Yes, I know it is spelled differently..... there is a reason for that, to be explained later.

"After coming within a hair's breadth of selling my beloved 1975 Mercedes W115 300D, I have decided to rebuild her instead. I bought her in 1999, and originally promoted it to my wife as "Our Weddding Car', since it was built in the same year that we were married, 1975. She was, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about the purchase. She saw right through my little ploy, but chose to indulge me and to overlook it, and that got me over the hump. Man smart, woman smarter.

I paid $500 for the car as a non-running vehicle, and that included delivery to my driveway. The previous owner had rebuilt the engine but had never been able to get it running, after 'spinning a bearing" on a cross-country trip. After a few years HIS wife wanted it gone. Whatever ploys he tried evidently didn't work. Man smart, woman smarter again!"

The above is an excerpt from my new blog, "Restoring "Marlene Diederich": My Mercedes Diesel Rebuild". My plan is to document the process of restoring my car, a 1975 W115 300D, recently named "Marlene Diederich". The rationale for the name, as well as the spelling, is explained in the blog.

The 'blog concept' is a totally new idea to me, so please go easy on me as I am learning how to do it, with some technical assistance from my sons. They are much more technologically savy than I am. I hope it will prove to be of some benefit. If I can do it ... a ham-handed wrencher who has earned the nickname "Too-Tight Tom" for good reason (see attached pic), btw.... there is hope for anyone!

That pic with the "too tight tom" sign, btw, was a special occasion last fall, which I would be happy to explain to anyone interested at another time. I had a blast! The pic was taken at a local racetrack, and that is me in in the foreground in the black hat, next to my wife. My older son is holding the sign, and my younger son has his hand on my shoulder. The others are various relatives, wives and girlfriends, who came for the occasion, including my two younger brothers (center, rear), and my nephew (left front). A grand time was had by all.

Link to my blog:
http://mercedesdieselrebuildingdiederich.blogspot.com/

Attached Thumbnails

 

I am considering the possibility of, instead of rebuilding my W115 300D engine, swapping in a non-turbo engine from an early W123.

Any advice would be appreciated... I am looking to do this as simply as possible... leaving the question of upgrading to the newer glow plugs and a turbo to another time, if at all.

I know there may be differences re: location of the oil filter, A/C units.... what other issues should I be looking at?

Thanks in advance.
Tom