280C - It's Alive!

[ctaylor738]

Team -

Finally!

Got everything together on the '73 280C early Saturday evening, and asked Senior Management to crank the engine so I could check the timing. No spark at all. Pull cap off to look at points, discover that I had forgotten the rotor. Put it on, resume timing check and engine fires. Discover timing is a 20 degrees ATDC, adjust to 8 degrees BTDC and engine runs fine. Good oil pressure, quiet, no leaks.

Last night, topped up the ATF and drove to local gas station for a fill-up, then maybe a two-mile drive. What a blast! Probably the last warm night of Fall, windows down, and the noises that only a Mercedes six can make. Only problems so far are rough idle about half the time and a transmission that wants to take your head off when it shifts. But it does have all four gears!

By way of background, this car is a California car that died in Arizona last September on a cross-country trip. The cause of death was the #1 bearing cap coming loose. I bought it over the internet last March, replaced the engine with a rebuilt short block I found on e-bay and a rebuilt head from Adsit Co. A bunch of stuff (gaskets, hoses, etc.) came from Partsshop.

Thanks to all of you on the Forum, especially Randy and Dan for your help and suggestions, as well Herr Fuchs of Silver Star Motors in Vienna VA and Metric Motors in Los Angeles.

And big-time thanks to Andrew Kalweiss at American Service Center in Arlingon VA for tracking down the "dealer only" parts.

Congrats Chuck. It always sounds great the first time its started after its been stopped for a while.

BTW I like the rotor story, reminds me of the time I did that on an old Honda. Except it didn't start after I put mine back in. I had it towed to a garage to find out I hadn't taken a piece of paper from between the points. (a diagnostic instruction in the repair manual I was using) Its a lesson I learned well and haven't repeated. Yet.