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Bought another 500SEL full hydro

Started by s class, 28 September 2015, 06:08 AM

daantjie

Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

ptashek

I second that!
But that chain... crikey, talk about getting lucky  :o
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

s class

This car won the local club concour just before I bought it.  It was described as perfect in every way .  LOL. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

s class

I strongly suspect my 500SL's chain is even worse than that...


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

ptashek

Quote from: s class on 24 February 2016, 09:54 AM
This car won the local club concour just before I bought it.  It was described as perfect in every way .  LOL.

LOL indeed, but I guess it helps if you know the judges, or they're paid from your club fee?
You should totally take it for re-judgement after you're done with it :D
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

s class

Steering knuckles ready to go in :



Just as well I decided to do the chain - found this guide broken into pieces, floating around loose in the timing cover :



I see this quite regularly on 450s and 500s that havent seen a lot of attention over the years. Ignoring the problem is a guaranteed way to destroy the engine.

Chain job all buttoned up :



Valve timing dialled in to within a degree of spec using offset woodruff keys. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

TJ 450

Great work Ryan, it's amazing what lurks beneath the surface of a "perfect" car... It looks like you're well and truly onto it though, and it will be perfect soon.

Was the pump failure due to the double lip seal failing? I have a set of O rings to rebuild the pumps, but still need to purchase lip seals to proceed. I have seen several pumps fail in that fluid seems to bypass the lip seal an a serious way, but instead of ending up in the engine oil it leaks out between the pump and timing cover.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

s class

TJ, although the double lip seal didn't look too bad, it must have been the point of the failure.  I can't see any other explanation for how the engine oil was getting into the system.


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

s class

So the car is alive.  I did the following :

COOLING
new visco clutch
new thermostat
new shroud
all new coolant hoses
new thermostat housing and side feed housing gaskets
new reservoir tank
MB antifreeze
ultrasonic flush radiator

BRAKES
new front discs
overhauled front calipers
new front brake flex hoses
new master cylinder
MB brake fluid

ENGINE
new sump, gasket, plug
new oil pump pickup boot
new oil pressure sender
new valve cover gaskets

new timing chain
new cam sprockets
all new chain guides
set up valve timing with woodruff keys
new chain tensioner

new crank front main seal
new filter (again)
8 litres Magnatec (again)
new air filter
8 x new spark plugs
new air intake duct

SUSPENSION
new guide rod bushing kits x2
new main supporting joints x2
new front wheel bearings x2

HYDRAULICS
overhauled main suspension pump
flushed struts and valves
flushed fluid cooler loop
new filter
5 litres ZH-M fluid

BELTS
new aircon belt
new aircon tensioner pulley
new alternator regulator

TRANSMISSION
repaired and epoxy coated sump
new filter
new cooler lines
new Castrol ATF-IID fluid

STEERING
new filter
new Castrol ATF-IID fluid
replaced missing filter retaining spring

WHEELS
reconditioned 6.5Jx14 rims
2 x new NANKANG CX-668 205/70R14
balance all 5

STILL TO DO (TONIGHT...)
new fuel filter
new fuel accumulator
new fuel pump
all new fuel hoses and lines
8 x new injectors.

ROUND 2 will follow in a few months time and will involve all the A/C issues and rebushing the front lower control arms, and steering box rebuild.


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

rumb

Congrats, that is quite a list of work you have accomplished.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

floyd111

From that lst of parts and expenses, may I deduct that that in some way, you have equalled a 6.9 resto? ;)

s class

That was only round 1. 

Round 2 will be :

rebush rear subframe and trailing arms
new front caster joints
rebuild fuel distributor
rebuild steering box

Round 3 will be :
replace front door cards to remedy speaker cutouts
strip both sides of car to bare metal and properly repair previous substandard repair work.

No, this was a basic exercise in catching up deferred maintenance, and not even close to what a 6.9 resto will cost.
Following all the work done, I just completed a 1800km round trip for family holiday over the easter period.  Fuel consumption averaged 11.2l/100km which is excellent, but most of the distance was done with the tempomat at a lazy 130km/h. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

s class

I can comment on the work done as follows :

- brake hydraulic issues totally resolved by the new master, hoses, and caliper rebuild

- brake shudder still a problem, apparently the left rear is the main culprit. I know that previously the car had an incident where the left rear slid out and hit a pavement, so I suspect a damaged rear hub there leading to disc runout

- cooling system totally OK. Car sits on 84 degC, only slightly rising to about 86-87 in heavy traffic on a hot day.

- fuel starvation is resolved thanks to the new pump and filter - the old filter was datestamped 1987 lol.

- engine mechanical performance is good, but power is still low. I suspect its running a bit on the lean side. I still need to fit the new injectors and rebuild the fuel distributor

- suspension hydraulics seem OK with the rebuilt pump, but the rear levelling valve is 'lazy' and can get 'stuck' too high or too low, so I need to strip and overhaul that valve still

- front suspension mechanicals are much better, but there is still a bit of clonking, I need to fit new caster joints.

- steering box play is still an issue, I just didn't have time to sort that out before the trip. I think a new drag link and damper might be a good idea too

- oil pressure problems are resolved with the new sump, pickup and sender. Oil consumption was OK at less than 0.5 litres in the 1900km.

This car is now going to stand for a while again, as I need to focus on other stuff during April


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

daantjie

Ryan, would you say the ride is way better than a 6.9 or just marginally?
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

s class

6.9 has encourages more aggressive driving, and the ride is more supple.  If you are looking for control and tight handling, this car is about 3 leagues ahead of a 6.9.  No comparison.  The lighter engine and front end makes for much tighter turn-in, with very little body roll. 

Having said that, the 6.9 rear end is better behaved.  This 500 likes to step the rear end out with very little provocation, and usually it comes as a bit of a surprise. 

Will see how we go this weekend, the local MB club has a track- and gymkhana day. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL