Mercedes 300SD turbo-diesel project car.
Posted by RebelBiker711@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Saved from the crusher after sitting abandoned for years. Didn't run, no brakes, no e-brake, cracked open sidewalls, wouldn't shift, stuck in gear, broken steering linkage, dashboard torn apart, rusted out battery tray, no ignition switch or keys, no headlight switch, no exhaust, one window stuck down, the rest stuck up, full of leaves and debris, etc.
Now running and driving (including shifting and stopping), IP turned up, turbo boost turned up, starts in one revolution even cold, Mustang 16" wheels and tires for a better stance and handling. I've driven it about 250 miles since getting it back on the road.
Lots more mods to come, and soon will be sitting on a GMT-800 chassis with 3.73:1 gears, 31" tires, and 4 wheel drive. Keeping the diesel engine and 4 speed auto, adapting an NP-246 transfer case to the original Mercedes transmission.
johnnynoname82@reddit
Put a Hammer kit on it
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
?
johnnynoname82@reddit
I was referring to the AMG Hammer Sedan or even the AMG Evo body kit but I believe those are both a generation younger than yours and I am unsure if they would work without some cutting fiberglass work.
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
That is believe was on the w124 chassis, the successor to the w123. Mine is a w126 chassis which was succeeded by the w140.
The w126 was also upfitted by AMG as well, but this car is going up and will favor ground clearance. Instead of lower to the ground body effects this one will get rock rails on the sides and custom made off-road bumpers front and rear, along with extended fender flares to cover the extra width of the off-road tires it will get.
BigBallininBasterd@reddit
I love it. Had a hot wheels car just like it, unlocked a memory. Congrats/thanks for saving it
kabobkebabkabob@reddit
Anywhere I can keep up with this build?
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
I will likely post updates here and in other subs, mostly because I appreciate feedback and sometimes that feedback gives me new ideas and new directions that I hadn't thought of. Also, there is a fair amount of hard work that goes into things like this and often building projects like this are kind of like being in a vacuum so showing my creativity and progress can be somewhat motivating when somebody else likes what you've done or even just can appreciate the effort that goes into it.
kabobkebabkabob@reddit
Yeah it's satisfying to have pictures or video of the progress to look back on too. But really I just love watching unique builds evolve so I'd say post what you can!
Luthiffer@reddit
Hey, OP, I'm about to buy something swapped with that engine. Where are you sourcing engine parts?
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
So far used from the Marketplace or Craigslist. A couple of things from Doomsday Diesel. There are a couple of places online making aftermarket performance parts for the OM617, 602, 603, etc.
Avenetic@reddit
I love doomsday diesels stuff! Had a 617 swapped into a single cab toyota pickup, and used his adapter plate. Good quality. Picked up an OM603 not too long ago thats going into an extra cab tacoma. Those older mercedes diesels are super intriguing, but really simple
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
He does a good job with both design and machining of the stuff he sells. I got the EGR delete for this one from him because the price was such that fabricating my own would have cost just as much. I did modify the exhaust plate so I could install it with the factory clamp so I didn't have to remove the manifold to weld it. *
Graytoqueops@reddit
That thing will probably outlive us all
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Right? LOL
Mustangboy1992@reddit
Sweet save. Are thinking about doing a hood stack?
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
I thought about it, but I think I'll run a Y pipe off the turbo down pipe and dual 2" straight pipes to just behind the rear tires, one on each side. Old school dual exhaust.
Mustangboy1992@reddit
Can’t beat a good old dual exhaust system either
duckdns84@reddit
Love these
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Me too.
climbin111@reddit
Kudos…that WOULD be all I needed to say!!
However, having grown up reading Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords and owning a ‘93 fox-body LX 5.0 w/Powerdyne-supercharger, aluminum heads, F303 cam, and all the typical waste-your-hard-earned-teenager-money bolt-ons imaginable through my high school/early college years, I immediately noticed those 16” Pony wheels, lol! So…I just want to say: those are truly a unique choice of rims/tires! For my ‘82 300SD (that was totaled as a result of a drunk driver running a red light and T-boning me) - I ended up swapping the OEM 14” rims/tires for a pair of 20” chrome SLR wheels and tires that I bought for $200 locally-(EXTREMELY lucky, I know)!
More importantly, I want to applaud your stick-to-itiveness, commitment, and determination in keeping that beaut from ending up in a junkyard or in a crusher! The kind of troubleshooting you pushed through is extremely frustrating! Good Lord, the vacuum leaks alone…all I can say is good.for.you!
Stunning work! Truly.
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Thank you! 🙂
I love a challenge and I love building custom and crazy cars and bikes so this car was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
And I enjoy tracking down and acquiring the various parts and pieces I need to put something together, as well as doing things that people tell me I can't (or shouldn't) do. LOL
zMadMechanic@reddit
Awesome job! Love to see these W126’s saved from the crusher. It’ll serve you well.
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
I've always loved the w126 as well and have owned several of them that were original and beautiful drivers.
However, I also enjoy building crazy custom cars but never had the heart to hack into a w126 (or w123 or w124 for that matter) that was in excellent condition.
This one that came onto my radar literally less than 24 hours from being hauled to the crusher for scrap gave me the perfect opportunity to just go crazy with it. It was especially intriguing to build having the OM-617 turbo-diesel engine. There is so much you can do with these engines to give them impressive HP/Torque numbers.
There were no Mercedes wheels for any kind of reasonable price locally for sale, but I did come across a set of 5x112 to 5x114.3 adapters for dirt cheap and then I found these Mustang wheels (5x114.3) super cheap with near new tires, and it radically improved the stance (as later model w126 or r129 wheels would have) so there they are. LOL
The one thing I always hated about the early w126 cars is the 14" narrow steel wheels that sit way too far inside the fender lips. 😉
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Chevy GMT-800 headlight switch integrated into dash and body control module integrated into electrical system for control of lighting, door locks, trunk, and security system with FOB.
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Custom ignition plate with new ignition switch, pre-heat manual control, and engine kill switch.
RebelBiker711@reddit (OP)
Custom built extreme duty battery tray and hold down.