new project in my garage

[s class]

I'm sorting this car out for a fellow club member.  He bought it out of a deceased estate - it was a one-owner car.  To borrow a term from E-man, it features a lot of 'home made goodness'.



Car has the unusual Webasto block pre-heater :





The focus of my efforts is the suspension.  The front spheres are rock hard, front level valve is leaking internally, rear level valve is missing some pieces, some of the steel lines have been replaced with second hand rubber brake hoses 



whole underside is coated in thick sealan.  Yuck. 

[s class]

Many fittings totally rounded off :





Oh yeah, this one's going to be fun to work on.

[s class]

This one has me worried.  The left front strut mount has totally torn through, and the entire weight of the front end is resting on the hose fitting.  Combine that with a rock hard sphere, and the cast iron fitting at the top of the strut is taking a pounding.  I'm sufficiently concerned that I'm going to have the part x-rayed for stress fractures  :





Other basic suspension problems :

[s class]

Other basic service problems :







Great bodywork :



This one is interesting - never seen a fuel arrangement like this one.  It actually looks like its factory.  Anyone?

[s class]

For me, the exhaust is the prizewinner 

[Big_Richard]

looks like she has the webasto independent fuel burning heater option. I'd be very interested to see one of these in operation. Though completely useless in our climate.

that top strut mount, like the ball joint is the same cost as a new strut assembly - unless you have a good second hand one "on the shelf"

Love the cockyshit welds all over the exhaust, would make a Aussie farmer proud.

[s class]

looks like she has the webasto independent fuel burning heater option. I'd be very interested to see one of these in operation. Though completely useless in our climate.

Is that related to the extra equipment by the rear fuel pump?

[Big_Richard]

according to the EPC there is extra equipment at the fuel pump, because thats where the heater gets its fuel from.

What a cool device, where does the exhaust from it go ?

[s class]

I hadn't realised it used fuel, I just assumed it was electric.  Anyhow, that may explain some other hardware I was puzzled about.  Under the heater equipment is a little exhaust with silencer, exiting just below the left hand front sphere.  I'll get some photos of it. 

The area behind the suspension oil tank is VERY cramped in this car. 

[TJ 450]

Gee, there's a lot of work in that one by the look of things.

That strut mount is very concerning, the car must have been driven a long distance with the blown spheres, plus the oil would've made the rubber soft and mushy.

It does look nice in the first pic and I'm sure it will be excellent upon completion!

Tim

[koan]

Here's a diagram of a Webasto setup. I looks like it has an extra fuel pump.

(click for bigger gallery image)

Always fancied one but no use at all in AUS but a nice bit of gear.

koan

[s class]

Thanks koan.  That is helpful.  Its an interesting bit of gear, that seems to involve significant alteration to the basic layout of a 6.9 engine bay.  The ignition coil is relocated for instance, and the firewall is a maze of heater hoses.  I must photo-document this device while I have the chance. 

[Big_Richard]

anyone know what the components are in english ??

[s class]

item 18 is the exhaust gas silencer you were asking about. 

[Big_Richard]

if one could preheat their engine, oil, and coolant to 80c and have the oil circulating before starting, one could have an engine that virtually lasts forever. Does this thing actually get the engine coolant warm aswell or just the heating circut ?