So my neverending project car (a 1983 300TD Federal) just surprised me one more time. I've done everything other than paint it (the outside, I've already done the engine bay) and rebuild the engine and trans. I tried to do a citrus flush in the cooling system and suddenly water started pouring out of the side of the block. No it wasn't the coolant plug, I already drained it and reinstalled that. No, thankfully it wasn't a freeze plug.

Apparently one of the previous owners had pulled the engine and removed the plug. I don't know if the car originally had a block heater or if he pulled the plug to install a block heater.

So now I need a block heater so I can finally drive this thing. I've seen a few out there for $50-60. Is it simply screw it in and drive away? Any brand recommendations?


..at least this surprise is a decently good one.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

Last year I had a block heater installed in my '85 Federal w123. I thought they were hard to find (about 8 years ago there were for a while, and that was the last time I was looking for one), so I called the local import parts specialist and they made a big dance about being able to locate one.

When I went to get it, expecting something lovingly handcrafted in the Black Forest, lo and behold it was just a plain old ZeroStart. Made two hours from where I live. Doh.

If Kats makes one, I recommend you steer clear. Though they claim to still be proudly made in the USA, their products have taken a nosedive over the last few years and more like China-low quality.

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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

I will tell you what I ran into with my OM 603 last fall. I bought the Mercedes one figuring...do it once and do it right. HA! The Mercedes one requires an adapter that no one seems to be able to find. After much consternation, I ordered the Zerostart one...perfect fit. So I would follow the advice of the above post. I don't know if you run into the same issue with the OM 617....but man I was sweating bullets when I pulled the old one out and it was substantially larger than the new one! I did a quick scour of the internet and found a site that had the Zerostart for sale...worked perfectly. I am not sure if Pelican can get it..I did a quick search and couldn't find it but you could try calling them. Otherwise, there are other Mercedes parts houses that have them. Good luck!

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97 S500 (90,000 miles) - wife's car
87 300D (298,000 miles and a replacement #14 head)
94 Suburban K2500 - need something to haul firewood
83 300SD (343,000 miles) (sold)

A friend of mine had a short block going to the scrap heap. I dared to ask if he could pull the block heater plug, it came off with a 35mm socket with a medium sized breaker bar. No heat needed.

I still need a cord for it, but since its 60 F these days I have more time to look for one.

__________________
Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

If memory serves, Whunter provided a part number for the block heater cord to someone last winter.

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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

I guess you haven't read any of the horror stories on citrus flush or are you just an adventurous type?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked