News:

The W116 Library - The definitive W116 resource!

Main Menu

My Custom 1980 300SD Project

Started by Squiggle Dog, 04 August 2010, 08:15 PM

Squiggle Dog

When I removed the injectors, I carefully pulled off the Viton return hoses and luckily didn't break any, as they are the only biodiesel-resistant hoses on the whole car, and I don't have spares. I've been using B99 biodiesel in my car for 4 years on the old rubber hoses and still don't have any leaks, oddly enough. So, I was able to reuse the return hoses when I installed the spare injectors. I figure that my spares have to be better than what was in there before, even if they only get me by for a while.

While the injectors were out, I attempted to advance the injection pump to 26BTDC for a slight performance increase. The pump was set one degree retarded from specs at 23BTDC, but it was nearly maxed out to where I could only move it to the factory spec of 24BTDC. I would have to remove the pump and install it off one tooth to get enough travel to get the 26BTDC that I wanted. At least I know the pump is now timed correctly.

I took this opportunity to replace my old, nasty injector hard lines that were missing the clamps...


...with a spare set I collected a few years back. The engine looks SO much better, though it took a lot of bending to get the lines to fit.


After installing the injectors, the engine idles great and the car runs well. However, it smokes a little bit, which I don't like. I think these injectors are probably worn, but they are at least an improvement over what was in there. So, my car is saved once again due to hoarding spare parts.

I drove to The UPS Store to ship some parts I sold, and noticed when I came out that my car smelled like biodiesel. When I got back to the house, I saw a trail of fluid going from the garage door down the driveway, so apparently I had been leaking for a while.


I got in the garage and opened the hood. I saw fuel squirting out of one of the injector return hoses and the whole engine compartment was covered with biodiesel. I pulled off the leaking return hose, and saw that it had split. So, I cut it down and reused it. So far, so good. Then I did a cleaning of the engine compartment to remove all of the biodiesel.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

KenM

Hey Squiggle,

Still no good news on the job front, at least you are somewhere the sun is shining and you don't have to pay for heating, hope things get better soon. I'm impressed as ever with your skills at keeping this car running, I'm a bit of a hoarder too and keep all sorts of stuff for Justin. (case). I'm pretty new to diesels with the 300TD being my first diesel so I'm learning a fair bit about them. What do you mean with the term 'nailing'?, this I don't understand. I too found that if you even touch the return line hoses from the injectors you can forget about them ever sealing again, they split inside with the heat and when you move them they will never seal, even if you chop a bit off. I'm looking for the correct new hose at the moment. I have read nothing good about Bosch nozzles, especially the rebuilt ones, they can be pretty hit and miss from all accounts. Hope things improve for you soon on the job front mate.
Cheers,

Squiggle Dog

The term "nailing" means a metallic sound coming from the injectors, indicating that the internal parts are getting sloppy, I suppose. When this happens, there is a poor spray pattern, and the injectors are probably no longer balanced--which makes each cylinder get different amounts of combustible fuel. I am happy that this repair cost me nothing.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

gavin116

Hi Squiggle Dog


It never ceases to surprise me how such a simple thing such as changing the injector hard lines can so transform an engine bay!  Pity that the injectors are playing up.  I suppose they are pricey to replace, unlike the ones in my k-jet car which have no moving parts (and even then they weren't cheap).


Have you ever considered seeking employment at a car restoration or detailing shop?  Judging from all the work you have completed on your car, I would say any car business would be glad to have you on board.


Keep positive,


Gavin
1979 450SE "Mrs White"
2022 Touareg-R 3.0TSi Hybrid
[url="http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/"]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/[/url]
[url="http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613"]http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613[/url]

Squiggle Dog

I haven't been active on the internet for a very long time. Back in April 2016 I got a job driving a tanker truck for a propane company. It's been a good job but I've been working every waking hour of the week and then sleeping all weekend. My personal life has really suffered. I've been neglecting my 300SD as I've done next to no repairs or maintenance on it. I've been using it to commute about 2 hours a day. It still has no air conditioning, and after working in 110-120 degree F days filling propane tanks, driving home that long of a distance is brutal. I think that the only work I've done on the car in a year is an oil change, I rigged some jumper wires (which started smoking) so the fan blower would work again, and replaced the windshield wipers because the 6 year old Bosch ones finally wore out after 2 years of heavy Washington weather use, and 4 years of being in the Arizona sun.

I've been wondering how in the world people can work full-time and still have time at the end of the day for other activities. I literally have to go to sleep as soon as I get home, and I am still sleep-deprived during the day.  At my last job, I attributed it to working nights and always being on-call. At the job before that, I blamed it on alternating days and nights and always being on-call. At the job prior to that one, I had no issue because I only worked 4 hours a day, 20 days a week--but I still occasionally took naps in the afternoon. Before this, I could rarely keep a job because I would get so burned out and sleepy that I would either quit or get fired for showing up late or not at all. In high school. I slept through my classes and would take a nap when I got home. I felt that it was due to stress. In fact, since I was a baby, I've needed lots of sleep. But people said that it was just because I was growing, and would grow out of it.

I finally have medical insurance, so I went to the doctor for the first time since I was a child. I had my thyroid tested, and a full blood panel to see if I had any deficiencies. All tests came back in the normal range. Then I had a sleep study where they hooked up electrodes and monitored my sleep to check for sleep apnea. They woke me up after 7 hours and the results were normal. Then I had another sleep study done where they monitored my sleep, woke me up after 7 hours, then had me take a series of daytime naps. The results from that test also came back normal. Then I saw a sleep specialist and kept a 2-week sleep diary. The specialist said that because my sleep study results were normal, she can't officially give me a diagnosis, but she says that functionally I have idiopathic hypersomnia. She said the term they used to use was "long sleeper" but it was done away with.

If I sleep 12 hours each day, I feel rested, energetic, and alert all day. If I get less than this, I feel drowsy. The specialist told me that each person needs different amounts of sleep to regenerate. For most people it's 7. For some people, like my roommate, it's 3. I happen to be part of the less than 1% of the population that needs an unusually high amount. I was told that there is no cure. The only thing she can do is mask the problem with stimulants so that I wake up faster in the morning and so I am more alert during the day since I am not able to get 12 hours of sleep a day since some days I work 15 hours plus a 2 hour commute.

I feel like I am a danger to myself and others at work. I drive a tanker truck carrying propane and usually feel drowsy. Sometimes I fall asleep when I'm driving it but I catch myself. Then on the weekend I've slept as much as 22 hours in one day to make up for all the lost sleep. I worked so hard to get this job and good jobs are hard to find. Most people work full-time, and still have time for a family, hobbies, and maybe a second job. I can't even handle one full-time job.

The treatment options were as follows 1. amphetamines (prescription form of meth), but they are dangerous and addictive, plus I would be disqualified from having a CDL, 2. provigil, which is safer but still has bad side effects like increased blood pressure, mood changes, and dizziness, and 3. xyrem (the date rape drug) which might put me in deep sleep faster to try to make the most of my sleeping hours.

I am going to try provigil, option 2, even though I don't like taking medication. But at least I can say I tried it. The specialist told me that she doesn't want me taking it on the weekend because I'll need to sleep all weekend in order to catch up on sleep I missed during the week and regenerate. The provigil won't help me regenerate and if I don't catch up on the missed sleep, my body will deteriorate.

The specialist recommends that people like me either only work part time or own their own business. I just won't be able to accomplish as much during the day as a normal person. I have to choose between financial stability but having no free time, or poverty in order to have time to have a life. I'm going to try to get my employer to schedule me as part-time, but I might lose my benefits, so that is a concern. But I really, really need to get my life back so I can repair my car, take care of my household, and have hobbies again.

So, there is my explanation as to why I haven't been around.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

daantjie

Hang in there brother. Take care of yourself first. The Benz will be waiting for you ;)
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

Peter

Sorry to hear about this Squiggle and as Dan says the Benz along with the good people of this forum will be here for you. Meanwhile please have a read of this link as there is progress on your condition and some more sophisticated drug treatments available that have far better results and far fewer side effects. http://www.nodss.org.au/ih.html


Squiggle Dog

Thanks, guys. Peter, I forgot to mention that another reason I don't officially have hypersomnia is because technically people with hypersomnia are sleepy all the time no matter how much they sleep. I feel fully rested if I get a consistent 12 hours every day. That's the difference. If provigil doesn't work so well, it looks like there may be more options to try as the treatment is the same.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

beagle2022

Hang in there mate.  This whole "being mortal" thing is a real inconvenience!  You have to work with the cards you've been dealt.  Your diesel Merc is indestructible, you're not.  Sounds like you've got some good medical advice.  I agree with the earlier comment that you have a natural calling to car resto.  More fun than a truck!
Sydney, Australia

wbrian63

I was diagnosed with hypersomnia about 7 years ago. I took Provigil for a while, and now I'm on Nuvigil - the replacement for Provigil when the patent ran out. I never had any problem with Provigil side effects. My hypersomnia was in conjunction with a mild case of sleep apnea, for which they prescribed the use of a C-Pap machine. Unfortunately, I had problems with recurring bronchitis due to the machine, as well as not feeling like I slept any better with the machine than without.

For years prior to that (>10) I had trouble with daytime sleepiness. I didn't sleep worth a hoot at night - constantly tossing and turning, waking up at the slightest noise. Most days, the alarm clock was a welcome relief as it signaled that it was OK to get out of bed and start the day. Some nights, I'd give up trying to sleep around 2am and just go to work - this after going to bed at 11-ish....

I had the nighttime sleep study with the follow up daytime sleep study performed, and while I slept well with the C-pap (according to the charts), I failed miserably during the daytime tests. I studied really hard and still failed :(  The longest it took me to fall back asleep during the 4 daytime tests was 2 minutes - the shortest was 17 seconds. Each time the tech would wake me up my response was "I'm not asleep."

The "good" side of being diagnosed is that I now have a documented medical condition that I have conveyed to my employer. As a result, they're aware of my condition and don't seek to discipline me for occasional drop-offs at my desk. I work in IT, so staring at a pair of "TV Monitors" all day long can be nod-inducing. I tell my co-workers if they approach my cube and I appear to be asleep, don't act any different - just ask me the question you were going to ask and I'll reboot and answer easily. It's kinda spooky - I'm "out" for all outward appearances, but I still hear what's going on around me.

As for Nuvigil side effects - I've not noticed any. It was recently made available as a generic, which has made a big difference in my out-of-pocket expenses. 90-days costs me $15 with my prescription drug benefit (through mail-order). Before that I was paying $175 for a 90 day supply (employer's share was >$600!!!)

The only problem I experience is than it ruins my ability to take a restful afternoon nap on the weekends.

Good luck - the right meds will hopefully solve your problem.

One other thing - seek to make your bedroom a haven. No outside light if at all possible. Needs to be a real cave. Some people sleep better with it very cool - supposedly 65-68f is the best, but that always gives me a stuffy nose. I like mid 70's with a ceiling fan on reverse to stir the air and without blowing directly on me. If there are outside noises, seek to reduce their intrusion with a white-noise generator, or some peaceful music played low. An oscillating fan is a good source of white noise. Just point it where it doesn't blow on you (or let it blow on you, if you like a breeze) and figure out what speed gives enough white noise without being disturbing. A good mattress, high quality sheets (buy the highest thread-count you can justify - it does make a difference), good pillows (they don't last, just expect to replace them every 6 months or so) and proper sleeping clothes. You need to make sure that every moment you are in bed is tailored to getting maximum rest. If there are too many outside noises, you might try getting some cheap moving blankets (Harbor freight is a reasonable source) and hanging them on the walls - not to great for winning decoration awards, but they're dense and might help limit outside noise intrusion. The window will be the biggest source of outside noises. A couple of blankets will go along way to limiting the noise and provide the benefit of stopping light intrusion.

All the best from another hypersomniac...
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

Squiggle Dog

I tried the Provigil--the side effects were not good and I got a rash from it. The sleep technician said that I would also be allergic to Nuvigil and is out of treatment options. I was recommended to either work only part-time or apply for disability. Either way, I put in my two months' notice with my employer as the hours are too many and I'm a hazard to myself and others.

I have decided to stop putting money into my W116 and will put it up for sale after my job ends. I'm still driving it to work about 2 hours a day. It's very dependable and mechanically sound. It needs door dings removed and paint among other cosmetic things. It's a very unique car the way it is, but I would probably do better removing some of the extras and selling them separately. Then I call sell off a storage unit full of W116 parts that I've been keeping as spares that's been costing me $115 a month.

I'll be able to use one of my roommate's cars and might get a W111 that I can tinker with and put an OM617 engine into. I'd fix up my 1967 Universal wagon, but it's too rusty and not structurally sound, but I would at a later date cut off the special wagon-specific pieces and graft them onto the sedan as the coachbuilder did.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

Squiggle Dog

Due to the length of this thread and the long pause since the last post, I am starting a second part here: https://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-custom-1980-300sd-project-part-2/ .
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+