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Yesmar's Project Daily Driver

Started by Yesmar, 22 March 2012, 07:48 AM

Yesmar

Hey gang. Haven't been around in a while, but all is well. The time has come to get the old 280s on the road! I knew this was coming one of these days and I am so glad I held on to the benz. Thought about selling it a couple times but just couldn't let it go.

Now to lead up to this point has been quite a ride. my clutch is shot on my s4, and I'm not going to replace it until I can afford to go stage3 with it(easier to pull the engine to replace the clutch and I don't want to pull it twice)so I parked it, and my work truck caught on fire, total loss.

Over these next couple weeks I will be getting my 280 insured, registered, and inspected. Now to do this I have some "freshening up" to do. This isn't a build or anything crazy, just some good old maintenance I wanted to document for getting my car that has been sitting for over a year back to the reliable daily driver it is.

Ok, so my little list of "to do" stuff are as follows.
Battery(using the battery from the s4)
front and rear pads+rotors, brake fluid/bleed system
new tires
spark plugs
spark plug wires
distributer cap
oil,oil filter, new drain plug/washer
new exhaust hangers
fuel filter,siphon/fresh fuel
intake filter
inspect belts and hoses(replace as needed)
hook up new hood release latch(new cable and latch are in, just need to figure out how to undo the old latch,dashboard seems to be in the way)
and the big one a new Holley 390 carby.
interior/exterior detail
and finally insure, register and off to state inspection. ;D

Of course I'm planning on other things that I may come across once I get into it. Since I have owned the car it hasn't leaked 1 single drop of anything. The car has been sitting and may leak after I get her up and running, which I'll take care of gaskets and seals as/if the problems arise.

Just wanted to let you guys know what's going on, and I'm going to update this thread with my progress/pics/problems/questions if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am going to be ordering this stuff tonight or tomorrow.
Let me know what you think. 8)

- Ramsey

TJ 450

That's a bit of a list, but nothing too bad except the carby.

Do you have an issue with the Solex?

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

Yesmar

i have not ordered the carb yet. i just have the typical issues, stutters from a stop, rough starting, low rpm almost stalls. I'm going to get it on the road first and see how it goes then i will decide on my next steps regarding the carby. Most everything else is in the mail.

I am having a rough time deciding what spark plugs to get. the USA only has options for the US 280 engine, and I'm not sure if they will be fine or what. any suggestions?
- Ramsey

Yesmar

ok, so i guess I'm going to start here today.
here is where the beast has been sleeping for over a year

this is what i have as of now.
Hengst air filter
Bosch distributor cap
Duralast distributor rotor clip
6 new bosch W9DC spark plugs
oil,oil filter
MB coolant
a couple Bruss hard rubber exhaust hangers
ATE vented disk front rotors
ATE solid disk rear rotors
Pagid OE compound front and rear brake pad set

Not pictured
5 gallons of fresh 93octane fuel
new oil drain plug and copper washer
and a good battery

so my plan for today is just to give it a good old tune up. Ill be doing the distributor cap/rotor/spark plugs, the air filter, flush and replace fuel/coolant/oil and filter and plan to turn the engine over and have it running this afternoon.

tomorrow, I will get the car in the garage and up on jackstands and send my fiance' and wheels to the local tire shop for some new rubber. while they are there I'm going to tackle the brakes pads and rotors, and replace what exhaust hangers i need to. by then the wheels should be back and ready to rock and roll. I have to wait till tomorrow for this because i have to rent a brake caliper depressor tool.

I plan on getting pics and updating this thread by tonight, hopefully with no issues. finish my breakfast and get crackin

;D
- Ramsey

Yesmar

#4
ok gang, some good, some bad, and some stupid... and some hope :)
the good thing is i got the car running, changed the oil/filter, siphoned out the fuel and put some fresh in, and replaced the coolant, and threw in the new air filter. Couldn't really wait so i wanted to crank it over and just see where i stand. after the third try it came to life and idle great. let it warm up and run a good bit. Boy was it great to hear the good old m110 rumble to life and hear its sound! then i shut it off and let it cool down a bit. everything looked great no leaks no issue's well see once i put some load on the engine. I have hope.

now, the bad. i was starting to change the distributor cap, rotor, and plugs. at this point my neighbor wondered over and said he heard a slight miss. I ignored him, and kept at it. so i pulled the cap off and and replaced the rotor, the old one didn't look too bad, but i have no idea really. it does have some sign of wear. regardless i got a new so I'm going to replace it anyway.






then i was going to start swapping all the wires to the new cap and pop it on. Ok well I'm following the #3 or 4 I would  one of the middle wires had tape all around it at the spark plug end, so i unwound it to see whats up. it had a huge slit in the outside insulation of it. No problem, i run to the parts shop and pick up another, yeah? well not a single place has these wires instock. Which leads to the stupid, as i was going to buy a set online with my other parts but half ass-ed looked over my current ones(without removing the airbox) and ASSUMED they would be fine. well so now i found a place that can get me some by tomorrow afternoon. some called karlyn/sti ??? anyone heard of these? any good? worth $100usd?? Idk

so anyway the hope, i pulled a couple spark plugs and this is the condition of them,

and this bad one is the one that came out of the one with the slit open wire.

looks to me like a lot of carbon build up. i was comparing it to some chart i have, it says it could be caused by a short (Hopping the split wire is the cause) and leads to rough idle,hard start up etc. and emissions issues, AND Misfires,That old man across the street must have known what he was talking about !. sounds a lot like why I've been complaining about my carby. fingers crossed a bad sparkplug wire will help :) also thinking about seafoaming it sometime maybe before the new spark plugs, blow some carbon build up out and clean the inside a bit


so i will be changing the spark plugs and wires  and distributor cap tomorrow. and maybe insure and re register it too. we'll see ill let you all know.
- Ramsey

TJ 450

Yes, those plugs are fouled... The engine won't run well with those. But yes, a damaged lead won't do any good either.

The Karlyn/STI ones should be fine.

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

Yesmar

#6
great, thanks Tim.
I have set up the order for the wires this AM and still have about and hour or2 before i can pick them up. so with all that time today waiting i picked up the brake caliper tool and insured and registered my car ;D I was able to register it as an antique because it is older then 25 years and still in oem original condition. I live in Harrisburg(our state capitol) so was able to hand in my application, title, 4 pics.(front,back,both sides) and 100 bills. and was able to walk out with my registration and plate in hand today! a lot of people have to wait weeks for the application to be reviewed. Apparently it is not an easy task to be approved for antique plates the car has to be immaculate and original, tinted windows, non oem paint in good condition and even non oem hubcaps will void your abilities for the registration. it passed without the blink of an eye :)
These are the pics I submitted







Now the reason i went with this registration is because I'm exempt from pa state emissions, and the annual state inspection. I know the car would fail emissions and it would fail USDot inspection because of the lack of side marking lights. another great aspect is that this is a permanent plate for the life of the car. I will never have to pay the fee and re register it every year as long as i keep it.

So my plan for the rest of the day after i pick up the wires is do the distributor cap, wires and I'm going to install the spark plugs now while i wait. then I HAVE to take her for a ride, now that its registered i can. I cant wait! it's been a long time. then i will get it in the garage tonight and knock the breaks out. I will be on later tonight to review the brake bleeding process in the service library. tires will have to be tomorrow or Friday.
I will let you all know how this goes and post up any pictures i have time to take
;D
- Ramsey

Yesmar

#7
So only good news for this go!
got the spark plugs in and distributor cap on, and then i finally got the call that the spark plug wires were in. picked them up. they look great. i will grab some pics tomorrow of them say germany and some other stuff. ill have to look at the package and actual wires better tomorrow. the feel really good, and well made. anyway, threw them on and fired her up. let it warm up and took it for a spin... a long one actually rural, freeway, and city. the damn thing runs great! It really shins on the highway, so effortless and smooth.

got some beer on the way home to celebrate so i wont be doing the brakes tonight. if i can get off again tomorrow ill tackle it them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aC-KJ_r8pQ&feature=youtu.be
yes I'm very happy ;D

EDIT:HAha i forgot the most important part. YES the spark plug wires cured my hesitations from a stop completely! its idling great now, and starts sooo much more easier! :)
- Ramsey

KenM

That's some pretty good progress there, well done. We can't get that seafoam stuff here, I've seen some videos of what it does though, certainly looks impressive but does it work as well as they claim?

Yesmar

hey, yeah we get it. i dont think i will be using it in the 280s. i have used it on toyotas and hondas but i wont put it in our audi's, and i dont think i will be using it in the w116 either. i just figure its not broke, so dont mess with it. id rather not use additives and stuff if it really doesnt need it. ill let you all know if i change my mind.

just some notes i gathered from my test drive this afternoon. i need to check out the trans fluid tomorrow when i get to the brakes. it just didnt as smooth as i think i remember. also when i replace a few exhaust hangers i need to inspect the exhaust, clamps and what not. i deff. have an exhaust leak i want to get rid of. I am going to get an alighnment done when i put the new tires on also.
- Ramsey

Tony66_au

Last time I got caught out with a dud plug lead I bought one the right length and swapped the ends off the old lead onto the new one.

Worked fine!

That rotor button looked stuffed BTW and the Gap on those plugs looked HUUUGE!

Following your progress closely because I have a 280S coming home soon.

Cheers,
Tony

Yesmar

hello tony, good to hear you are taking delivery on a 280s! I daily drove my m110 for a year when i first got the car and really enjoyed it. i was never left stranded anywhere, and was always confident with the car. for its size, the m110 really can get the car out of its own way and certainly keep up with the rest of the traffic.
post pics when you get it.

I did not have time to put towards the benz today as planned, but when i do i will check the gap of the old plugs and let you know how far off they were. the new plugs i gapped each one to 0.8 millimeters.

I am not familiar with the term "stuffed" regarding the rotor.
- Ramsey

Tony66_au

Stuffed is the same as Unserviceable/FUBAR or worn out.


I have Photos as she currently sits (The 280S) and will post em here until I get better pictures.





















Kjhall65

How exciting. When do you get the car? A parts car or restoration?

Tony66_au

I bought the car mid last year from a mate who had it for years but no longer had the time for it, and it comes home when I have the time to trailer it home hopefully in the next month or so.

He (The Mate) doesn't mind it staying and she is dry where she is plus I want to finish a bit more on the Green 450, and being a Solex carbied car the start up process will be a slow and careful one as I don't want to have to rebuild the 4 barrel.

She will be a resto for my Wife as she expressed an interest and actually gets her hands dirty helping out.