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  #1  
Old 06-19-2007, 09:36 PM
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Location: Raleigh NC
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1984 Mercedes 300TD project

I thought I would start a project thread about my car as I work. It turns out that it’s a '84, not an '83 300TD turbo. As given to me by a neighbor, it has been sitting for at least a year and driven very little for quite some time. So far all I have done is replace the battery and given it a thorough cleaning. I was amazed at how well the interior came back. I found a sweet Ace of Base cassette under the seat. It was the album with I Saw the Sign, the mention of it should be all that’s required to get it stuck in your head. The exterior, despite a scrubbing, still looks like a battleship. I have been collecting parts for it while I wait for free times to attack it. I replaced the four year old battery under warranty at Napa, which was a surprising turn of luck. Today I bought both fuel filters, a new oil filter, a couple gallons of oil and antifreeze, those silly little copper crunch rings that go on the oil pan plug, and a new air filter. Next weekend I plan on starting it, changing out some fluids, and testing it out on some back roads. Perhaps if its roadworthy enough I will bring it home sometime in July. My parents were talking to a neighbor, who turns out to be an ex-Benz diesel enthusiast and is offering a set of alloys (period AMG's? please? maybe?) with new Michelins, some specialty tools, and a set of factory service manuals for a yet undetermined price. My goal for this vehicle first is to get it running reliably and replace whatever is needed to do so. I am planning on new filters and fluid flushes. I know it needs at least one new wheel stud; I bet it will need new pads and rotors. I will repack the wheel bearings while I am in there. New belt(s?) and hoses, I should have bought those today. After it is drivable, then it’s on to rust repair. It will need a new hood, cowl, passenger side front fender, and passenger side rear door. The tailgate has a nasty dent in it too, Ill have to decide if that’s easier to fix or replace. The quarter panels are full of rain water, I don’t know if it has drains, if not, it will get some. It has some rust issues on the rain channels and around the rear windows that need to be cut out.



I do not know how I will repair those as of yet, there is a process that is supposed to be cost efficient where I believe they blow liquid zinc into the cavity. I will at least seal it with a rust encapsulator for the time being. It will remain the original color, and will probably be multicolored for awhile knowing myself and my budget. I plan on installing a decent stereo system, nothing that will make the license plate rattle. I would like to find a set of 1980’s era AMG wheels for it. I’m sure some components of the suspension will need to be rebuilt. I would like convert to biodiesel. I would also like to straight pipe the exhaust, hoping to attain something that sounds similarly aggressive to my buddy’s turbo diesel F250. Current investment is around $75.50 for oil, filters, and fluids. I am sure that is just a drop in the bucket compared to what I will find. I hope to sell my Volvo within a few weeks to fund more progress on the Benz.

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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #2  
Old 06-20-2007, 09:13 AM
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Welcome to the TD club, Andrew! I've got about twice as much invested so far as you do but that's only due to pure luck and timing. At the very least stabilize those roof and pillar spots with some POR-15 to keep them from getting worse. Those aren't inexpensive or easy spots to repair (at least for an autobody repair novice like myself) so at least put a stop to it ASAP.

There is a common saying around these parts, the most expensive car you'll ever own is a cheap Mercedes. Yet you'll notice that a good portion of the members own more than one. That speaks volumes.

Good luck!
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)
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  #3  
Old 06-20-2007, 09:40 AM
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...
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #4  
Old 06-20-2007, 09:42 AM
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I have an 80 TD that is in pretty good shape for body panels if you need them... looks like it's the same color as well!
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #5  
Old 06-20-2007, 06:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech View Post
I have an 80 TD that is in pretty good shape for body panels if you need them... looks like it's the same color as well!
Ill take em! Ill send you a PM to find out what you were lookin to get for them.

Id like to see your camaro and travelall too, my brother and my dad will buy a scout, get sick of it, sell it, and then buy another one soon after.
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #6  
Old 06-20-2007, 08:37 PM
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cool, looking forward to the PM
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #7  
Old 06-24-2007, 10:21 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Raleigh NC
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So I remembered my keys this time, hooked up the battery, cleaned out all the grass from the air cleaner and....it started on the first crank. Idled rough for a few minutes and then smoothed out. I drove it around a bit, took a bit of doing to get it out of the hole it had sunk into, and the turbo started coming to life. Put air in the tires and I was good to go. I love the car. I now have $89.00 in it, including half a tank of diesel. I need to get it tagged and insured and I will drive it home.
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #8  
Old 06-25-2007, 05:52 PM
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No Love...
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #9  
Old 09-09-2007, 09:22 PM
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I finally got it back to Raleigh today, did it really take me that long? Runs great, brakes are weak and the rear end sags bad. I need to figure out if its the SLS valve or if I need new shocks or both. Going to start stripping the trim off of it an addressing some of the rust problems.
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #10  
Old 09-09-2007, 09:29 PM
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The oil pressure guage stays pegged on the highway and I'm not really sure if the turbo is spooling, I'm planning an attack on it this weekend.
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #11  
Old 09-09-2007, 09:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ View Post
I finally got it back to Raleigh today, did it really take me that long? Runs great, brakes are weak and the rear end sags bad. I need to figure out if its the SLS valve or if I need new shocks or both. Going to start stripping the trim off of it an addressing some of the rust problems.
Check to see if there is fluid in the SLS system. There aren't any shocks in the SLS. There's a pump, a valve, two hydraulic rams similar to shocks, and accumulators. The rams don't fail very often. Given the rust on your TD, I'd suspect a rusty leaking line.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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  #12  
Old 09-09-2007, 09:47 PM
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Cool, Ill crack open the manual an check it out.
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #13  
Old 09-13-2007, 03:48 PM
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As she sits, looking a little like a 4x4. For someone unfamiliar with the workings of the Benz suspension, where is a good place to start trouble shooting? I am going to try to get it up on some jack stands this weekend, but its squatting so bad in the rear I can't even see what is there. Is the SLS pump under the hood? Is that where I should check for fluid? Will any hydro fluid work? The valve I think from pictures is under the car somewhere?
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1983 300TD - resto project
Wanting Volvo 142/242 and a Jeep Grand Wagoneer
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  #14  
Old 09-13-2007, 04:00 PM
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The SLS fluid hydraulic reservoir is under the hood behind the headlights. On your year it's probably on passenger side.
And Andrew, you've had 3 months to hit that search function man. Get to it!
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'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #15  
Old 09-13-2007, 04:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ View Post




As she sits, looking a little like a 4x4. For someone unfamiliar with the workings of the Benz suspension, where is a good place to start trouble shooting? I am going to try to get it up on some jack stands this weekend, but its squatting so bad in the rear I can't even see what is there. Is the SLS pump under the hood? Is that where I should check for fluid? Will any hydro fluid work? The valve I think from pictures is under the car somewhere?
There's more than you can read about SLS in this forum.

For starters, the SLS pump is driven by the cam chain and is mounted on the front of the engine head. Meyle SLS fluid is recommended in the system but I use John Deere HyGard (another high quality hydraulic fluid) in my car and haven't had any ill effects for many thousands of miles.

Do a search in here on SLS and you'll have reading material for eterntiy.

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