It lives, 616 compression restored
 

I've had a really nice, 78, "pastel gray" 240D sitting in the barn for a couple years and finally transplanted a parts car engine into it. This engine needed an aft main seal so I replaced main and rod bearings, o/f housing gasket, timing chain..etc. It wouldnt fire up, not even a "cough", checked compression, cant remember the numbers but they were LOW, too low. Pull started it and took it for a 60+ mile jaunt up some pretty good hills, still wouldn't start when cold. I was getting ready to pull the engine but decided too check the compression again. #1 showed 300#!! The GPs I installed had tested good but two had died and evidently the Italian tune ups had restored compression but the two bad GPs had kept the car from starting. All the cylinders checked out close to or above 300# and with all good GPs she lights right off. The engine had sat around for more than two years and I guess the rings were gummed up. Point.. "Italian tune ups" worked for me.:D The GP light didn't indicate any problem because the "fast" GPs and new relay had been installed by the PO, which, I guess doesn't give warning of malfunction.

These diesels should start even with no glowplugs if dragged for that many miles....very odd. :confused:

My "post glow" relay will not consistently tell me if I have GPs out. If #1 is out, the light will not come on. If another single GP is out the light will still come on normally. With 2 GPs out, it's inconsistent. Last week I had one GP out (rough starting) and before I replaced it I lost another one; the glow light still came on, but seemed to go off too quickly. Strange.

You didn't read all my post:), it did, started before we hit the end if the driveway (800 ft). Actually it started in the shop when I put oil in the cylinders also. I suspect the oil (1/2 ATF, 1/2 lub oil) helped free things up too.

I've never had a car where the new relay was used. As I remember the light still warns you of bad plugs if you have the old relay, having switched to the new style GPs.

That is great, Stevo!

Tom W

Keep those pistons coming, checks in the mail, I will still put together a short block :D

I have too admit, I wasn't looking forward too pulling that engine. It looks so clean and nice in that car:D

Never underestimate 240D engine or call it prematurely "dead." These are easily the most under-rated diesels MB ever built deserving of cult status all their own. Anybody who's ever owned one remembers their 240D better than any other Benz that followed.