S320 Project Underway (mainly about trans. removal) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

WANT '71 280SEL · #1 12-24-2007, 02:49 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I now have the transmission out of my w140 S320. I bought it from a member here this past Saturday with a bad transmission. I haven't even driven the car yet, but the engine sure does sound sweet. Anyways, the trans. is sitting on a tranny jack at work. I have to go up tomorrow morning with my bigger brother to help me lift it off of the jack and into the truck bed to be delivered to the trans. rebuilder. If I worked straight through, taking no breaks, I probably could have had the transmission out in about 2.5 hours. It took me quite a bit longer (on a lift mind you), but I think I removed pieces that probably didn't have to be. I am giving this information so that someone searching the forums can find it since it wasn't available last week when I was doing research.

I have some questions about the project. I had to remove the exhaust, and since I didn't want to break the 4 bolts holding it together, I removed it as a whole. I used a combination of a trans. jack and a corkscrew lift to slowly lower the entire exhaust system. When I had the assembly about 4 feet off the ground, the front half slipped off the corkscrew onto the ground. I don't think anything broke, but do you think I may have damaged the inside of the catalytic converters? I was instantly afraid that I may have knocked some of the ceramic lose which would easily lead to a swift restriction. I plan on driving this car to CT a few days after getting it all back together and would hate to be ready to leave only to find one or both of the cats is clogged.

Also, on the right side of the tranny (passenger side of the car), there is a plastic box on the side of the unit. There are two vacuum lines coming off this unit and a metal wire, which goes to the throttle. Anyways, one of the vacuum fittings had a golf T in it. The other vacuum fitting had a green vac. line coming off. What should the other vac. line be connected to? If I remember correctly there is a vac. line that connects to the tranny on the left side, but I can't figure out what should go on the right side where there is a golf T plugging the line. I just picked the car up Sat. and it seems that someone has started removing the trans. before (which is probably why the PO didn't fix the trans. himself because he couldn't get it out of the car to have it rebuilt). Any ideas what this vac. fitting is for? I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow, but no promises since that would necessitate me borrowing my dad's or sister's digital camera.

One last thing... The small lever that is used to aim the center vents seems to have broken off. It's black with a 1/8" chrome strip going down it. The piece is about 1 1/4" long and is what you see at the center of the vent. Has anyone had one of these break off? I'm thinking about super glue but don't want to mess it up? Anyone have any experience with this piece breaking off and a reliable, inconspicuous repair?

Sorry for the long write-up, but I'm a detail oriented person-thus my attraction to the w140.

Thanks
David

suginami · #2 12-24-2007, 04:03 PM

What member did you buy it from?

You don't have any information on the car in your signature. What is the year / mileage, color, etc. ?

WANT '71 280SEL · #3 12-24-2007, 10:21 PM

Thanks for pointing that out, Paul. I bought it from Billy Mueller, though he doesn't post much here. It is a black/black '94 S320. I keep finding little things that need addressed but nothing too serious. For instance I fixed both power headrests yesterday using about 8 zip ties. Now, I see that the vinyl is coming undone where the seat belts attach to the B pillar. I don't feel comfortable regluing the vinyl so eventually I'll just take it to a local interior/trim shop. I'll post pics tomorrow or the next day if possible.

Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #4 12-24-2007, 10:58 PM

One last question. I removed the front half of the driveshaft but forgot to mark it. Is this a big problem? I pulled it off then remembered I was supposed to mark it so it would go on exactly where it came off. I understand driveshafts are balanced, but will this cause it to go out of balance?

Thanks
David

Hatterasguy · #5 12-24-2007, 10:59 PM

It could, you won't know until you drive it.

radioguy · #6 12-29-2007, 11:10 PM

On the subject of the plastic box, the box only uses one of the vacuum connections on some cars (including the wife's 95 E320). I had to replace the one is her car because I broke it removing the tranny for a rebuild. The new box came with 2 vacuum connections (one was plugged according to advice from the tranny shop). Sounds like the box was replaced with the updated unit at some point. Replace the golf tee with a more conventional vacuum plug for more style points.

Todd

WANT '71 280SEL · #7 12-30-2007, 10:17 AM

Thanks a lot, radioguy. I figured that the golf tee wasn't factory

. I'll just leave it in since I am supposed to be getting the tranny back from the rebuilder today and can't wait to drive it. Therefore, I want to get it on the road ASAP.

Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #8 12-30-2007, 10:40 PM

I spoke with the gentleman that is rebuilding the trans and after opening it up and going through everything with the exception of the valve body, can not find anything wrong with it. He said he couldn't find any metal shaving, metal pieces, and no burnt parts. A little background on the trans... I bought the car knowing that it needed the trans. rebuilt. When I picked the car up the PO told me the fluid had been drained from the car. Therefore, when I took the car back home I didn't bother putting in the 7 qts. of trans. fluid just to confirm what the PO was telling me. He said it wouldn't move in reverse or forward, so I took his word for it that the trans. is bad. The rebuilder knows all this but can't find anything that would prevent the car from moving! It seems that for some reason the trans. was good but the car wouldn't move. Maybe it was just low on fluid or something? The mechanic is going farther into the next couple days to see if he can't find something wrong with it (especially major enough that would prevent it from working at all). One last thing, he said that he took the front pump apart and there was no scoring at all. In fact, he said it's in great shape! What gives?

Thanks
David