As far as I know, all iron head engines had a gasket between the pump and block, and aluminum head engines had an Oring......Rich

I'm pretty sure it is a gasket. (Especially if Rich says so)

It should be 0000748280 - this number appears to be NLA - you might (real risk here - just a guess so speak with the dealer!) get some joy with the same number but with the last four changed to 8380 - that costs about 5 euros at the dealer here in Holland.

An original part would say W. Germany, wouldn't it?

IDK. When did W. Germany start labeling stuff made there "Germany".

Reunification was is 1990.

61X uses a black papery gasket, you can see it in your picture.

To replace you need to pull the IP (not terribly hard but 500 little pieces come off first)

I'd loosen the 3 mounting bolts and spray penetrating lube on it to try and oil er up to prevent a break.

My riveted door jamb VIN tag says "MADE IN GERMANY". Maybe Daimler-Benz AG knew around 1985 that Germany will be united in the not too distant future?

I turned the cardboard templates into steel plates. :D
Now I have to scrounge around and see what I have in my scraps to weld up some kind of adjusting system. Any improvised ideas, not copying exactly what Mercedes did? I am thinking of welding in a used tie rod and possibly also the tie rod end.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...606_112441.jpg

Plan b, part torque them and then use a hammer and implement (screwdriver chisel) to tap and rotate?

Sounds like a plan - after you've cut it down to size (note threads probably don't go all the way through so cut towards the left hand thread but allow space to cut your own right hand one) I'd weld on a nut that just slides over the outer diameter of the rod so you have a way of turning the tie rod with out mole grips

Kind of what happens with out the special tool then I guess!

Tie rod end ball joint is too big to fit in space available. I have other ideas.

Why plan B? I am not done with A yet.

TheDon mentioned a turnbuckle. These are cheap and don't require a lot force to adjust. Maybe a home made 'jack bolt' / bungee setup could work??

A turnbuckle of some kind will be used. it's the only mechanism that makes sense. A tie rod is a type of turnbuckle. The one (from a W123) I was thinking of using is just too big and would require too much work to make it work.