My W123 240D build - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Maximan1 · #61 05-27-2019, 09:34 PM

Small update, though it might ruffle some feathers amongst the purists in the crowd.

I am going to be running a straight pipe on this car, with cherry bomb. First experience with a TIG welder, didn't do too bad. I've got a few performance modifications that I will be doing to this car, and I don't want the (more restrictive) stock exhaust holding me back.

Back when the 240D was in its prime, this would have been considered blasphemy

vwnate1 · #62 05-28-2019, 08:43 AM

The stock exhaust has zero restriction /back pressure, it's wide open .

? How long is the glass pack ? .

Shorter ones crackle too much , longer (30" +) make a really nice mellow yet assertive sound and are usually easy to find used cheaply....

Maximan1 · #63 05-28-2019, 09:11 AM

I thought the resonator was baffled on the 300D exhaust? This is a shorter one, around 12". I may upgrade to a longer one in the future, since they are so cheap. I only paid $20 for this one, brand new. I believe the longer ones are $30 online.

Have you run a cherry bomb or other glass pack on an OM617?

vwnate1 · #64 05-28-2019, 09:49 AM

No;

I deleted the middle thing and have been told I should have left it and removed the rear thing, both were clear through - I looked .

I'm old and both a Mechanic and Enthusiast so I wanted to _hear_ the engine .

I've tried many different mufflers on various engines over the years .

The OM617 turbo engines don't make much exhaust noise because the turbo chops the sound waves up a lot .

I think you're on the right path here, nothing wrong with wanting to hear the four banger run, it's just unless you're 15 years old you'll get tired of a nasty, raspy or farty exhaust note -really- quickly .

No worries, mufflers are really cheap, plenty of good used ones out there and you can weld so have at it and change up / down to suit your tastes

.

"Purists" opinions don't matter because they're not paying, you are

.

I hope you can take some sound recordings and share them with us .

Maximan1 · #65 05-28-2019, 10:32 AM

I see. I don't want a heavy drone, but I don't want to spend the $$$$ for stock Mercedes exhaust. I am not running the 4 banger in my build, this will be a 1985 OM617.952. I plan to install a variable geometry turbo, plus a dieselmeken 7.5mm pump to get more driveability/performance out of the car. I want to run about 14 PSI of boost, and with the variable geometry turbo, I can have boost from about 900 RPM to 4500 RPM, drastically improving the powerband.

I will definitely take sound recordings and post them, as well as before and after dyno runs with the 7.5 mm IP and variable geometry turbo.

vwnate1 · #66 05-29-2019, 12:06 PM

There's no reason to drop much $ on an exhaust, plenty of perfect used ones in Anaheim @ LKQ.....

Or, just find a competent and honest indie muffler shop (sounds impossible I know but I know one up in Pasadena of you need) and have him weld you up a completely new exhaust sans muffler as large as the outlet on the exhaust manifold, you'll be surprised at how noisy it isn't even without any muffler, then you can go from there after you're finished tuning it .

? Why only 14# boost ? .

Maximan1 · #67 05-29-2019, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

? Why only 14# boost ? .

I only want to run 14 pounds because I don't want to go crazy and risk blowing up an expensive rebuild. This car will be my daily driver, so I want to have reliable power. I may turn it up more in the future, when I'm more comfortable with having a possible catastrophic failure. 14 PSI will be fine with such a wide power band.

I saw one '85 300D in the yard in Stanton yesterday (grabbed some parts, but the exhaust won't work since I have a 1982 turbo), and grabbed a switch over valve from a 1980 W116 300SD. Other than that, I have had no luck with the LKQ yards around here. Most have 240Ds, which don't help me. It's been a while since I got any alerts for a 300D.

I want to be able to tell people that I built this whole car myself - plus trying to pinch pennies. There are plenty of exhaust shops around here, but to have anything done there at a reasonable price I have to haggle them down, which I prefer not to do. I also like to be 100% certain of what went into my build, and the only way to do that is to do it myself.

As it sits now, the only things I haven't done myself on this build are the machine work, sandblasting and powdercoating, and drive shaft shortening.

vwnate1 · #68 05-29-2019, 10:14 PM

O.K., understood ;

There are -two_ LKQ yards near you and I find a 300D at least once a month....

Keep at it, I like your attitude .

BWhitmore · #69 06-01-2019, 09:38 AM

It’s great to see young people such as Max really interested in preserving one of our ancient W123 cars. Great work and great attitude.

Maximan1 · #70 06-02-2019, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Today was a big assembly day. Worked from 5 am to 5 pm.

Thanks again for the vacuum pump Bill.

I am exhausted, but happy with my progress. How hard should the engine be to turn over? I have to put significant weight on the crank bolt after its been sitting for a while to "break it free". After that it turns with fairly little effort, maybe 20-25 ft lb. No compression, injectors aren't in yet. Liberal amounts of assembly lube on all bearings, rings, cylinder walls, etc...

BWhitmore · #71 06-03-2019, 09:00 AM

I am glad the vacuum pump went to a good home. Nice to see it mounted on your engine. You are making great progress.

Maximan1 · #72 06-03-2019, 08:31 PM

Thanks Bill. Engine should be going in the car this Saturday!

vwnate1 · #73 06-04-2019, 09:53 AM

Looking VERY good ! .

Maximan1 · #74 06-04-2019, 04:18 PM

Thanks Nate!

Got the sway bar end bushings done during my lunch break today. Let me tell you, the old ones came out a lot easier than the new ones went in.

Excited for this weekend though.

vwnate1 · #75 06-04-2019, 05:49 PM

I hope you changed the firewall ones too......