Just bought a $400 '72 280SE 4.5

[cheapold280ce]

wish I had the time andmoney to do that maybe next year. I had a laugh reading about it in automobile magazine back in 07.

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/0712_2007_big_apple_to_big_easy/index.html

[TWHansen]

Originally Posted by cheapold280ce

wish I had the time andmoney to do that maybe next year. I had a laugh reading about it in automobile magazine back in 07.

http://www.automobilemag.com/features/0712_2007_big_apple_to_big_easy/index.html

I was there in '07 - it was weird having the Automobile team along; they had a tendency to keep to themselves. We saw them at the sendoff every morning but after that, nada.

I did wind up with their Coleman cooler, though!

Top Gear Magazine's coverage in '06 was way cooler (and not just because I scrounged up their car for them)

[Rauchen]

Well you have some very detailed pics there. When I saw your original pics and read the price you paid, I was kicking myself. But your later pics tell the story. Real shame for that car. It seems really straight. But that body is just too far gone to try to save. The good news is all the wood pieces and the chrome pieces seem good and could be parted out for a nice little lump of $$. The drive train is problably worth $$ too.

[TWHansen]

I thought it looked better than it is when I bought it, too. Goes to show, don't buy a car on a rainy October night.

Well, heck, at this point, how much can a water pump, a set of tires, and a throttle adjustment possibly cost me? If it's too far gone to save I might as well bomb around in it for a bit...

[TWHansen]

Alright, so, buying a water pump for this beast. The lowest price I found was for an A-1 Cardone Part # 571356 remanufactured water pump, $43.79 on ********.com. I'm wondering if there's a consensus preference on who to go with for a reman. water pump...

Also found this for the power steering:
http://www.autopartsworld.com/Part.aspx?VehicleYear=1972&MakeEncoded=mercedes-benz&ModelEncoded=280se-4-5&PartNameEncoded=p-s-pump-repair-kit

and wondering if this $8.45 kit can actually sort out my window regulator issues: http://www.autopartsworld.com/Part.aspx?VehicleYear=1972&MakeEncoded=mercedes-benz&ModelEncoded=280se-4-5&PartNameEncoded=window-regulator-kit


Which leaves tires (which I'll leave to F&F) and the sticking throttle. One of the springs on the throttle linkage looks like it has a bulge in it, and it looks like it's just not pulling hard enough to back the throttle off when I let off of the pedal. Is it possible for these springs to go bad?

[meltedpanda]

I have always had good luck with Rock Auto

[diametricalbenz]

So you're planning to keep the car now?

If you are, we should have a MB meet after our second round of winter melts.

[TWHansen]

We're moving forward with fixing it up. The water pump is on its way from Rock Auto. At this point, it's so close to being a properly driveable car that it's senseless not to. No way can I get $1500 out of it the way it is. We can't go back, we can only move forward. This way, regardless of what I eventually sell it for, we'll have the fun of actually driving it (something, for the record, I've only done twice...and it was frightening both times)

As far as the power steering pump is concerned, how do I tell if it has a conical shaft or a straight shaft pump?

Also, from some of the other threads I read apparently giving the throttle linkage a good cleaning and workover with lithium grease can correct most sticking issues - is this correct? As soon as it's nice out, we'll try that.

Yes, a meet-up is an excellent idea. I'll keep you guys posted when my next work day on this thing is.

Also, we're having a big barbecue & wrench party on May 2nd out at my parents' place (it's about an hour out of town) in preparation for the BA/BE Rally. Feel free to crash it!

[diametricalbenz]

I would be up for the May 2nd event. Where will it be held?

I haven't seen any MB people here other than a few W108's and W113's on Lake Drive during the summer. I unfortunately don't have any of our MB's here.

[Nate]

You just missed the buy 3 get one free sale at farm and barn... Not sure if that's what FF you were talking about though.