rdirtycar's 1983 300D
rdirtycar's 1983 300D
That's a nice clean car got any plans for it?
Thanks! It was bought in 1983 in Red Wood City, California and ended up in Connecticut in the nineties I'm guessing. There is no rust through anywhere. It came with extensive maintenance records and looks to be well loved it's whole life. I am the fourth owner after a brief third who was my friend Andrea. I bought it for $4000 over many months. It is in "good" shape.
I have a rebuilt transmission from Sun Valley waiting downstairs for me to collect all the peripheral parts involved in the swap. Transmission is always the first place to start in any automotive project so my investment hasn't gone very far beyond that. I just overpaid for a long intake runner manifold from a w115. I want it to go a little faster but i'm more concerned with a smooth usable powerband. Other than that I want to increase the ease of maintenance, and the cooling and filtration of the liquids. Many of it's it's luxury features will certainly stay since it is my daily driver.
Yeah! I forgot about the manifold switch....
tuning European cars and finding things like long intake runner manifold in a 1983!! why aren't there more bolt on products for this thing. There were more bolt
on kits for my 83 vanagon or my 85 IH f350.... let's sell some bolt on kits. I live in CT. gearheads Mecca machine shop of every kind..
Yeah I know exactly what you mean.... but at the same time if there were that many parts around then the 300d would be the new civic and we don't want that! That poor availability of parts keeps us unique to everyone else.
Took me a few hours to build the bracket and install this is a little cleanable fuel screen/sediment bowl to replace the awful tiny plastic ones. I have some black stuff in the tank and buying or cleaning the OE fuel screen was not practical.
Hopefully soon I'll install this rebuilt transmission from Sun Valley Mercedes Dismantlers. I had them tap a hole for a temperature sensor, as soon as I see where it is I'll get a picture. The guy from Sun Valley said it's the best place to read the transmission temperature.
Nice! I need both the tach amp and a separate pre fuel filter as mine also fills with black gooo from the tank...
Guess you needed a new trans huh?
The transmission in the car has the typical slips and jolts of a worn 300D transmission. But I have never felt more confident driving longer distances with a bad transmission than I do in this car. It's been behaving exactly the same way for a YEAR now driving about 30 miles per day almost every day. I take it on 80 min trips through New York City without hesitation. Today was the first day when something funny happened with the transmission, it jammed into third and chirped the tires a bit. I hope I have two more weeks.
Awe, but chirping tires is fun. I can do it in second in mine if i pin it!
I like fast cars, but only on the Internet. I owned an m roadster for 8 monhs before bankruptcy. I'm luck I'm still alive. They shouldn't let people have cars like that. Still even in that thing the clutch wasn't strong enough to scream in second on dry pavement. But It had a great rear differential. And stepless variable valve timing. And six huge butterfly valves. and at stop lights the stereo would turn down the volume for you. But enough of the ex girlfriends for me. I don't want my poor little German strudel to get jealous. She knows she's my favorite ever.
just picked up a napa air filter 6637. It was almost 50 dollars but it's going to last about three years I figure. it's going to clamp on to a four inch elbow with flanges welded to it letting me bolt it to an air box. the hood is goin to end up being the top of the airbox. I would keep the awful stock setup before my engine sucked air from behind the radiator.
a newer ford powerstroke has a vacuum sensor in the airbox that trips when the air filter gets past it's service life. I'll look into this more because those filters are expensive and a little less or more dirt over time could mean a service life variable of many months.
Get the air filter in yet?
(07-14-2010, 12:21 AM)Captain America Get the air filter in yet?
(07-14-2010, 12:21 AM)Captain America Get the air filter in yet?
Yeah same here, shes my daily driver... well here in Cali they have some silicone pieces and aluminum tube at Pep Boys and then the local tuner shops, after that your stuck to ordering online. try www.siliconeintakes.com or www.frozenboost.com I think both those websites are really the same place. I will go to burning man someday, Its on my To Do list.
(07-15-2010, 02:04 PM)Captain America Yeah same here, shes my daily driver... well here in Cali they have some silicone pieces and aluminum tube at Pep Boys and then the local tuner shops, after that your stuck to ordering online. try www.siliconeintakes.com or www.frozenboost.com I think both those websites are really the same place. I will go to burning man someday, Its on my To Do list.
(07-15-2010, 02:04 PM)Captain America Yeah same here, shes my daily driver... well here in Cali they have some silicone pieces and aluminum tube at Pep Boys and then the local tuner shops, after that your stuck to ordering online. try www.siliconeintakes.com or www.frozenboost.com I think both those websites are really the same place. I will go to burning man someday, Its on my To Do list.
No Problem!
Intake casting number?
sweet. Lets see it!
(07-19-2010, 02:02 PM)Captain America sweet. Lets see it!
(07-19-2010, 02:02 PM)Captain America sweet. Lets see it!
WOW! That is crazy! I would bet my car is the same way... I find siliconed together parts like the water pump and thermostat and the vacuum pump and it scares me...
Why didn't you just buy the whole shebang with new injectors with those nozzles that are pre balanced from Mercedes Source? then send in what your old ones for credit...
Are you going to balance them?
Maybe pissing in my engine will result in the same performance of my injectors???? Bahahahahah!
(07-20-2010, 02:26 PM)Captain America WOW! That is crazy! I would bet my car is the same way... I find siliconed together parts like the water pump and thermostat and the vacuum pump and it scares me...
Why didn't you just buy the whole shebang with new injectors with those nozzles that are pre balanced from Mercedes Source? then send in what your old ones for credit...
Are you going to balance them?
Maybe pissing in my engine will result in the same performance of my injectors???? Bahahahahah!
(07-20-2010, 02:26 PM)Captain America WOW! That is crazy! I would bet my car is the same way... I find siliconed together parts like the water pump and thermostat and the vacuum pump and it scares me...
Why didn't you just buy the whole shebang with new injectors with those nozzles that are pre balanced from Mercedes Source? then send in what your old ones for credit...
Are you going to balance them?
Maybe pissing in my engine will result in the same performance of my injectors???? Bahahahahah!
(07-20-2010, 08:08 PM)rdirtycar I wanted to balance them myself because I just love spending two afternoons with myself in an underequipped workshop covered in toxic fluids.
^^^^ Perfect! ^^^^
Last night my father let me use his Toyota because my car was laid up. I got in it and turned the key to "on". Waited.. Realized there were no glow plugs and turned the key, nothing, oh. Must be in gear, nope, pushed the clutch in and it started. Then i got to the end of the driveway and stepped on the breaks and almost went through the windshield. I love my car.
(07-20-2010, 08:08 PM)rdirtycar I wanted to balance them myself because I just love spending two afternoons with myself in an underequipped workshop covered in toxic fluids.
^^^^ Perfect! ^^^^
Last night my father let me use his Toyota because my car was laid up. I got in it and turned the key to "on". Waited.. Realized there were no glow plugs and turned the key, nothing, oh. Must be in gear, nope, pushed the clutch in and it started. Then i got to the end of the driveway and stepped on the breaks and almost went through the windshield. I love my car.
I don't like jap either. My father and his brothers grew up with crazy European cars from yore. He's just lazy and I guess now. He does have a 74 Alfa GTV he loves but not for daily use.
Injectors turned out great drove it this morning. A little more power but the throttle was more responsive and it ran a little smother at higher RPMs. I'm happy. It needed that really bad.
Good to hear. Its on my list...
w115 NA intake.
This is the big ass filter I plan on squeezing behind the right headlight. The top of the airbox has to be the hood and the walls are going to be a bent sheet of aluminum with weatherstripping on the top and bottom. The outlet is 4", I do know it's overkill. But who has fun following the rules now? It will be accompanied by a Mann-Hummel Provent 200 and some tubing.
I'll will post my big ass filter when I get home. i think I got you beat lol.
Ps I want an intake like that one! its super clean!!!!
Lol, Air filter wars!
Umm the big ass one on the right is from a '92 Hummer H1. Measures 6" Diameter
The other on is From My Sprint, a nice AEM dry filter...
(07-23-2010, 10:31 PM)Captain America Lol, Air filter wars!
Umm the big ass one on the right is from a '92 Hummer H1. Measures 6" Diameter
The other on is From My Sprint, a nice AEM dry filter...
(07-23-2010, 10:31 PM)Captain America Lol, Air filter wars!
Umm the big ass one on the right is from a '92 Hummer H1. Measures 6" Diameter
The other on is From My Sprint, a nice AEM dry filter...
Yup! Most of us are very familiar with their size.
Yeah there is no way I'm going to use the Humvee filter... BUT I would like to use a box like that and plum cold air to it from the cowl just in front of the windshield. Maybe build little scoops to sit on top of the cowl vents to get some air forced in at speed. I think the forced air would easily overcome the bends in tube from the cowl to air box to turbo.
(07-24-2010, 12:45 PM)Captain America I think the forced air would easily overcome the bends in tube from the cowl to air box to turbo.
(07-24-2010, 12:45 PM)Captain America I think the forced air would easily overcome the bends in tube from the cowl to air box to turbo.
(07-24-2010, 03:18 PM)ForcedInduction(07-24-2010, 12:45 PM)Captain America I think the forced air would easily overcome the bends in tube from the cowl to air box to turbo.
The ram air effect only occurs above 100mph.
Some restriction is actually good, it means your air filter is functioning.
(07-24-2010, 03:18 PM)ForcedInduction(07-24-2010, 12:45 PM)Captain America I think the forced air would easily overcome the bends in tube from the cowl to air box to turbo.
The ram air effect only occurs above 100mph.
Some restriction is actually good, it means your air filter is functioning.
Pulled the engine and transmission, removing A/C, rebuilt sun valley transmission, new brake booster/master cylinder, braided stainless transmission cooler lines, new manifold gasket, wastegate tube, kickdown switch, neutral safety switch, flex discs, fuel lines, center bearing and carrier, fuel tank screen, ignition lock/switch/tumbler (oil coming out of ignition switch AND oil gauge), so, new shut off mechanism on the IP, oil sender relocation kit finally figured out see my "leaky oil pressure gauge" thread, engine shocks/mounts/bushings, new engine/transmission mounts, flex plate, oil pan, turbo oil drain seals, the short radiator hose by the thermostat, coolant bypass line, this is my baby I'm finally able to treat her like a woman. Pics to follow I'm posting from my phone.
ambitious project should be like new when your done!
(08-05-2010, 07:27 AM)rdirtycar Pulled the engine and transmission, removing A/C, rebuilt sun valley transmission, new brake booster/master cylinder, braided stainless transmission cooler lines, new manifold gasket, wastegate tube, kickdown switch, neutral safety switch, flex discs, fuel lines, center bearing and carrier, fuel tank screen, ignition lock/switch/tumbler (oil coming out of ignition switch AND oil gauge), so, new shut off mechanism on the IP, oil sender relocation kit finally figured out see my "leaky oil pressure gauge" thread, engine shocks/mounts/bushings, new engine/transmission mounts, flex plate, oil pan, turbo oil drain seals, the short radiator hose by the thermostat, coolant bypass line, this is my baby I'm finally able to treat her like a woman. Pics to follow I'm posting from my phone.
(08-05-2010, 07:27 AM)rdirtycar Pulled the engine and transmission, removing A/C, rebuilt sun valley transmission, new brake booster/master cylinder, braided stainless transmission cooler lines, new manifold gasket, wastegate tube, kickdown switch, neutral safety switch, flex discs, fuel lines, center bearing and carrier, fuel tank screen, ignition lock/switch/tumbler (oil coming out of ignition switch AND oil gauge), so, new shut off mechanism on the IP, oil sender relocation kit finally figured out see my "leaky oil pressure gauge" thread, engine shocks/mounts/bushings, new engine/transmission mounts, flex plate, oil pan, turbo oil drain seals, the short radiator hose by the thermostat, coolant bypass line, this is my baby I'm finally able to treat her like a woman. Pics to follow I'm posting from my phone.
Holy Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk! Sweet man thats a project an a half!
Thanks guys! I've been saving money and collecting parts for more than a year. My rust free car really deserves it for being in such good shape. I'll post some pictures as soon as I can post from something other than my phone.
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I've been looking at the vacuum valves on the throttle linkage for months now knowing there were too many extra lines and an extra valve. So after a little work with a hand held vacuum pump I've finally come up with something simpler. The top vacuum valve is the only valve needed for the transmission. It opens to the atmosphere at WOT and assures there is no vacuum going to the modulator. The bottom was for the EGR. I left an old broken valve under the new one as a spacer. Might be nice to machine a little piece of aluminum as a proper spacer some day. I have the modulating pressure set at 58 PSI and the smallest green vacuum throttling orifice is used just before the VCV on the IP. I have the VCV set for a little less vacuum than the stock setting which firms up the shifts a little like I enjoy. I think the modulator is getting a little less than 10 in. at idle. Anyone who has messed with these lines can probably get a pretty good idea from the pictures. I have two lines now running into the cabin to vent off the vacuum from the valve on the throttle and the VCV. I gave the little white valve it's own vent.
(11-08-2010, 09:06 AM)rdirtycar The top vacuum valve is the only valve needed for the transmission.No it isn't. Both are only to vary EGR flow.
(11-08-2010, 09:06 AM)rdirtycar The top vacuum valve is the only valve needed for the transmission.No it isn't. Both are only to vary EGR flow.
Great work. So you got everything done that you had posted about above? How much did that transmission run you?
(11-08-2010, 11:57 AM)Captain America Great work. So you got everything done that you had posted about above? How much did that transmission run you?
(11-08-2010, 11:57 AM)Captain America Great work. So you got everything done that you had posted about above? How much did that transmission run you?
bye snow, it fired right up after months sitting with the battery connected. I took it for a quick bomb through a field with my girlfriend and must have hit a lot of manure cause it was covered when I got back. The rear suspension is on the schedule for early summer. Missed you guys!!
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Missed you too!