69 220d 4-speed

[Ralph69220d]

'69 W115 220D Progress

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This is my first MB, 69 W115 220D, 4-speed manual, mileage unknown. Addressed many problems before leaving on an emergency 2400 mile road trip with it (SW Oregon to Illinois) in mid-summer. In southern Idaho I knew I had a problem. Very hard starting and unburned fuel coming out of exhaust. No money, time or tools to find and fix problem(s). So, when I got to Illinois (yes, it made it the whole way), I subscribed to this Forum, as well as studying the engine FSM, I took valve cover off to find the portion of tension rail that rides against chain tensioner pin broken (and this was the old style steel with rubber face tension rail). So, with your help I replaced the chain guides and tension rail and chain tensioner. The cam sprocket was good. The camshaft timing after replacing everything was dead on zero. Note, I did not replace timing chain for three reasons (good or bad, I don't know): Cam timing was perfect and I saw no evidence of damage to the chain and it's a duplex chain (plus, I was a bit worried about quality of aftermarket chains). Through this Forum's Tool Rental Program I got a set of valve adjusting wrenches today and adjusted the valves (I have no idea when they were last adjusted). One Exhaust was on spec, the other seven very, very tight, some valves may not even have been completely closing. Changed fuel filter today, put new fuel hoses on (all the cloth weave rubber hoses seeped fuel, which made me manually pump fuel into system at every start), put on clamps that were missing, drained fuel tank (no algae, tank strainer was clean), new tie rod on right side. So, will get some fuel tomorrow, install glow plugs and see what happens in a day or two. The glow plugs were heavily carboned as a result of the out of time cam, so cleaned and bench tested them. I imagine it's going to take some additives to help burn carbon out. The injector's were rebuilt by Oregon Fuel Injector before I left. The truly amazing thing, besides the car making it, is that I still got 33mpg with the engine in this state from Idaho to Illinois (and the tight valves for the whole trip). So, thank you all for your help in getting me this far in my R&R. I expect it will start, but will likely have my friend pull start me first time (we're both old hands at pull starts and use braided nylon tow rope) so as not to weaken an already weak starter (no starter money for a while yet). If all seems well after starting (I expect it will) I'll give it a mild Interstate ITU. Will keep you posted on results. Oh, I will also have the front end aligned, it either has heavy toe-in on left front or camber out of adjustment, or both. Then, in ten days or so it's 1400 miles to Bozeman, Montana. I'm aware of the dangers of a winter long-distance trip, but my life circumstances since leaving Oregon last July haven't left me many options. I'll keep you posted if I don't wind up a popsicle somewhere in Wyoming.

[rs899]

Wow.

You're a braver man than I, Gunga Din.

I'm too chicken to drive to Miami.

[Ralph69220d]

Not all that brave, rs899 . Necessity only

[boneheaddoctor]

I hope you have a cell phone and list of numbers with you in case of emergency...along with a survivale kit in case you find yourself stranded in bitter cold weather.

I agree you are a brave person...

[Ralph69220d]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

I hope you have a cell phone and list of numbers with you in case of emergency...along with a survivale kit in case you find yourself stranded in bitter cold weather.

I agree you are a brave person...

I do have cell phone and state police numbers for wherever I'm at. Also have survival stuff of various types. Thanks for your concern, boneheaddoctor.
ralph

[Jim Anderson]

I hope your radio works and your tapes don't freeze