Okay gentlemen - I spoke directly with the guy at Adsit who is working on my long block. I politely relayed concerns about the quality and particularly the customer service at Adsit and advised him that this was not fun hobby or project car. He told me that there were no Asian parts - all German although not all MB. He told me that MB pistons had had a problem with correct sizing briefly and told me that the rebuilt engines either got sleeves or not depending on the spec's and what was possible. He sounded reasonable and reasonably intelligent. I'm guardedly hopeful. We'll see. It's supposed to be delivered to my indy in Santa Fe the week of the 19th of this month. Photos when she's up and running again and I'll post monthly reports on any issues. God it'd be wonderful if it's a good rebuild and I can start obsessing about a really nice paint job, interior stuff, and non-essential bits and parts.

Well northernubie...I really hope this has a wonderful ending for you. It's always challenging to make these sort of decisions and I'm trusting for the best in this situation. I'm' looking forward to hearing glowing reports!

Andy

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'95 E300D 313k miles
http://www.ourfullhouse.com

Thanks, man. Did you see the poor guy (today's post) whose gorgeous '83 300D burnt up? I guess everything is relative as usual. I just really need a functioning car and am so sick of being towed, hitchhiking, etc. COME ON ADSIT - BUILD ME A GOOD ENGINE!!!

I really will keep posts on how Helga's running with her new heart... until she bursts into flames. I wish/hope that poor guy named his 300D "Phoenix" and that he awakens tomorrow with a brand new MB in his garage. Would that it were so, eh?

hmmm thats a cool name....

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Wie lange wird Ihr Auto leben?

Yes....posted on it too. Terrible shame indeed!

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'95 E300D 313k miles
http://www.ourfullhouse.com

I know a guy in Thailand who rebuilds diesel Benz motors. He's an English teacher but does this on the side. Not sure if the parts are German but he's cheap. I hear the girls there are quite pretty as well. Might be worth checking out....

I know the same guy in thailand. I went to school with him at Chiang Mai University. He said he also has a gallon of British Racing Green paint in his garage and that we can paint Helga after she gets her heart transplant - but I have to do a road trip to Boston where he winters when not chasing girls in Thailand.

So..... do you have the new engine yet? Is it painted Chevy orange? Does it have a crankshaft in it? Time to give us some details.

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Ken

1990 350SDL (It's a work in progress) 250K mi
1991 350SDL that was SUPPOSED to be a parts car 323K mi
2000 F350 Powerstroke 180K mi, 100K mi on B20 - B99
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Gone but not forgotten
1982 300D
1991 Jetta ECO Diesel

bump...

Sixto
87 300D

Don't know if anyone will return to this thread but the update on the Adsit motor and pumps etc. is that it was shipped to my indy and arrived in good shape - he said it looked "great" and that it had been blasted/painted whatever but the more important thing is that it runs "terrific" according to my indy who is 200 miles away. It is now installed with all new hoses, belts, motor mounts, water pump, brakes flushed, tranny flushed and seals, etc. new block heater, and battery (alternator had just been replaced before the timing chain broke), and i'm sending him a new radiator to install just for a WTF (he did all work before he asked if I wanted to do anything else so I got a little pissed and told him with everything else new I wanted to put in a new radiator and he said he'd go ahead and install it if I sent it to him).
Bear in mind guys that Helga had an entirely new suspension from Vogtland Springs on down to the guide rod mounts about a week before the timing chain broke last year. And I do mean every single suspension part. She even got 16"MB rims off a Phoenix SLK that some lady curbed a front right - just a scratch or two - with small spacers from H&R and sport rubber all around (just for kicks - they'll probably burn up in 5k miles, but WTF after the complete suspension rebuild). I literally cannot believe I've done this on a car I paid 800 bucks for (an an immediate 1200 worth of various and sundry) and which I purchased as a prayer of a beater to get me thru a year or two. I can't even cringe at what I've spent on her.... you guys would bust a gut laughing but I'm in RosHell NM with no mechanical skills and absolute incompetence all around.
I haven't even seen her yet. But my conservative Indy sent me an (astronomic) bill (engine and all guts pulled when he got her and he got a the new adsit to put in) and a happy email: "The engine runs well. Very, very well. We are extremely pleased and you will be too." Pic's when i get her back - probably next week if I can make it up.

We will return. Don't feel too bad. My wifes 2007 HCHII will cost us less than my '87 wagon, when we finish paying for it.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Keep us posted nubie and we wanna see those pics. Good luck!

Will definitely post pic's when I get her back - they will all be of the engine compartment. Hey Tilac - you know I'm gonna start pressing you on making her cosmetics match her mechanics in a few months - British Racing Green against a camel interior. Can we really do that? New Mexico to Mass road trip to formally break her in... pencil it in in between your pending Thailand misadventures you miscreant.

Will work for food. Will paint for barfine. It's all good.

And now a question: advice on "breaking in" the new motor. Are there any rules for diesels? I don't even know what fluids he put in but I'm sure there's no synth although I told him if the tranny was well-sealed I wanted to try running synth (email he never responded to).