DreamBoat Ongoing restoration of a 300TD Daily driver
 

So I am a LONG time lurker and a sometimes poster here. I have been looking and looking at other wagon restoration threads and there are few w123 ones on here. So I might as well toss mine out there.

We had a terrible experience with my wife's "grown up car" a 2004 jetta TDI that had more problems and less maintenance than we thought when she bought it. Anyway sort of in a rush we found this wagon on CL met the guy where it was parked at the airport, test drove it to his house, and bought it on the spot! It has a little (HA) rust in the usual places but luckily almost none of it is visible at all, meaning when I repair it no-one can see how sloppy my work was and as long as it is sound it will be an improvement.

I haven't taken many pics of the work so far as most of it has been very boring regular common fixes but I will try to document the more challenging ones as they come up.

We have had it a couple of months maybe and just returned from trips to central VA (5 hours) and central Florida (12 hours) where we met a nice 300d owner who gave me his plastic hub cap because I was so excited to see it!!! He had a tire separate and beat up the wheel well and didn't need any help changing the tire so we got back on the highway....

anyway here it is
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pskk0un9jj.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbajzkrbf.jpg


http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd7feb942.jpg


Wheel before cleaning,
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psqstdeixk.jpg

Wheel after cleaning
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8wcieakw.jpg

She want to have the "color match " wheels so i am in no rush to resurface the bunts ATM

Work done so far
Removed all Battery cables (including block ground) and cleaned, dielec. greased and replaced
Fuel Level Sender cleaned and wire repaired (now the reserve light stays on?)
Throttle checked, full load screw adjusted
Bowden cable tightened
All instrument lights work (except the lighted window switch)
New stereo with bluetooth and usb/aux
Clock Repaired!!!! Always wanted a working clock $4 at radio shack...Capacitors
Taillight covers cleaned and bulb holders tightened and greased
Reverse lights replaced with autozone fog lights (VERY bright, recommend)
Switches refurbished for rear window controls
Parking Brake Adjusted
Rack Dampener bolt Maxed out (any way to put a new spring in there? )
License plate light covers cleaned (wife got pulled over)
Air cleaner tightened
Engine bay degreasing begun
All drains and hinge pockets cleaned and flushed
Diesel Purge Brand Flush
Anti Algae treatment applied initial dose plus maintenance dosing (Startron)
ALDA Banjo bolt and line cleaned and reinstalled

New Parts Installed:
Trans Vacuum Levers for 3/2 valve (MBZ)
Transmission cooler lines, with springs (Conti)
Air Filter (Mann)
Battery (Napa Gold?)
Primary, clear fuel filter



and the box of parts will be empty before too long.

Congrats on the new project I just bought a TD the other day. Looking forward to seeing your progress.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice one - well done for replacing those transmission cooler hoses

Thanks! for both.
Actually, stretch, While it was good preventative maintenance to replace the Original Hoses (stamped 82 ) I think the main culprit for the leaks was the power steering pump return hose, which was too messy a job to do in my parents nice garage. A small disappointment but they are so cheap and easy to fix I am not that upset about it, Trannys are expensive.

Ill be swapping that hose out next, after draining all the fluid and replacing the filter of course. Official replacement hose is the big one visible in the parts photo.

I like that color. I think the wagons look best in funky MB colors.

Yeah, love the color.

No way, I'm aware of to replace the Rack Damper bolt/pin spring, get a "gold" one.

You can bypass the erg stuff if you'd like.

Next time you're in central VA, let me know.

Thanks for thhe complements, I have been slowly amasing info for the body and outside work, I plan on retoring the paint and rplacing the various rubber and plastic peices to get a tight factory fit on the trim. But alas I have some rust to repair and some very minor body work also before i get out the touch up paint and the buffing wheel.

Egr line is plugged and rest will soon go.


I planned to take that as a challenge TooManyMBZ (I wouldn't want to spend 35$ on a 2.12 spring in a 32.82 bolt). But I do understand the new gold ones have a "better" or heavier spring. Maybe ill bite the bullet and then play with the old one, unless i find one at a junkyard to gut first, my understanding is there is little risk anyway. It is just s smoothing and comfort feature as I understand it.

lol, I hear ya, we're all ears as to an easy/cheap fix.

If successful, by all means, post it.

I considered black headlight doors on the SD, went with white instead.

Yea I Like it! gotta do something when the get "Crazey" if i had some euro clear turns I would be all over it!!
It is possible i may end up with that 300sd again actually. Funny story, I sold it (due to an annoying list of problems i didn't want to tackle) and it changed hands again and now is back for sale for cheap!! the motor always ran well so I am temped to go check it out as a beater with an eye on keeping the turbo 617 for a swap someday.


Dreamboat update, started up fine in our unseasonable low teens temperature, not as quickly as I would have liked but OK enough I feel fine with the wife 4 season driving it as is. 12' F I think with two attempts, one glow cycle each try.

Boring update, I got out the multimeter and texted the GP all were fine. I also tightened the alt belts as they were squeaking and a little loose. Also discovered a broken air cleaner mount. Ahhhhh

Anyway back to the regularly scheduled program.

The wagon has been all over recently and in rdu we had some cold

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psetejcrao.jpg

Today I went ahead and installed the SACHS German shocks in the front, came with new rubbers and double nuts for the top. The bottom came with new bolt BUT the shoulders on the bottom mount were too durn tall for a wrench to clear. Ehhrhrhrhrhrhe very frustrating. Went through all my tools and was considering putting it off until I was back at my welder to make a speciality deal but anyway..... Here are the pics.

Next up suspension wise will be basically everything on the rear hyro suspension: gathering all the parts and materials so I can knock it out all at once.

See the solution in the cut out pieces in the last photo. Don't worry I'll be checking on my modified shocks to be sure they don't deform, or tear from the cuts I made.

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnhezpefn.jpg


http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstdhutcui.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pswlgysklp.jpg


You can the the difference in the side by side

The wagon has been all over recently and in rdu we had some cold

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psetejcrao.jpg

Today I went ahead and installed the SACHS German shocks in the front, came with new rubbers and double nuts for the top. The bottom came with new bolt BUT the shoulders on the bottom mount were too durn tall for a wrench to clear. Ehhrhrhrhrhrhe very frustrating. Went through all my tools and was considering putting it off until I was back at my welder to make a speciality deal but anyway..... Here are the pics.

Next up suspension wise will be basically everything on the rear hyro suspension: gathering all the parts and materials so I can knock it out all at once.

See the solution in the cut out pieces in the last photo. Don't worry I'll be checking on my modified shocks to be sure they don't deform, or tear from the cuts I made.

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnhezpefn.jpg


http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pstdhutcui.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pswlgysklp.jpg


You can the the difference in the side by side
Oh no pics but I did clean out the rear washer res. and the lines but when I got it all drained and refilled with test water it came out of the hatch!! I have a leak somewhere between the roof and the nozzle. Any ideas?? Also what is the best way to clean the mold and goo out of the tank, it is pretty stuck in there.

well regular boring maintenance but here are the pics, PS fluid flushed and changed, new return hose for PS, new primer pump, and return spring stretched.

Also I am planning to rehab the SLS and although I have found a few articles about the High pressure hose, I haven't found any real ID info about the LOW pressure hose. It is the braided supply hose that feeds the pump from the res. I suspect the pump on the head is leaking oil into the system and it isn't pumping the SLS fluid either.

Anyway any tips on a good hose for that would be appreciated.

PICS

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psxqnqdrqx.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psm5fgu87r.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psexuxoaon.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...pszwlbfphb.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psb39uyswx.jpg

Well another weekend another couple of items out of the parts box.

See the pictures, man it was tough getting everything lined back up like the shocks and MM. I replaced almost all the drivetrain rubber, I haven't gotten to the carrier mount and bearing yet. I want to take my time and be sure to line it up again so i don't get a rattle.

I also noticed the oil leaks haven't repaired themselves so ill need to move some of that up the list.
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psycmtaktb.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9kqmuxuq.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psj5d7tlj3.jpg


http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf0pcf5zx.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1ndsybmb.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psreq1kzpc.jpg


The last pic is of the original exhaust, snapped at a crack in the flex (by resting the diff on it when changing the rear diff mount. The replacement down-pipe, from a 79 300sd, was longer. so i had to cut it and weld the down-pipe to the flex and then weld the flange mercedes connection to the bottom as the replacement had a slip fit clamp on type. No after picture as we have all seen bad welds before.
mission accomplished and job done




http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psskujdzqb.jpg


Well mostly done, one shock EXPLODED fluid and the shaft unscrewed somehow!!! so one shock went back on and the search for a replacement set continues....

ALso I picked up these off the same 79 300sd. JUst to keep around. ANd possibly instal a pyro, and maybe water meth injection, boost gauge ect ect.... and eventually swap in to replace the manifolds and gaskets when i get around to cleaning the intake and head.

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...psmcfxwcy9.jpg

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3qltcebo.jpg

Curious about the reverse light thing that you did. Did you mount fog lights or did you somehow get a fog light bulb?

Keep up the good work, looking good!

Living in ILM and doing a rolling resto of a 300TD?!? You're living my retirement fantasy - or, at least, my current one.

I write that with zero sarcasm and now realize this is my first ever Peachparts forum post (have been on Pelican for many years - heck I gotta set up a sig here yet!).

Subscribed!

I noticed the empty space in the lens, it corresponds to a blank hole in the bulb backing plate. I was at the junkyard and pulled two bulb holder (brake lights IIRC) and plan to solder them in and instal a bulb. I haven't yet decided if it will be a running light or a brake light. Probably running as I already have a third brake light on the hatrack.

Crater64, I am honored you took the time to make your first post on my thread. I have actually been doing rolling restos and living in Wilmington for about a decade. but with film leaving ill probably be on my way soonish.

Ill be sure to throw up some pics when i actually do install the bulbs.....

Well thank you (or as the locals might say, "bless your heart!"). I grew up about an hour from Wilmington; on the occasions I go back and am able to fly I typically fly to ILM instead of the almost equidistant MYR.

I haven't been keeping up with the changes in the NC film industry - at least until I read your reply - but I'm sorry to hear it's almost nearing its end. I tried to get a job in ILM about 10 years ago (my industry has a small presence there) but it never materialized. Story for another time.

Anyway, more on topic: The idea of retirement or semiretirement has taken root in my brain. It's looking increasingly likely that I'll move in my senior years back to the Carolina coast where I grew up. I've become very enamored with the idea of a nice 300TD as my retirement car, just toodling from beach to beach and running enough errands in the TD to keep my wife happy.

Enough of my digression. Looking forward to seeing what you do with this lovely example of the breed.

@southofantartica

I was mixed up that was Euro 300d I am talking about but i am interested in adding one to this car as the visibility for tailgaters is TerRriBle

I found a thread about the adding of an extra bulb in the w123. I had planned to do this as i noticed the empty spot in the holder and pulled the parts from the junkyard the other day.

someone asked about it but here it is anyway.

Also any opinions about whether I should add a running light or a brake light? I already have the hat rack mounted third brake light so i am leaning toward running lights.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/287882-brake-light-upgrade-w123.html

Yea this wagon is for the wife, she likes it and I like her to be happy. Plus this thing is Quick, so i don't mind at all spending time making it nice and we usually drive it on road trips....

Well I bought my own 300d and thats where most of my time has been going, I replaced some fuses and bulbs. I did some cleaning and whatnot. Mostly I have been pulling parts together to make some smaller upgrades.

One is a spare blower motor to put new brushes in and clean up very well. Next is the CCU to be re-soldered and cleaned along with its better reflectors and buttons. Lastly is the wood trim I got recently and mean to restore the center console wood and CCU wood.


Here is what came out of the "new" blower motor after I drifted the fan cage off the motor.

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1rlmfpr5.jpg

this wagon is now for sale,

In wilmington nc