Lets Brag: What have WE all done Automotively this spring of 2007?
 

I had a productive year cut short by a move cross country. Last fall I had finished painting my Mercedes 300D and was wet sanding it and buffing it out. Over the winter I have done some engine compartment fixes, like ALDA and linkage tuning to give it some pep. I have to finish up some underbody rustproofing.
I rebuilt the Turbo on my SAAB and boosted it to 230 hp and put in a whole new set of springs and struts.
I changed out two windshields.
I drove cross country twice and climbed out in a rainstorm to remount a caliper.

My future motorheading looks ominous.
Out here the houses are almost as close as townhouses and they look like they are made at "Ikea" --they look pretty, but they are not very beefy and do not absorb sound. I would venture to say you could hear an Air Compressor running even if the garage door was closed.
These houses are made for Urban Metros____ ls and not for sloppy messy motorheads who like to poke holes in the wall to run wires and air lines and wipe their hands on the wall or park cars on jackstands a week at a time...( I hope I have not offended anyone)

Also I have a case of Fatigue. Painting the 300D, driving 2x X country and moving twice make my legs feel like wood..

Hmm. well I scraped the dead clear off the paint on my SD, installed a new set of pencil glow pluggs in the 79 TD, changed the Valve cover gasket and adjusted the valves on the SD...

Currently, I'm building a carport to cover our beloved diesels. I also installed euro lights, fuel filler neck grommet, o-rings on the oil/air separator drain, U Tube seals, bumped idle up a bit to compensate for A/C compressor, Oil changes, broke my fan shroud, so looking for another one, valve adjustment, and replaced front wheel bearings, front break calipers and pads, and front brake hoses.

About to replace engine mounts again...

So far this spring/summer: Installed Vegistroke system in our F250, recharged a/c and replaced vacuum modulator in the wagon and rebuilt carb on Chevy II.

Installed me Euros, changed the oil and installed a new oil pan, washed it.. alot

soon a new water pump will be installed. yet to be done .. the AC .. I need to get it done

Squat :(

I think I'm going to opt for fixing the spots of rust and chips on my TD and keep as much of the original paint in tact as I can as opposed to repainting the whole car. If all goes as planned I hope to start poking away at it once the kids get out of school in a couple weeks. I want to get the engine compartment cleaned up, too. Some Simple Green and elbow grease should do wonders. Maybe repaint my Bundts.

I wish I had more time to play/work on my cars but they're several notches down on the ladder.

I've changed the oil in the Mercedes and in the TDI.....that's it. :D
That's right, I haven't done enough.

The Mercedes needs a new fan clutch, and this time I'll be replacing the tensioner shock as well so it doesn't kill the clutch again. The now-dead clutch is only ~6 months old. The roar is unbelievable when the clutch doesn't disengage properly.

The TDI needs a new timing belt, water pump, and associated stuff...must be done before 100k.

The E300 needs new tires soon, perhaps I'll find some 18" AMG Aero II's and put some summer rubber on them, save my old 16-inchers for winter duty.

The E300 also needs new wood trim on the passenger's door, around the electric seat controls...the veneer was peeling back from the wood base, then someone broke it completely in half. Looking very ugly right now.

hmmm
 

95 e300d
Delivery valve seals
Fan clutch
Diesel purge
shut off valve
fuel filter
some fuel hoses
T-stat
Coolant flush
Lower rad. hose
Trans cooler hose assy.
oil changes
washings/waxings/rain-x-ings
tire rotation + new air
plugs and wires

I haven't done a thing this year. I have better things to do. Namely a 2 stroke engine sitting in my porch that needs fixing.

Oil changes don't really count.

danny

1981 300D:
oil/filter change
diesel purge/ fuel filter change
replaced all under hood fuel lines/ injector return lines
replaced radiator and coolant hoses
monovalve
unhacked most of the under hood vacuum system

2002 F350 PSD
several oil changes
new drivers side front wheel bearing hub
new front brakes
driveshaft U-joint

1980 Jeep CJ-7
prepped Impco parts for propane conversion
prepped GM HEI distributor for HEI conversion
built rear leaf spring packs from Cherokee leaf springs for wheelbase stretch/spring over axle conversion
acquired new front fenders to trim for clearance

transmission servicing

reapplying undercoat after checking for damage

rotors, brakes, repacked wheel bearings with new grease

new front left caliper

used power steering pump

concern about head/headgasket issue that I might have trashed my "new" used engine

EGR valve was stuck so I lubricated the valve and unstuck it with the help of a MityVac

changed out rear differential fluid,

replacing rear right amplifier for the 10 speaker sound system (e-2)

driveshaft center mount (again)

new fuel lines both supply and return

cleaned tank strainer, and advanced timing a bit,

replaced all 6 heat shields and made sure there were zero compression leaks

---------------------

That's for my 350SD. Right now I just have to check into the E-brake (squealing once in awhile) and trace down a slight vacuum leak.

Bought another diesel: '99 E300D - now 4 diesels in the family - the "new" one, two '80 300 TDs, and "new" in December, '97 Dodge 3/4 ton Cummins 12-valve pickup. That's enough for a while... Steve

Attained zero leakage in the vacuum system!!!!
tried to install an A/C compressor and killed a reed valve or something (it hasnt seized, it just doesn't get enough differential)


Got my car back on the road after about 1.5 yrs

Yey!

swapped into a '79 300SD

-wiring harness
-sunroof frame, guide tube and cable
-engine and transmission
-entire interior
-cross yolk with new bushings
-steering box
-all 4 wheels

and still far from done.

Bought my first Benz diesel. Learned quickly how to change fuel filters as I transitioned it from D2 to B99 fuel. Changed the oil and filter. Changed out the return fuel lines (today!).

Got a BMW up for sale.

A new oil pan is on the way for the Shelby Cobra (old one leaking at the weld for the drain plug bung), so I'll be doing that in conjunction with an oil change in about a week.

That's all that comes to mind right now...

Cheers John

Hmm, let's see --

New belts

Rebuilt A/C system (New compressor, accumulator/dryer, expansion valve, flush)

New blower motor assembly

Did the dual brake light conversion

Installed Blaupunkt CD/Radio

Rebuilt door lock vacuum system and installed keyless

Replaced fuel filler neck grommet

Reattached and tightened U Tube

Adjusted rack damper (wow, that made quite a difference!)

Also adjusted idle to compensate for A/C compressor

Changed lower oil pan gasket

Transmission fluid change/filter/pan gasket

77 300D Mr Lincoln, bought 13 May 1977, Knoxville Motor Company
New climate control from Unwired.
Changed oil, filter, fuel filters
Air filter
Bilsteins all around
Rear sway bar links
Rebuilt Transmission
Rear Brake Pads
Water Pump
Fan Clutch
Thermostat
Radiator
Michelins
Belts
Numerous Vac leaks
Washed many times, cleaned engine compartment
Used McGuires paint cleaner and Waxed
Cleaned interior, treated with Lexol, dash with 303 (great stuff)
Lubro moly injector cleaned

TO DO:
New hood pad
New windscreen
Replace window rubber on all doors

Wow, 2300K later But he runs great, cold in summer and warm in winter.
Original paint looks good, a little rocker panel rust to fix, may try some rust treatment and fiberglass?
Ron

1999 E300 90k: new left outside mirror $$$ (ouch)
new michelins all around
tomorrow oil, air and fuel filters

1998 GMC 'Burb K2500 6.5TD 165k
front hubs
powerslot rotors:cool:
skyjacker shocks
HAWK HD pads
steer tie rods
rear shaft u-joints
new orings for oil filter adapter
left side sway bar drop link, MOOG

1998 M3 85k gasser faugetaboutit, but plenty o'maint:o

1996 Deere 770 335hrs (1.4 NA yanmar diesel):cool:
fluids and filters
rebuilt 261 mower deck

Have fun wrenching!!

For the 84 TDT:
2 new rear doors (still looking for a hatch)
replaced glowplugs
installed fuel preheater
replaced blower
installed a blaupunkt head unit, amp and bypassed the fader

For the 82 SD
New windshield
Repaired cruise
Repaired clock
Repaired fuel sender unit
Installed a nice KW head unit
Fixed driver seat power adjust
Cleaned tank screen
Installed new monovalve
Installed new ws washer pump
New exhaust hangers
Had front tranny seal replaced
Learned a lot about vintage MB diesels

w210 - tires, brakes, fluids, rear window lip spoiler, trunk lid lip spoiler, tinted the windows, waxed it twice, new alternator, new drink holder

W202 - tires, brakes, waxed once, changed oil, new antenna

SD - rear dif, half-shaft boots, brakes, radiator, evaporator, grill, thermostat, electric radiator fan (last 4 because my kid's freind backed into the grill with a pickup), driveshaft, right mirror, right door glass, tires, adjust valves, clean engine compartment, rebuilt climate control unit, new antenna

163 - totalled it

129 - new antenna, alternator, air pump, checked the timing chain (ok) had fun for a couple of days getting it restarted and still don't know what was wrong

SEL - nothing

201 - complete removal/rebuild of rear subframe (sandblasted and coated) with new shocks, accumlators, frame bushings, custom made links with adjustable rod-ends, 500E brakes all 4, tires and wheels

PV - rebuilding 3 572 engines. New ignitions (distributors, modules, wires, caps, rotors, harnesses, plugs), new valve trains (chain, cams, lifters, pushrods, inconnel and stainless valves, new roller rockers, new timimg covers), new bearings, new rings, new oil pumps, new recirc pumps, rebuilt all 6 carbs, re-stripped the blower rotors, new harmonic balancers, re-rig the engine room, paint the engine room, freshen up the drives, repaint the drives, repaint the transom, make new boat covers (summer and winter).

Coming up - maybe the head gasket on the 129. Maybe Eibachs on the 210.

Bought car in mid February w/195k miles
 

Since then:

1) Had power steering pump replaced;
2) New belts
3) New tires
4) New bilstein shocks front/rear
5) Engine seals replaced. Valve cover gasket, too. Expensive labor $$ on that visit.
6) New ball joints
7) New rear axle
8) Sealed windshield w/silicone
9) Replaced RPM sender
10) Greasecar kit and flat plate heat exchanger
11) Replaced instrument cluster added LED lighting, painted needles
12) Added passenger side rear view mirror
13) POR-15 and fiberglass patch on passenger side floorboard rust :eek:
14) Installed Pioneer Mp3 stereo, new front/back speakers

I did the stuff that didn't require a lift or draining lots of fluid. :)

Still to do...

Climate control unit
New trunk seal
Subwoofer in trunk w/Alpine amp
More anti-rust activity!

Whew... that's just off the top of my head.

-Chuck

Lets see...
Changed oil.
partially repaired vac system (locks now work, still sluggish on the shut off).
Cleaned injectors, replaced glow plug (miss when cold and nailing GONE).
.
.
.
stripped out the motor mount bolt on the passenger side... Indy fixed (along with steering shock/dampener).
still shakes like a MF.
-nB

Finally got my sunroof to work. adjusted the ALDA almost all the way out and man what a difference. some of the ventilation speeds and functions work now. But the biggest thing that bothered me the most was fixing the vacuum problem so the car will shutoff with the key.:D:D:D:D

Plenty
 

On my 85 300D Turbo, I replaced the front brakes, replaced the left rear axle, oil and transmission fluid change, brake fluid change, added one can of R134 and a small can of oil. It is running really good, just a delight to drive. It does have a serious rust problem, all cosmetic now, but I know there are weak spots in the floor. PO was a MD in upstate New York and took great care of that car. But 20 years in that envirement will get to an 85 Benz.
So when Bio Pete in Nashville offered up a non running rust free junker from Nashville, I jumped on it. The car is a mess and needs a lot. I have replaced both axles and the drive line and rear flex joint. The drive line I bought was really not that much better then the one I had, though the rear centering bushing was gone on the one I had. First of all, though, I had to tow it home from Nashville. Since I don't have a pickup anymore, I rented a tow dolly and towed it home behind the Lincoln. Trip was OK, though we did run through quite a bit of late winter snow and rain and cold. This was at spring break in early April.
Fortunately, I have a lot of parts from that 83 I parted out 2 years ago. Next time I do that, I will salvage many more parts. It makes me feel bad that I sent that old girl to the crusher with so many parts
So, starting with a new battery, I started adding all the parts that had been salvaged off this car. That included the whole radiator assembly, glow plugs and controller, AC compressor, radiator hoses and miscellaneous other pieces. After changing the fuel filters and a lot of hand pumping and leaking return lines, I did get it to run. It smoked and stank and belched something awful, but it was running.
Then, about a month ago Bajaman came over to help me for a day. What a going little mechanic Brett is. He does have the touch! We adjusted the valves and did a compression test. Compression is far from perfect, but it runs out good. The first two checked out at 450, number three at 325, number for at 425 and number 5 at 375. So we could now see why it idled so rough. But Brett had taken his pressure pop and pattern tester along so we checked out the injectors. The two cylinders that had the low compression also had injector problems. Both had terrible patterns and one would pop only at a pressure of over 2000. So I still had all the injectors in that rather junky engine out of the 83 and that solved the injector problem. An immediate increase in running performance and idling, (that is, in the garage).
Then late last week, I finally took it out for a test run. First just around our little subdivision, but then in the morning quiet, for I don't have it registered, I took it down the road a mile where there is a very little used country road which divides a couple of soybean fields. I did change the transmission and the converter fluids before I drove it. The stuff would hardly flow out. It looked like a black tar - awful looking coming from a Benz transmission. But just a little test drive indicated it was not all toast. First gear is weak and I have to stay off the throttle until I hit second, and then it really wants to go. Without any vacuum on it, up and down shifts are a little firm, but not too bad and the shift timing is very good. Actually from say 10 to 70, it seems a little faster then the 85. On the second day I looked at the transmission fluid and it looks pretty bad after 25 miles. So I pulled about a quart out and added a 15 oz. can of Trans X. It does seem that first gear is getting a bit of a grip, but it has a long way too go. Probably won't make it. I am going to run that fluid another couple of days and then I will dump it and I will refill with new and add a quart of Lucas additive.
Well, it has been fun so far. The whole vacuum system is a total mess. The connectors are all so oil soaked they just fall off when I look at them. So right now I am just running vacuum to the brakes.
But the body on this little sedan is like the day it was made. I think it has been resprayed on the sides and below the belt molding. I have pulled all the carpets out and the trunk like wise, and all is in perfect order. Battery tray and under it also, just like new. There are a lot of acorn shells in the crannies under the hood, must have housed some squirrels for a while. The exterior is gold, interior is saddle and not too bad except for sun burn on the drivers seat and center arm rest. I suspect that might be from sweat and too much sun. Some of the wood trim is missing and other parts are pretty bad, but I have spares for that.
My plan is to continue working with it to really bring it back to first class condition. I have an extra transmission, from the 83, and was told that it performs very well. So my plan is to nurse it along until next spring, and then pull engine and transmission out of the 85 to put in this 84. Then this engine along with the transmission from the 83 will go back in the Blue 85 and that will be my bad weather car That doesn't need AC and I will just use it in the winter for as far as it will go. So, I have done quite a little and have more to do. Days are hot, so I get up early and work 3 or 4 hours, stop for breakfast and call it a day.

rebuilt all 4 brake calipers
new rubber brake hoses
new pads
rebuilt vac pump
new belts
new radiator
new water pump
new hoses
new intake/exhaust gasket
valve stem seals
valve adjustment
valve cover gasket
installed less worn out turbo
new to me exhaust system
fuel sender unit
new air filter mounts
couple of oil changes etc.
new window track guide (have part/ need time)
When I think what else I'll edit.....
just drive the hell out of the old Benz.:D

Well, let's see, sinc The first of the year I have:

(not necessarily in order)

Gotten 84's frame straightened ($500 :eek: )
Retrofit 91 420SEL Tilt/slide sunroof into 84 SD
reconstruct the myriad of cut wiring harnesses in the 84 (this car was originally being parted out..)
layed wiring to trunk for Amps/Inverter in 84
Added booster battery to trunk (Small motorcycle battery to sustain amps/inverter during starting)
Replace trunk seal on 84
Do minor surface rust repair on 84 from wreck damage (Tennessee car)
Start parting out 82
Move 82's engine/tranny to 84
Flush power steering system and fill with fresh filter & castrol Dexron ATF
fix interior surface rust on rear passenger floorboard due to flooding during storage at body shop.. :mad:
Lay groundwork cables for built-in car computer & future GPS navi in 84
Pull interior (minus seats) from 91 420SEL..... UNCRACKED DASH!! :D
Change oil to Mobil1 ATF
Seal up Chain Tensioner leak, oil filter leaks, & Oil pan leaks.
Modify heater box to acheive heat from rear cener vent in 84 in cold weather.
Move 82's tires/rims to 84
Install NAPA on-board 1.5amp trickle charger.
Install Euro lights
Remove, disassemble, clean, reassemble, and install rear tail-lights in 84
replace front passenger door seal on 84
fix more wiring harnesses in 84.. :D
Replace both flex discs, center bear & bearing support on 84
Wash 84
Install grill/badging from 82 onto 84
remove cobbled up aftermarket alarm system from 82, install in 84; connected to stock door pins and stock siren.... (Anyone who didn't know better would swear that my 84 came from the factory with remote locks and start... yep, the install's that good! :cool: )
Use up about 1/2 lbs of solder while wiring up harnesses! :D
Repaint slightly rusty battery tray on 84.
Remove 84's secondary firewall and thoroughly clean all leaves/debris.
Put 82's almost new wiper blades on 84
Powerwash engine/transmission while out of car.
Put new PS & Water pump/alt belts on (contitechs)
Replace rubber bellows on both front doors of 84
Re-align both front doors so that they close correctly..... :eek:
Move power window motors / regulators from 82 to 84.
Move all ACC electronics and blower from 82 to 84.
Pull entire heater box on 84 and clean evaporator & heater cores (Really nasty in there!!)
Probably more, but I'm tired of typing!!

Also:
Replace PMD & put on Heatsink and relocate to grill on my Grandma's 6.5L TD Chevy 1/2 ton....required extending the wiring harness.... maybe this PMD will last more than a year........ :rolleyes:

I think I've got most of ya beat!! :D

manual transmission swap
refurbished the driveshaft (including flex discs)

If nothing else gets done, that's fine with me.

New battery. Replaced wastegate vacuum transducer. Replaced shutoff valve. Washed. Washed. Washed. Need to wash again :P

Did an oil change on the truck. Kinda hard to believe that my little 602 has more oil in the pan than that Ford 5.8L V8 :confused:

since april i mostly just turned the key
but last week both back windows the pop rivet in the slides let go
then the diaphram in the shut off wouldnt hold vacumn i'll get tired of raisin the hood to shut it off soon
still lookin at the nasty job of changin outh the oil cooler and lines and yes prolly motor mount and motor shocks too AS LONG AS I AM IN THERE
sigh

My big one was not work, but a purchase....another W123 300D. This makes four of them in the driveway. It is a sickness.

Think big! I bought this:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../500Front4.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...s/500Rear1.jpg