Started on the Resurrection - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

OldPokey · #1 10-02-2006, 10:40 PM

I got the 300TD home last Thursday and finally got time to work on it today. I decided to start with a valve adjustment, as I figured that a good look at the camshaft would give me an idea as to the condition of the rest of the engine.

After removing the air cleaner, I noticed the bracket was broken, and after removing that noted one of the washers on the mounting bolts was missing - and BTW, so was the bolt that fastens the transmission dip stick tube to the manifold. Disconnecting the linkages I managed to loose one of the circlips (the one securing the shaft from the throttle pedal).

Once the valve cover was off, all the cam lobes looked nice and shiny (under a coating of black oil), so I am feeling better about the engine.

I went through the valves as detailed in the MB CD, and found everything was way too tight, except for exhaust valves 2 & 3, which were spot on. I haven't had this much fun since I used to adjust valves on my Beetle. The offset wrenches from Diesel Giant worked very nicely.

The old valve cover gasket was completely stiff - it broke as I stuffed it into the trash bag. No wonder the transmission and bottom of the car are so liberally coated with black tar! In the process of re-installing the valve cover, I pinched one of the fuel return lines. No problem - I was going to replace the hoses anyway, but it meant I wasn't going to start the car today!

Since the hood was up, I liberally oiled all the hinge points, and the hood now pops up nicely when I pull the release.

So far so good - next I drain the little bit of diesel left in the tank (along with whatever has accumulated in there while the car was parked for a year), and a laundry list of projects to go...

bgkast · #2 10-03-2006, 04:10 AM

Let's see spme pictures!

OldPokey · #3 10-04-2006, 12:47 AM

OK - I jacked up the back of the car, put it on jack stands and crawled underneath. Interesting - this fuel tank has no strainer! Just two hoses, clamped to nipples. Sprayed the clamps liberally with PB Blaster, and let it go to work - not that it turned out to be all that necessary, most of the clamps were so rusted they just about fell off when I applied any torque to the clamp screw. Amazing that the rubber lines did not leak.

The 3/4 gallon of fuel (dyed red?) came out - not very much water in there at all! While that was going on, I removed the right rear wheel to take a look at the brake pads - I have to consult the manual to see how thin is OK. There's a bit of ridge around the disk, so I suppose they will have to be replaced when I change out the pads...

Once the tank emptied, I installed some nice fresh Gates fuel hose and new clamps all around. Hopefully, I won't have to think about them for a while...

Here's a link to my photo album on the project:

http://www.spottydog.us/Photos/benz/index.html

Next is to take a look at the brakes and replace the master cylinder. The old one works fine, but is leaking around the reservoir seals and is a rusty mess... Lucky the car came with a new one in a box.

JimmyL · #4 10-04-2006, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPokey

OK - I jacked up the back of the car, put it on jack stands and crawled underneath. Interesting - this fuel tank has no strainer! Just two hoses, clamped to nipples.

Just to clarify, the strainer is not where the hoses come out. It is on the bottom of the tank, kind of in the middle. Here is a pic of mine on my old 80 wagon....

OldPokey · #5 10-04-2006, 11:32 AM

OK - I thought that was a drain plug. Since I didn't have a properly sized hex wrench, I left it alone. If I had a proerly sized wrench, what size would it be? Thanks!

Johnhef · #6 10-04-2006, 11:35 AM

46mm

gatorblue92 · #7 10-04-2006, 03:49 PM

sounds like you are doing it all right and that wagon looks pretty good too aside from all the dust covering it

OldPokey · #8 10-04-2006, 04:12 PM

It sat outside in a gravel lot for a year. The kitty footprints are new!

BobK · #9 10-04-2006, 08:05 PM

What a bunch of gear-heads we are. Here we all are (approvingly) looking at pictures of his camshaft. I'm sure my wife would never understand why it is so interesting to see a nice cam in good condition. But to us it's a wonderful feeling to see all is well and our friend is surely on his way to making this fine car run like a top.
Looking at the car makes me envious and want to kick myself (again). many years ago when my third child was born, we suddenly realized our four seat cars were going to be a problem with our five seat family. I knew a fellow who had been restoring a benz wagon and he had lost heart in the job. Really, it just needed finishing put back together. Porbably could have bought it right. Didn't. Bought a very fine looking Volvo GLT wagon instead. If I only knew then what I know now. The wagon I almost bought was also the dark blue. They flat out look fantastic. Love the color on the wagon.

t walgamuth · #10 10-04-2006, 08:30 PM

yes, it looks like a good solid car.

keep up the good work!

tom w

OldPokey · #11 10-04-2006, 09:14 PM

Went down to Sears today to see if they had any 14mm Hex wrenches. They had 12 and 17 - but no 14. Too bad the differential doesn't use a 17mm tool - I have one left over from changing the tranny oil in my old beetle. I guess I'll go clean the old diesel/oil/dirt film out of the air cleaner. Tomorrow I'll try the big NAPA store...

BobK · #12 10-04-2006, 10:07 PM

If you are looking for 14mm allen wrench, AutoZoo has a set of three-12, 14 &17 for not much money.
Oh yeah, 1/2 inch drive.

OldPokey · #13 10-05-2006, 09:51 PM

I got the 14mm socket from AZone and it worked nicely. Both plugs came out of the diff and gear oil poured out - and looked reasonably clean. The new gear oil went in just as it started to rain. A short, easy project!

OldPokey · #14 10-20-2006, 04:08 PM

Finally got some serious time to work on the 300TD -

Drained engine Oil, found it was way low due to broken oil gauge line and botched fix. Replaced oil filter and o rings on oil filter housing shaft - they were so brittle they just fell off. Replaced broken line to oil gauge. Filled up crank case with some fresh Rotella.

Drained transmission fluid and replaced filter. It was an easy job, just kind of messy. I see lots of hoses and lines just hanging loose where mechanics didn't bother to reconnect the hangers. Filled it with fresh ATF.

Replaced leaky radiator with the spare one that came with the car - flushed it out and pressure tested it for leaks first. Pulled thermostat out and filled radiator with clean water and some cooling system flush.

Ran diesel purge - didn't do much as injectors were pretty clean. Ran about another quart of diesel to let the coolant flush do its thing.

Drained coolant and flush - replaced with Zerex G-05 and distilled water.

Replaced leaky fuel primer pump and filters. O ring that came with filter was wrong one - replaced crush washer and brittle o ring on the filter bolt with correct parts!

Wow - I could not prime from fresh diesel in tank although it works fine from improvised Gatorade bottle. On further investigation I found I had a major leak in the fuel supply line right over the rear subframe! I'm going to replace it with hose for the time being until I can take the time to put in some new steel line there...

Next is brakes - need to rebuild the front calipers, replace front rotors. The rear parking brake shoes also need replacement as the lining fell off one of them when I pulled the rear brake disk to inspect.

OldPokey · #15 10-20-2006, 04:16 PM

I Forgot - the master cylinder was fine, the reservoir was leaking from a crack near its front half. What I thought was a "new" master cylinder was used and stuck, fortunately its reservoir was fine - so I just replaced the broken one and cleaned up with a can of brakekleen. Old master cylinder looks dry now!