300SD (208,000 + Miles)

We just took the fresh air hose off the 85 last week because of too much road dust and it's staying off. The car has to drive three miles of country road to get to the main highway. The air filter was choked even though those three miles are driven very slooow.

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1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

Thanks all - interesting stuff.

Does it look like your inner fenders were hand-modified? I looked on the parts fiche and saw no available fender with the hole in it. Unfortunately the air cleaner stuff seems to be on the engine parts fiche - which I don't have.

Ted

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K

It is a factory setup, even the air inlet hole in the fender.

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1985 300D California w/cat. (257,000 + Miles)
1980 300SD (208,000 + Miles)

Right - performed at the factory but I was wondering if they only specially fit the CA cars. This 1985 300D (non-California) on eBay has that fender hole too, but I've not seen any earlier cars with the hole. It looks like that fender hole was a running change - very expensive for the final year of production!

So does the pedastal screw into the sheetmetal or is it somehow a different stamping - i.e. could the pedastal be easily retrofitted to an earlier car?

Ted

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1983 240D automatic, Orient Red, 174K
1983 240D manual, Biscayne Blue, sold at 341K

It just bolts on, seperate part. Unbolt from a parts car and bolt it in yours.
The air outlet, to the turbo, could be a problem, as it comes almost straight up 90 degrees from the bottom side of the air cleaner. Guess you could cut it off and weld in a short straight piece, then use a 90 degree rubber elbow (if there is enough room, going to be tight) to the turbo inlet.

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1985 300D California w/cat. (257,000 + Miles)
1980 300SD (208,000 + Miles)

Here is the pic I posted before from my 126. It definately looks like the cannister is the same. It seems like the top mount bracket is a bit different. I am sure they mount the same at the base.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Gee. What a great ****in' pic. Do you think it will let me post something smaller? (sarcasm)

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R