Diesel RVs: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Parting out '79 300 TD (Touring, not a turbo)

Mark,

It looks like it does have the self-leveling set-up. I'm not sure exactly what one looks like, but there is definitely an extra pump on the front of the head with one line going to a large reservoir on the driver's side and the other snaking around the front of the engine and heading towards the back under the intake manifold. And, the back end is sagging a little bit.

I'll sweeten the deal. I hate for it to go to the crusher, so I'll offer it up for free to anyone on the list who'll promise to use as many parts as possible or even repower it and put it back on the road.

Here's a current list of the projects I have (that are personal projects, not customer's)

1. Head gasket job on my 2000 Saab 9-3
2. Head gasket job on my 1985 Saab 900
3. Head gasket job on my 91 Yugo GV+
4. Water pump/timing belt on my 83 Alfa Romeo GTV6
5. Starter R&R, no-start dx/repair, brake master cylinder & booster R&R on my 87 Renault GTA
6. Brake master cylinder R&R on my 93 VW Fox
7. Water pump/timing belt on my 1990 Volvo 245
8. Pull engine out of my 86 Volvo 245 and install into my 87 Volvo 740
9. Timing belt, A/C delete on my 87 Yugo GV
10. Finish IP/timing belt/wp install on my 82 VW Rabbit
11. Repower my '76 Triumph TR-7 (requires extracting the engine/5 speed/axle from my 80 TR-7 parts car)
12. Rebuild engine for my '71 MGB/GT
13. Build engine for my '89 Audi 80
14. R&R fuel pump in my '89 Audi 200 Turbo quattro
15. Head gasket on my 86 Yugo GV
16. Install interior, carbs, water pump, ignition, etc in my '73 MG Midget
17. Build & install the carb on my 83 Honda Civic wagon
18. Replace the battery in my 96 Renault Laguna RT wagon
19. Rebuild carbs/fuel system & front brake on my 73 Suzuki GT250 motorcycle
20. Timing belt/wp/tensioner, & front/rear pad/rotors R&R on my wife's '02 Golf (wife's daily driver, so when its time for that, everything else grinds to a halt until its done)
21. Driver's seat repair on my '97 Volvo 960 (my car, but permanently loaned to my Grandmother to drive as long as she wants. Since its my Grandmother's car, and I'm all she has, anytime there's a problem with this one, it takes precedence over just about everything else. Luckily, the seat is fine for her to drive it, so not a big rush right now on that)

and

22. Do something with the 79 M-B 300 touring...

So, you see, removing that from my list and putting $$$ in my pocket at the same time certainly has appeal to it, but, considering I'm an automotive St. Jude, I hate to let anything go to the scrap yard when I (and maybe only I) can see potential in it. I'm like the no-kill animal shelter for cars: I rescue them and then rehab as time/$$$ permits. Unfortunately, room is relatively tight and I'd like to free up a little in order to "save" some cars that aren't as far gone, if you know what I mean (a VW Quantum Synchro Wagon, in particular).

And those are my own projects. I own/operate an exclusive Euro repair shop and work 80-100 hours a week at that, and so my projects have to fit in between my customer's cars, so that makes it even harder to get to them.

I'm going to take some pics of the car this morning and post on Craigslist, I guess, in an attempt to adopt it out locally. But, my offer to list members stands: Free to anyone on the list as long as they: 1. Take the whole thing and 2. Make an honest effort to use as much of it as possible to get other cars on the road, or actually get it back on the road. I have a trailer and could move it, but I'd have to charge for gas on that, but if you're near, we could talk about it.

Regards,
Ben Pender
Klassic Autos
Vintage European Auto service, repair, and parts
Madison, AL
256-489-9560

--- On Tue, 11/1/11, Mark Atkins <mratkins@embarqmail.com> wrote:

From: Mark Atkins <mratkins@embarqmail.com>
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Parting out '79 300 TD (Touring, not a turbo)
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 11:15 AM

Ben,

I have a n/a 300D engine that needs to be used in something. It has been out of a car for a few years but the guy I got it from said it ran well but the car was wrecked and he parted it out for the tranny and clutch parts (it was a Euro 300D w/ manual trans).

Does this car have the leveling system which requires the pump drive on the head or will the engine I have work in it? I would not mind having it or working a deal with someone on the engine if they want to mess with it. I have a LOT of "projects"myself so I would rather sell the engine but it sounds like the body needs to be saved.

You all kick the idea around and see if anyone is interested.

Mark in Texas

On 10/31/2011 9:41 PM, Ben Pender wrote:

Hey Guys,

I'm parting out a '79 300 wagon. It was a running, driving car until, about 5 years ago, it suffered oil starvation (the story I got) and trashed the bottom end. There was an amateur attempt to repair it that resulted in partial disassembly of the engine (radiator and stuff partially removed, engine not opened up, though). It's relatively rust-free. It was brought to my shop by the owner who was a friend at the time because he was moving and needed to stash it somewhere during the move. Thing is, that was 3 years ago, and its still here. And considering that that friend owes me a couple hundred dollars that I'll never see, I'm going to part out the car and then sell it for scrap. I hate to do it because it appears to be fairly solid, but it needs an engine and I simply don't have the time for that. I did entertain the idea of dropping a good engine and (preferrably) a manual gearbox into it, but, as I said, I've already got about 20 projects going on that I don't have time for, so I've got to get this one converted into some cash and out of here.

Of course, I'd love to sell the thing to someone who would use it either for parts or put back on the road. In that case, I'd like to get $200 for it, which is basically the scrap price, and most of what my friend owes me. Since its in Madison, AL 35758, and its a '79, there's no title for it. I'll give a bill of sale.

The car is a dove gray over dark gray interior. The interior is a bit sun-baked, but not that bad.

Let me know what you want. I'd like to send what's left of it to the metal recyclers in about a month.

Regards,
Ben Pender
Klassic Autos
Vintage European Auto service, repair, and parts
Madison, AL
256-489-9560