BAD NEWS - GOOD NEWS -- NEED ADVICE PLEASE
BAD NEWS - GOOD NEWS -- NEED ADVICE PLEASE
Howdy,
Got some news today. Looks like the body shop who did the initial work on my Phoenix Project may have royally screwed up things to the point it is not cost effective to undue the front end issues. Assuming that is true, and the prognosis will be fully known next week, I have some options:
1. I can part out the Phoenix Project which has some virtually impeccable body parts, EG Doors, trunk lid, et cet. Any one interested in some Astral Blue body parts? I will re-list this in the FS section. Or, any one interested in a W123 which is in great shape from the firewall backwards ? This is why I got the car in the first place as it is beautiful from the firewall back. If I keep it, I am most likely looking at $600 to $700 to undo the damage and correct the frame / unibody and then I still need to get the front clip painted and put together.
2. The body shop (new one) has a 1984 300cd on the premises that has been sitting for 25 years per the owner. I was wondering if anyone out there has had an engine / car sit for extended periods of time, e.g., years and what precautions did you take before trying to fire it up. I used to play with Packards about 20+ years ago so I am familiar with long term sitters, so changing the fluids and filters, and running new fuel since that stuff gets gummy after 5 years or so is a must. Also, a cup full of MMO in each cylinder and let that soak for a week and turning the engine by the crank bolt a few dozen times also to make sure nothing is sticking. I would pop in rebuilt injectors and do the valves and glow plugs, then try to fire it up. Any other pointers??? The odometer states 72K on the clock so I don't want to destroy the engine / drivetrain. No price ever discussed or even hinted at.
My thoughts are now converging on re-capturing my $250 bucks invested in towing the damm car around for the past 9 months plus the few bucks I got into the car for the inital purchase and dump that money in the 84 300cd if I can buy the coupe for around $500-$750 (max). I am assuming the car has no or minimal rust but the spare tire well was a fish tank -- totally full of water.
Any thoughts out there ? I am a little dissapointed at this point to say the least. I found an old-timer last week who knows the older MBs from a body-frame perspective, and he gave me the bad news today on my lunch break. He tried to talk me out of working on the Phoenix project any more as he clearly indicated that the first body shop guy was a total moron and that he virtually ruined the car. I am thinking he was correct since I did pester the first guy to put the car on the rack first before welding on the front clip, and that never happened. However, I deserve to some degree what I got because I went to a long term buddy when I have seen the work there before and it's generally "average" at best or sub-par typically for the past few years.
Thanks ... and poop ... and some more poop.
I vote on saving your original project. Then get the CD to save from being scrapped later when your wife is in good mood
(03-15-2013, 02:46 PM)DeliveryValve I vote on saving your original project. Then get the CD to save from being scrapped later when your wife is in good mood
(03-15-2013, 02:46 PM)DeliveryValve I vote on saving your original project. Then get the CD to save from being scrapped later when your wife is in good mood
Question... what do you think is screwed up? Body panels don't line up. Was the part of inner fender where the upper control arm and upper spring perch replaced? Just getting the sense of the potential mess.
Either way, I'd still fix it and stay on course with your plan.
I had an 1982 300cd it was a blast to drive! If you roll down all of the windows there are no posts it makes it feel like a convertible with the sunroof open!
the w123 coupes are the lightest w123 made
(03-15-2013, 03:26 PM)DeliveryValve Question... what do you think is screwed up? Body panels don't line up. Was the part of inner fender where the upper control arm and upper spring perch replaced? Just getting the sense of the potential mess.
Either way, I'd still fix it and stay on course with your plan.
(03-15-2013, 03:26 PM)DeliveryValve Question... what do you think is screwed up? Body panels don't line up. Was the part of inner fender where the upper control arm and upper spring perch replaced? Just getting the sense of the potential mess.
Either way, I'd still fix it and stay on course with your plan.
It could be several hours depending on how many times and directions they need to set it up to pull from
A 300CD with a little bit of performance tuning would be the cat's pajamas
(03-16-2013, 11:30 AM)OM616 I could use a set of 123 doors lol
(03-16-2013, 11:30 AM)OM616 I could use a set of 123 doors lol
Damn it. Stupid iPod made me vote fOr the wrong one.
I think you should get the CD. Those things are super cool, and it's not every day you find one laying around for that price
My uncle purchase a 1969 220D a while back which had been in a garage since 1981. It had not been started since then and I do not think any precautions were made for "long term storage" when it was stored. Things were a bit tight but Pierre Hadary managed to get it freed up and I think he used an off the shelf product only. He let it sit for a week or two and gently turned it over a bit at a time. The car ran great!
(03-15-2013, 01:45 PM)Greazzer Howdy,
Got some news today. Looks like the body shop who did the initial work on my Phoenix Project may have royally screwed up things to the point it is not cost effective to undue the front end issues. Assuming that is true, and the prognosis will be fully known next week, I have some options:
1. I can part out the Phoenix Project which has some virtually impeccable body parts, EG Doors, trunk lid, et cet. Any one interested in some Astral Blue body parts? I will re-list this in the FS section. Or, any one interested in a W123 which is in great shape from the firewall backwards ? This is why I got the car in the first place as it is beautiful from the firewall back. If I keep it, I am most likely looking at $600 to $700 to undo the damage and correct the frame / unibody and then I still need to get the front clip painted and put together.
2. The body shop (new one) has a 1984 300cd on the premises that has been sitting for 25 years per the owner. I was wondering if anyone out there has had an engine / car sit for extended periods of time, e.g., years and what precautions did you take before trying to fire it up. I used to play with Packards about 20+ years ago so I am familiar with long term sitters, so changing the fluids and filters, and running new fuel since that stuff gets gummy after 5 years or so is a must. Also, a cup full of MMO in each cylinder and let that soak for a week and turning the engine by the crank bolt a few dozen times also to make sure nothing is sticking. I would pop in rebuilt injectors and do the valves and glow plugs, then try to fire it up. Any other pointers??? The odometer states 72K on the clock so I don't want to destroy the engine / drivetrain. No price ever discussed or even hinted at.
My thoughts are now converging on re-capturing my $250 bucks invested in towing the damm car around for the past 9 months plus the few bucks I got into the car for the inital purchase and dump that money in the 84 300cd if I can buy the coupe for around $500-$750 (max). I am assuming the car has no or minimal rust but the spare tire well was a fish tank -- totally full of water.
Any thoughts out there ? I am a little dissapointed at this point to say the least. I found an old-timer last week who knows the older MBs from a body-frame perspective, and he gave me the bad news today on my lunch break. He tried to talk me out of working on the Phoenix project any more as he clearly indicated that the first body shop guy was a total moron and that he virtually ruined the car. I am thinking he was correct since I did pester the first guy to put the car on the rack first before welding on the front clip, and that never happened. However, I deserve to some degree what I got because I went to a long term buddy when I have seen the work there before and it's generally "average" at best or sub-par typically for the past few years.
Thanks ... and poop ... and some more poop.
(03-15-2013, 01:45 PM)Greazzer Howdy,
Got some news today. Looks like the body shop who did the initial work on my Phoenix Project may have royally screwed up things to the point it is not cost effective to undue the front end issues. Assuming that is true, and the prognosis will be fully known next week, I have some options:
1. I can part out the Phoenix Project which has some virtually impeccable body parts, EG Doors, trunk lid, et cet. Any one interested in some Astral Blue body parts? I will re-list this in the FS section. Or, any one interested in a W123 which is in great shape from the firewall backwards ? This is why I got the car in the first place as it is beautiful from the firewall back. If I keep it, I am most likely looking at $600 to $700 to undo the damage and correct the frame / unibody and then I still need to get the front clip painted and put together.
2. The body shop (new one) has a 1984 300cd on the premises that has been sitting for 25 years per the owner. I was wondering if anyone out there has had an engine / car sit for extended periods of time, e.g., years and what precautions did you take before trying to fire it up. I used to play with Packards about 20+ years ago so I am familiar with long term sitters, so changing the fluids and filters, and running new fuel since that stuff gets gummy after 5 years or so is a must. Also, a cup full of MMO in each cylinder and let that soak for a week and turning the engine by the crank bolt a few dozen times also to make sure nothing is sticking. I would pop in rebuilt injectors and do the valves and glow plugs, then try to fire it up. Any other pointers??? The odometer states 72K on the clock so I don't want to destroy the engine / drivetrain. No price ever discussed or even hinted at.
My thoughts are now converging on re-capturing my $250 bucks invested in towing the damm car around for the past 9 months plus the few bucks I got into the car for the inital purchase and dump that money in the 84 300cd if I can buy the coupe for around $500-$750 (max). I am assuming the car has no or minimal rust but the spare tire well was a fish tank -- totally full of water.
Any thoughts out there ? I am a little dissapointed at this point to say the least. I found an old-timer last week who knows the older MBs from a body-frame perspective, and he gave me the bad news today on my lunch break. He tried to talk me out of working on the Phoenix project any more as he clearly indicated that the first body shop guy was a total moron and that he virtually ruined the car. I am thinking he was correct since I did pester the first guy to put the car on the rack first before welding on the front clip, and that never happened. However, I deserve to some degree what I got because I went to a long term buddy when I have seen the work there before and it's generally "average" at best or sub-par typically for the past few years.
Thanks ... and poop ... and some more poop.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
Be weary of the CD-if a body shop or mechanic hasn't been using it what's wrong with it? Will it be like the $600 CD I found?
If they messed it up go yell at them. I'd look over the CD very closely though-the CDs are way cooler than the Ds.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?