My 1985 300D
My 1985 300D
I guess I should introduce my car. My neighbor bought a 1984 300D and got a 1985 "parts" car with some deer damage and a slipping tranny. In exchange for helping him get the '84 roadworthy, he gave me the '85. Broken odometer says 186,089 miles.
It sat in an orchard for a couple of years because of the slipping tranny. I got it running and then let it sit for a couple more years. My neighbor "borrowed" a few parts from it and the turbo became partially seized. Just recently I got it running again and the turbo freed itself up once it warmed up and had fresh oil running through it. Right now the idle is pretty rough and it doesn't start as quickly as my neighbor's car.
I like small, lightweight Japanese cars that handle good. So why do I have a large German sedan that handles like a boat? I don't know, but I kinda like the damn thing. Being able to run it on WVO certainly adds to its appeal.
I want to simplify/lighten the car, put a manual transmission in place of the auto, dramatically improve handling and get more power out of it.
For looks, I want to:
replace the US headlights with the E-Codes (I have them already)
lower it a little (especially in the front)
possibly remove the side molding
black-out most of the chrome
add a front air dam (90s Dakota is a pretty close fit, just needs to be shortened)
And those awful front seats have to go. I might replace them with a pair of 80s Acura Integra seats I have. I just wish I had matching rear seats.
There is some old crash damage to the left rear quarter panel. It was badly patched with Bondo. The filler had become a water trap, so I pried most of it off. I'm not sure whether I want to try replacing the whole panel, my body working skills aren't great. And I'm still learning how to weld.
More recent pics:
Cleans up nicely
Not its good side
Dakota airdam
Its always good to see someone bring one back from the field instead of letting it rot. Keep us posted with updated pics.
I did a compression test. They ranged from 300-350 PSI. Should they vary that much?
It sounds like it has a miss at idle, could that be an injector?
There isn't much more progress, but I found a complete and unused tool kit at the junkyard in a W126.
(06-11-2009, 12:45 PM)Gasoline Fumes I did a compression test. They ranged from 300-350 PSI. Should they vary that much?
It sounds like it has a miss at idle, could that be an injector?
There isn't much more progress, but I found a complete and unused tool kit at the junkyard in a W126.
(06-11-2009, 12:45 PM)Gasoline Fumes I did a compression test. They ranged from 300-350 PSI. Should they vary that much?
It sounds like it has a miss at idle, could that be an injector?
There isn't much more progress, but I found a complete and unused tool kit at the junkyard in a W126.
I love this 90s dakota air dam idea. Can you take a larger picture? I immediately want to do the same thing.
I don't see any cracks in the dash, pretty amazing. How does the left rear door open? is it squeezed by the accident damage?
(06-11-2009, 01:50 PM)winmutt(06-11-2009, 12:45 PM)Gasoline Fumes I did a compression test. They ranged from 300-350 PSI. Should they vary that much?
It sounds like it has a miss at idle, could that be an injector?
There isn't much more progress, but I found a complete and unused tool kit at the junkyard in a W126.
It shouldn't vary that much but what are you going to do about it? Did a valve job first right? Did you double check your adjustment numbers (as well as compression numbers).
Crack the injector lines to find the culprit.
(06-11-2009, 10:28 PM)dropnosky I love this 90s dakota air dam idea. Can you take a larger picture? I immediately want to do the same thing.
I don't see any cracks in the dash, pretty amazing. How does the left rear door open? is it squeezed by the accident damage?
CARFAX 05/31/1997
Florida
Police Report
Case #545066340
Accident reported Involving left side impact with another motor vehicle
(06-11-2009, 01:50 PM)winmutt(06-11-2009, 12:45 PM)Gasoline Fumes I did a compression test. They ranged from 300-350 PSI. Should they vary that much?
It sounds like it has a miss at idle, could that be an injector?
There isn't much more progress, but I found a complete and unused tool kit at the junkyard in a W126.
It shouldn't vary that much but what are you going to do about it? Did a valve job first right? Did you double check your adjustment numbers (as well as compression numbers).
Crack the injector lines to find the culprit.
(06-11-2009, 10:28 PM)dropnosky I love this 90s dakota air dam idea. Can you take a larger picture? I immediately want to do the same thing.
I don't see any cracks in the dash, pretty amazing. How does the left rear door open? is it squeezed by the accident damage?
CARFAX 05/31/1997
Florida
Police Report
Case #545066340
Accident reported Involving left side impact with another motor vehicle
Oh shit! That airdam look bitchin!!
How much length needs to be taken off to make it fit?
This is somthing im going to start looking for right away at the junk yard!
Beautiful!!
Especially on a slammed CD...oooohhhhhhhhhhh
(10-04-2010, 08:46 PM)garage Oh shit! That airdam look bitchin!!
How much length needs to be taken off to make it fit?
This is somthing im going to start looking for right away at the junk yard!
Beautiful!!
Especially on a slammed CD...oooohhhhhhhhhhh
(10-04-2010, 08:46 PM)garage Oh shit! That airdam look bitchin!!
How much length needs to be taken off to make it fit?
This is somthing im going to start looking for right away at the junk yard!
Beautiful!!
Especially on a slammed CD...oooohhhhhhhhhhh
At Ecology junkyards they will let you take parts out to your car if you leave them your lisence and they mark the piece.
I cant wait to start cruising through the domestic isles more looking for airdams
This is cool
I hate to admit it, but I sold the 300D a while back.
You can sort of see how much needs to be removed by the overhang on the other side. I think it was around 2". I wasn't too concerned about making the seam look good since the license plate would mostly hide it. I was looking at the Blazer airdams too, I think they're about the same size. Bigger trucks will just need their airdams shortened a bit more. They're not hard to find, but I still have the Dakota airdam if anybody wants it.
Well its probably a good time to go buy another one
Its made out of a like plastic/abs type of material correct?
So if i cut out 2inches of the center, how would be the best way to go about getting it molded back together? Fiberglass?
any ideas?
I never gave it much thought, I was just happy to find an air dam. I was thinking I'd end up sandwiching something on both sides of it and bolting/screwing the whole thing together. Nobody would notice as long as it's all painted black. Maybe the section that was cut out can even be used as the front layer of the "sandwich."
I'll get another Merc when I find a cheap, rust-free 300D-T with a 5-spd and LSD.
(10-05-2010, 01:33 PM)Gasoline Fumes I never gave it much thought, I was just happy to find an air dam. I was thinking I'd end up sandwiching something on both sides of it and bolting/screwing the whole thing together. Nobody would notice as long as it's all painted black. Maybe the section that was cut out can even be used as the front layer of the "sandwich."
I'll get another Merc when I find a cheap, rust-free 300D-T with a 5-spd and LSD.
(10-05-2010, 01:33 PM)Gasoline Fumes I never gave it much thought, I was just happy to find an air dam. I was thinking I'd end up sandwiching something on both sides of it and bolting/screwing the whole thing together. Nobody would notice as long as it's all painted black. Maybe the section that was cut out can even be used as the front layer of the "sandwich."
I'll get another Merc when I find a cheap, rust-free 300D-T with a 5-spd and LSD.
(10-05-2010, 03:48 PM)garage How about a 300CD, with a 5 speed, manual windows and sunroof, and LSD...that sounds sweeeeet.
A 240CDT i like the sound of that!
(10-05-2010, 03:48 PM)garage How about a 300CD, with a 5 speed, manual windows and sunroof, and LSD...that sounds sweeeeet.
A 240CDT i like the sound of that!
(10-05-2010, 06:33 PM)Gasoline Fumes(10-05-2010, 03:48 PM)garage How about a 300CD, with a 5 speed, manual windows and sunroof, and LSD...that sounds sweeeeet.
A 240CDT i like the sound of that!
Sounds good! Can I have 15" Bundts and Euro bumpers on it too?
(10-05-2010, 06:33 PM)Gasoline Fumes(10-05-2010, 03:48 PM)garage How about a 300CD, with a 5 speed, manual windows and sunroof, and LSD...that sounds sweeeeet.
A 240CDT i like the sound of that!
Sounds good! Can I have 15" Bundts and Euro bumpers on it too?
and 1,000,000 hp and torque....
(10-09-2010, 12:58 AM)Captain America and 1,000,000 hp and torque....
wowza, you guys are weaklings! my 616 that drinks it's own oil puts out 1.21GW (1,622,636.73 hp)!
I think my car is making negative horsepower at the moment...