Last summer, once school was out, my daughter's car gave me fits and she was much of the summer vacation afoot. Now that summer is here again for her, the car decided to lay down again.

She has done a great job keeping the oil sucking beast's crankcase full of oil, but it has finally made it as far as it will go without more attention.

The number one cylinder is down to 105 PSI. I squirt in oil and it comes up to 160. Last summer, I pulled the head and did a complete valve job, head straightening, etc.

She is really discouraged with the car, but most everything else about the car is in great shape.

I suppose I will pull it apart, have the cylinders bored or sleeved, new pistons, a timing chain, oil pump and bearings. The head was thoroughly rebuilt, so I'm just going to pull it off, set it aside and put it back on. That is, unless someone knows of a known good normally aspirated 300D engine available cheap.

My main reason for this post is to whine. When I bought this car it looked and drove great. The problem was the lieing $0& that sold me the car, looked straight in my eye and told me with a straight face that it used no oil.

I really would rather do something in the heat this summer besides rebuild this engine, but it looks like I have no choice.

Whine, whine, whine....

Larry,

Could I offer you any cheese with that whine???



I'll keep my ear to the ground for any good 300D engines 'round these parts.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

See Larry building tht fence is not so bad now!! I would almost rather take a whippin than do an engine. Of course while you toil in the heat down there I will still be fencin up here, to darn hot for me but I'll have to do it anyway. Thats the thing about Christmas down there, it's always hot so it just lasts all year. Good luck on your search, I don't envy you on this one.
Ric

Larry - you could always go the GM small block route like Richard did a while back. I saw one locally where a guy put a 305 small block Ford in one. I personally always try to do the "big" projects during the spring and fall - that way it is not so hot.

__________________
Jim

Larry,shipping might be a factor but I have had very good luck with Micheal Medill in Portland Oregon. He has an independent MB shop and sells used MB parts of all kinds online his web site is http://www.mercedesusedparts.com
William Rogers........

Greetings Larry,

As you have mentioned to me in the past, might as well just do it. From what I have seen from performance parts, you can probable get the parts needed pretty cheap as long as there is someone that can install the new liners for you as well as the new pistons etc. You should be able to get through this deal without spending a grand and basically have a decent engine on your hands. Good Luck Bill,

Let us know your results and successes,

Charles

Welcome aboard, Larry. 'Bought my 81 300D from a friend with whom I have lunch several times a week. I remember when he bought the car new a little over 20 years ago. The car only had 123kmi on it. 'Didn't look so good when I got it because PO never washed and waxed it. 'Looks great, now!
When I asked about oil changes and consumption, PO/friend said he thought it may use a "little" - service guy "took care of it". According to PO, oil and filters were changed every 3k to 5K. I thought, "With only 123kmi and reasonable oil changes, how could anything significant be wrong with it?" Well, first time I changed oil and filters couple of days after I bought it, I discovered that the oil filter was DRY, DRY, DRY - yes, I mean DRY - nothing wet inside the cannister - just thin, DRY, black crust on everything, and had been this way for a LONG time!!!
Air filter in it was a Ford or GM somethinhg off the shelf that was way too small - 1/2" or more, too short - most air into the engine was not filtered at all!! To make the filter situation even worse, PO drove the car every day to his plant a mile or more down a dusty dirt road. PO said he had paid for new filters at every oil change - considering the scam on the filters, the oil, itself may not havce be4en changed at all!! 'Car uses qt/300 mi; in shop now for, suddenly, VERY low oil pressure at idle.
All of that is why I say I may need an engine.
Good luck!

Wilton,

Good luck back at you. They say misery loves company, but I wouldn't wish this kind of misery on my worst enemy just so I could have company.

I have to put a timing belt in my wife's 4Runner this weekend, then I plan on moving the 300D into the hot shop and start on it. My shop has 16 foot doors on both ends, so if there's any breeze at all, at least it won't be completely scorching. I have two box fans that I hang from the rafters and aim where I'm working. I'm not looking forward to it, but I guess I have no other choice outside of buying my daughter another car, like I say no other choice.

I'm getting ready to sweat heavily thanks to a "look you in the face and lie" person. THEY'RE OUT THERE!

Good luck with yours,