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CHEAP 0M617 REBUILD
I have an 82 300sd with about 300,000 miles on the engine.
I've had it for over 10 years. It was a real oil burner. About 1 qt per 100 miles and hard starting at any temp under about 55° F. Since I had acquired another MBZ (85 300D), I decided to pull apart the engine on the 82 and have a look inside. Before I go any further, I want to let you know that I am an Ex-Pat who lives in Mexico and have no easy access to Mercedes parts and also have more time than money. I usually get my parts when someone comes to visit from the USA. I order them online and have them shipped to them and they bring the parts here. So maybe once every 6 months I can get some parts. To make a long story short. I replaced 1 piston with a used piston from ebay, all 5 sets of rings new and gaskets and valve guide seals. I honed the cylinders and placed a ring in it to measure the ring gap and the gap was twice the amount of the upper limits of specs. (at this point I can already hear comments about how I needed to replace the cylinder liners). I did all this work with the block in the car. To replace the liners, I would have had to remove the block and completely disassemble it and trust a small time machine shop here to install and bore the cylinder liners correctly. It would probably end up worse than it was before and with a major expense besides. I installed the used #1 piston because the original had a broken ring land. All the rings were stuck in the ring grooves so they required extensive cleanup which I did by hand. I also took removed all the valves from the cyl head and cleaned them up and did an old fashioned LAP and tested them with solvent. I also installed new valve seals. The turbo was all gummed up from the excessive oil consumption. If I spun the rotor with my finger it would instantly stop. I took it apart and cleaned it up and got it spinning freely. I got it all put together and it was hard starting still but when I did get it running, it ran sweet. No smoke, good power, smooth idle but basically impossible to start without zapping it with 24V. A cold compression showed about 260 psi and by adding oil it would rise to 310 psi. So now I figured that I had wasted my time by not changing the cylinder liners while I had it apart. So I left the car parked for over a year and forgot about it. Well about a month ago I decided to take another look. I checked the compression again with my cheap Harbor Freight gauge and it was the same (low) but I discovered that the cheap hose was leaking so I couldn't trust the gauge. I checked the valve timing and it was late so I fabricated an offset key and brought the cam timing back near specs (maybe even a little advanced, I don't have a dial gauge). I took the injectors to a place here to test them and also took another set which I had bought years ago from pick a part. The 5 original injectors were shooting streams of fuel and the PAP injectors were like new, a beautiful spray mist. I installed the PAP injectors and bled the lines. I hooked up the battery charger and my heart started beating with anticipation because this was the moment I was waiting for LOL. 1 glow cycle and the car started instantly. It was about 60° outside. That night the temp dropped to 38° and in the morning about 6am it was 40°. I couldn't sleep thinking about whether the engine would start at that temp so I got up and went outside to see LOL. BTW my wife thought I was crazy. Again 1 glow cycle and it started instantly, like a brand new engine. I've been driving it daily for a month now. No smoke, instant start, smooth idle. Now that it's running well, I will change the timing chain as soon as I get a visit from the USA Before anyone starts talking about longevity, let me explain that I live in a small town and rarely drive over 45mph and probably less than 1000 miles per year. So if it lasts 20,000 miles, I'll be 75 years old when it dies. I've been driving only Mercedes diesels since 1985. I worked as a mechanic at a SF Bay Area Mercedes dealership from 1984-1986. I love the W123s and the W126s. My brother thinks I'm nuts! He drives an 03 C230 Kompressor. . Last edited by whunter; 12-12-2012 at 04:52 AM. Reason: readability |
#2
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Great story, not the kind you hear every day. Speaks volumes of both the car and yourself.
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K 1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild 1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K 1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor 2014 Kubota L3800 tractor 1964 VW bug "Lifes too short to drive a boring car" |
#3
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Love it!
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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 |
#4
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Quote:
I used to rent a commercial bay in a building largely made up of Romanian immigrants just starting out in the auto trade here in Canada (it was an awful dump of a place, rat central). They used to do stuff like this all the time. I really respected that.
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Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#5
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This description shows a true diesel specialist.
A high degree of ability & understands how to get things going. Good Luck with your rebuilt motor !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort.... 1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket. 1980 300D now parts car 800k miles 1984 300D 500k miles 1987 250td 160k miles English import 2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles 1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo. 1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion. Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving |
#6
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#7
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You dont know how lucky you are when it comes to getting parts.
I seldom get car parts in Australia. Mainly Europe/Middle East are where I look. Have got a bit from the USA as well. The days of having every thing at the corner store are gone !! Yes it is a headache !!! Welcome to globalization !!!
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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort.... 1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket. 1980 300D now parts car 800k miles 1984 300D 500k miles 1987 250td 160k miles English import 2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles 1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo. 1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion. Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving |
#8
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That makes me want to go outside and rebuild my old crap engine...............Naaaaaaaa, maybe tomorrow. Good Tale
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I LOVE CATS....AND FRIES 1981 300sd 1983 300sd 1985 300d 1983 300cd 1991 350sdl |
#9
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Reformated for readability.
Quote:
I have an 82 300sd with about 300,000 miles on the engine. I've had it for over 10 years. It was a real oil burner. About 1 qt per 100 miles and hard starting at any temp under about 55° F. Since I had acquired another MBZ (85 300D), I decided to pull apart the engine on the 82 and have a look inside. Before I go any further, I want to let you know that I am an Ex-Pat who lives in Mexico and have no easy access to Mercedes parts and also have more time than money. I usually get my parts when someone comes to visit from the USA. I order them online and have them shipped to them and they bring the parts here. So maybe once every 6 months I can get some parts. To make a long story short. I replaced 1 piston with a used piston from eBay, all 5 sets of rings new and gaskets and valve guide seals. I honed the cylinders and placed a ring in it to measure the ring gap and the gap was twice the amount of the upper limits of specs. At this point I can already hear comments about how I needed to replace the cylinder liners. I did all this work with the block in the car. To replace the liners, I would have had to remove the block and completely disassemble it and trust a small time machine shop here to install and bore the cylinder liners correctly. It would probably end up worse than it was before and with a major expense besides. I installed the used #1 piston because the original had a broken ring land. All the rings were stuck in the ring grooves so they required extensive cleanup which I did by hand. I removed all the valves from the cylinder head, and cleaned them up plus did an old fashioned valve LAP testing the lap/seal with solvent. I also installed new valve seals. The turbo was all gummed up from the excessive oil consumption, attempting to spin the rotor with my finger it would instantly stop. After disassembly and cleaning, it spins freely. I got it all put together and it was hard starting still but when I did get it running, it ran sweet. No smoke, good power, smooth idle but basically impossible to start without zapping it with 24V. A cold compression showed about 260 psi and by adding oil it would rise to 310 psi. So now I figured that I had wasted my time by not changing the cylinder liners while I had it apart. So I left the car parked for over a year and forgot about it. Well about a month ago I decided to take another look. I checked the compression again with my cheap Harbor Freight gauge and it was the same (low) but I discovered that the cheap hose was leaking so I couldn't trust the gauge. I checked the valve timing and it was late so I fabricated an offset key and brought the cam timing back near specs (maybe even a little advanced, I don't have a dial gauge). I took the injectors to a place here to test them and also took another set which I had bought years ago from pick a part. The 5 original injectors were shooting streams of fuel and the PAP injectors were like new, a beautiful spray mist. I installed the PAP injectors and bled the lines. I hooked up the battery charger and my heart started beating with anticipation because this was the moment I was waiting for LOL. 1 glow cycle and the car started instantly. It was about 60° outside. That night the temp dropped to 38° and in the morning about 6:00 am it was 40°. I couldn't sleep thinking about whether the engine would start at that temp so I got up and went outside to see LOL. BTW my wife thought I was crazy. Again 1 glow cycle and it started instantly, like a brand new engine. I've been driving it daily for a month now. No smoke, instant start, smooth idle. Now that it's running well, I will change the timing chain as soon as I get a visit from the USA. Before anyone starts talking about longevity, let me explain that I live in a small town and rarely drive over 45 mph and probably less than 1000 miles per year. So if it lasts 20,000 miles, I'll be 75 years old when it dies. I've been driving only Mercedes diesels since 1985. I worked as a mechanic at a SF Bay Area Mercedes dealership from 1984-1986. I love the W123s and the W126s. My brother thinks I'm nuts! He drives an 03 C230 Kompressor. *********************** Note: To all members. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/help-using-shop-forum/282581-posting-format-readability.html . |
#10
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Your safe. I knew a guy who used to rebuild these motor from pnp parts. He would get a good set of bearings, good set of rings and pistons. Dont know about what he would do in the case of liners, BUT ALL of his motors had over 400psi.
I personally wouldnt do it even though as far as i know he never had one motor go bad.
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Wie lange wird Ihr Auto leben? |
#11
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Quote:
I had a simmilar situation (had 500k on mine 617) no knowledge or skill at all, but some money "on the side" helped ) one thing however is common for all of us old Merc lovers; BTW my wife thought I was crazy. .
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w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered |
#12
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About 10 years ago I did a "low budget" rebuild on a normally aspirated 617. It came out great, but compared to the one described here, it was a blank check job.
Great work!
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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual 2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution |
#13
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#14
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Kudos to you, very inspirational story, as I look over my very tired, W115 300D..... Burning oil at about the same rate yours was. That sounds doable, although the project list is starting to get... Out of hand!
Thanks for posting that!
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[SIGPIC] Tom SE Connecticut 1975 W115 300D visit my blog: http://mercedesdieselrebuildingdiederich.blogspot.com/ |
#15
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quite sure you can't do this work with the 123 line but first i'm hearing it is doable with the 126, as in with the engine block in the cah
good to know and would love to hear more details |
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