The more I get to know her, the sadder I feel. This was one of the loaded variety. All the bells and whistles, but in 40 years the leaks and soaking against sheet metal have rusted out the corners of the cabin floor. There is extensive application of fiberglass muck, but I am still seeing road and daylight in area. Since it will be a beater, I guess a garbage HF welder will serve for me to figure out welding. I am now on the lookout for the old time micro-nukers so I can Cathey the rust areas. Can't be using cash to fix, has to be as low budget as can be found, or I disqualify for LeMons
clay On Mar 16, 2015, at 4:30 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes wrote: > Props for saving an MB from the crusher! > > It does sound like a great Lemons car... > > Dan > > >> On Mar 16, 2015, at 6:09 PM, clay via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >> May I not be forced to live in a cardboard box, but I am now half owner of a >> 1975 300D. SWMBA is out of state, so will not find out of this new toy for >> a few months >> >> I think this is another of the K'leb tauntings that I ended up getting. >> Like Gump, somebody on list made mention that I should look at this thing. >> I put that thought on ignore until last month. IIRC, the car listed for >> around $1k. Over time the value decreased and when I looked three weeks >> ago, CL had it at $650. PO listed it as no start but had been driven all >> summer until no start condition arose. I went to see what I found, and had >> arranged with #1 boy that if it were decent, we would go in on it together. >> Something to get him out of the basement and learning how to shade tree his >> own rides later on. >> >> I went to see it on a cloudy/misty day and learned the PO had a penchant for >> older cars. He is driving a '92 w190, but had an old SD at one point, and >> got this car (300D) on a lark, thinking he would restore it somehow. Owner >> before him has sort of boogered the car up by installing seats out of an SE >> (w126) and they did not want to stay bolted down. Windows had stopped >> working and were half down, so in our climate mold had set up shop. The >> driver side doors had also developed a latching issue and would not remain >> shut. There was obvious external rust on the rear quarter panel, but the >> fronts seemed solid. Somebody had tried to renovate the car a number of >> years ago with generic carpet and padding on the floor, put bundts all >> around, installed the wrong battery, had aftermarket speakers front and >> back, messed up alligator texture original silver paint. >> >> The no start was due to "shakes went starts" that had worn the cable to the >> starter until it snapped. No electrons to the starter. I saw that and >> while hooked to my W220 battery (jump attempt) had him glow the thing and >> try a start while I held the cable to the place on the starter it wanted to >> be. I used heavy rubber gloves, but would not have complained if I was >> taken out by my own stupidity. The thing did attempt to turn over. So, >> that indicated that the engine was not seized and that the starter wanted to >> work. Seemed like it might work for a messing around car. >> >> I returned home and shared my data with #1 boy. He was noncommittal, which >> is fine. I made interested noises to the seller, but told him I had a few >> other things to consider, so he should feel free to offer it to somebody >> with cash. His price was not in line with the value, and I was not going to >> waste cash or time getting the car in much better shape. From what I had >> seen, this would be a great 24 Hours of LeMons car. Strip it down and >> salvage what I could to fund the project. >> >> Seller contacted me last week and said all the other tire kickers were far >> from interested. If I wanted, he would sell for $400 or just take the $300 >> for scrap value, since he really needed it gone. This time #1 boy was a bit >> more interested, and we made plans to drag the thing home. I had hoped to >> put some fresh fuel in, and connect the starter cable, or build myself one. >> As back up, I made up a 0 gauge cable and faked up a bumper guard for the >> pusher in case I could get it bump started. And off he went in the pouring >> rain. >> >> We arrived in good time and rousted the seller. Poked around the car trying >> to get wires secured and the doors strapped shut. Hooked the jumper cables >> to the battery and let some juice flow so that I could give it a start. A >> quarter hour later, there were no electrons being saved in the battery and >> there was not enough juice to get the starter to engage, but there was >> enough for glow. I should mention that the ignition was hacked, and you >> needed to push on a mystery button under the steering column, sort of like >> the gorilla knob on Gump to get the plugs glowing. That is as good as any >> car alarm for me. We closed the deal and I had #1 boy give the car a push >> for an attempt at bump start. At least we got out of the sellers >> neighborhood before I figured out there was not enough electron flow for the >> ignition to kick in and light off the engine. We made it to a commercial >> center and I called AAA for a ride home. >> >> I sat in the lot waiting for the truck for about an hour and a half. Rain >> pouring down, windows open, driver seat unbolted and reclined back on the >> rear bench seat, and the mobile phone battery crapping out. The section of >> town is not a prosperous one. A very "multicultural" area where the cop >> cars are of the SUV/armored looking sort, not the dainty Crown Vic. Many >> sirens and pairs of patrol cars responding to all manner of nefarious >> activities. I am waiting for a "brother" or "vato" to walk up and knife me >> while I soak. >> >> It did give me a chance to look over the interior a bit more. Some >> salvageable parts I could offer on Fleabay. I needed the old fashion AC >> control for Froggy. Some other parts would come in handy for selling. Pull >> the door cards and hardware, along with windows and motors. Vac lock stuff. >> Not too much buyers remorse. Just get the frigging thing home, then I can >> mess about with it. And I get wetter and sopping by the time the wrecker >> arrives and winches the car onboard. We made quick work of delivery to my >> driveway and he was off to another job. I debated putting a car cover over >> the thing for the night, but the one I have is soaking wet at the moment, >> so, NO. I did hook the battery to a charger and let is soak up electrons >> for the night. Number one boy texted me in the darkest hours of the morning >> that the cabin light was on, but he was running late for work. Well, at >> least there is enough juice in the lead box that the light comes on. >> >> After coffee this morning I went out to the car, pulled off the charger and >> gave it a go. Turned the key, pushed the glow button for a goodly while, >> and then hit the ignition. It lit off like a champ, with minor complaints >> and loads of black smoke. Well, at least the engine works! I did not >> bother trying the other knobs and stuff, just put it in D and tried to move >> forward. It did not. Drop it to L and it eked forward. Good enough. Sun >> is out, the place is getting dryer, time to start taking excess bits off and >> seeing just how much work lies ahead. Mayhap I learn to weld some and can >> tackle rust repairs, parts removal, and have a partner to get it rolling >> well enough that I take it to the MBCA show and shine this August instead of >> another car. Rat Rod should get the feathers ruffled on the purists. >> Straight pipes and a Thrush resonator, no muffler. >> >> _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: https://server.secureplusplusfour.net:2083/cpsess595060604/3rdparty/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
