First MB post, slid in here from Ford 7.3NA

ReticulateSplines

Registered User
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
65
Reaction score
28
Location
Georgetown, TX
So the Tee connections are a bit soft/weak looking so to avoid damage at this point I simply pulled the line off the vacuum pump itself. This did make shifting harder+quicker but also made it so the key being koved to the off position would not actually kill the motor which was a funny surprise.

I plugged it all back in and eveything seems to be acting mostly normal. I havent taken the car high enough speed to see whats going on with 4th gear yet though. Using high throttle position it doesnt seem as happy but that is seeming a lot more like things just need adjusting.

I had a hypothesis about the fluid. It seemed to be shifting better prior to this vacuum test and that was after sitting and leaking for something like 8months, so is it possible the fluid type used could have caused all this weird behavior? Type of fluid and/or slightly overfull causing it to foam up... I dont recall seeing frothy fluid on the stick but honestly for how cheap the car was I could see having just neglected to diligently inspect.

I did not spin it into the back to jack it up but it sure looks like the pan is where the leak is coming from and the pattern on the ground further reinforces that.
 

turbodiesel

Registered User
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Location
Alabama
"so is it possible the fluid type used could have caused all this weird behavior? Type of fluid and/or slightly overfull causing it to foam up... "

I would not think that fluid type would only cause a problem in one specific gear.

Foamy aerated fluid is not going to work well, so if you had it overfull to the point of the fluid foaming, that would cause issues.

I would drive it around with the vacuum line that goes down to the transmission plugged and see how it acts. You will be running it with higher line pressure with the modulator unhooked. Shifts should be firm and harsh. If the shifts are no different, then either it already was running with no vacuum to the modulator or the modulator is not performing correctly....assuming nothing else is wrong.
 

ReticulateSplines

Registered User
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
65
Reaction score
28
Location
Georgetown, TX
Well i am still uncertain if there were changes to it dropping out of 4th.

I had a ton of other work piled up this weekend so I didnt get much time into it but I was able to drive about 2miles out and then back. It was 40mph tops but had a friend in the car who didnt notice anything strange at all about its behavior.

It operates as instructed by the gear selector as well, as in placing the selector in 2 or 3 makes it start and stay in low until placed back in drive.

Liking the signs I am seeing so far, hoping I can leave the trans in place and get this thing behaving in all gears.

All that said, it sure is one slow car! I suppose in the mid 80s everything was a bit slower but dang I dont think I could commute in this thing around here
 

compressionignitionrules

Full Access Member
Joined
May 1, 2016
Posts
840
Reaction score
286
Location
Bluevale ON
interesting read , I miss driving my 240 D and 300 D MB diesels. they were not as slow as my 86 vw golf 1.6D N/A . that one was scary slow even with a 5spd manual.
you would love driving your car if it had a 5spd manual in it. 0-60 times in minutes not seconds:joker:
 

turbodiesel

Registered User
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Posts
12
Reaction score
1
Location
Alabama
"All that said, it sure is one slow car! I suppose in the mid 80s everything was a bit slower but dang I dont think I could commute in this thing around here"
My son drives a 240D, that is a 2.4 liter, non-turbo. When everything is tuned just right it makes a whopping 63 HP from the factory! This requires careful planning to pull out in traffic...

He loves the car and the fuel economy, especially running on waste vegetable oil.
 

ReticulateSplines

Registered User
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
65
Reaction score
28
Location
Georgetown, TX
Make sure you adjust the valves on it before condemning it to the slow lane. They are never fast, but a valve adjustment can make a noticeable performance boost.

Good point! I will put that on my list for the car. I live North of Austin, TX and the ramp I use to get down I35 to work is pretty short. I dont have an easy on-ramp heading southbound which is why I doubt I will ever use it for commuting but thats not a big deal. It is mostly a "town car" for us anyways. I use it as a parts fetcher, grocery getter, and the wife loves how many bags of mulch fit in the trunk!

you would love driving your car if it had a 5spd manual in it. 0-60 times in minutes not seconds:joker:

I wish it was a manual. The original idea was to find a manual trans MB diesel for my wife to get more comfortable driving a manual and also fun factor but this one popped up for $500 and picked it up. The PO was a good ways out from any major towns and probably part of why it didnt sell so I figured I could unload it for what I paid being much closer to town.

Glad to be part of this forum, and to have found the MB section too. I will keep you guys posted with updates. I am hauling home a 1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara tomorrow that needs a little work before selling it. Fixing that Jeep and a knock sensor wire harness in the wifes 4runner are moved to the top of the list for the next 2 weeks though.
 

ReticulateSplines

Registered User
Joined
Dec 20, 2016
Posts
65
Reaction score
28
Location
Georgetown, TX
Well it looks like it is time to move on with this car.

FULL DISCLOSURE -- It is owned by a close friend, he paid for it but my wife and I have been the ones keeping and using it. Said friend was going through some tough times in mental health and we couldnt get him to insure it (has a lot of stuff to handle and this is low priority) and havent taken the testing beyond 45mph and dont plan to. We all have enough other stuff going on so it is on the chopping block. I hate dealing with craigslist **** -- cheap vehicles is one of the best attractants of CL **** too. If someone were to offer me $1500 for it I would take it but I dont want to try and fight on CL and pretty sure we will just donate it which means easy hassle free removal from my property. It doesnt have a battery either, and I dont plan on buying one.
 
Top