Diesel Bombers - New Bomber From SoCal

Hello all, I stumbled upon this site while looking for help with my Mercedes 300D. I'm a bomber by necessity. It's a bit of a convoluted story, but this is a forum so if you don't want to read it, you don't' have to =)

My first car was a 91 Pontiac Bonneville. It had nothing but problems with it's electrics. I lost it to an accident, and I didn't replace it because i was living at school, and didn't want the expense/hassle. When i finished school a friend gave me a Volvo 240DL. It was not int eh best of shape, and 2 wiring harnesses and 4 ignition control units later i gave it to charity. After much research, and deliberation, I decided I wanted a 115 or 123 chassis Mercedes Diesel, preferably a manual and with as few electric parts as i could get. I wanted a car that would run 'till doomsday, and i could repair with just a set of combo wrenches.

In June of this year i purchased a 1976 w115 chassis Mercedes- Benz 240D. It had a manual sun roof, manual windows, and a manual transmission, the AC even blew cold. It was perfect. 6 days later I had all the paperwork done. It was in my name, and I had insurance on it. My finance took it into work that evening, and not 3 block out, she was hit. Thankfully she was not injured. The passenger side of the hood was crushed, with the fan shroud pushed into the fan belt. The radiator was folded nearly in half, and the fender was bent into the tire. The other car's front axle was broken, and the engine dropped out. We pried the fender clear, and the 240 started right up... we had to watch our temp without any coolant, but we were able to drive it back home.

Sure enough the insurance totaled it, and we went looking for another car. I purchased an 1980 Mercedes 240D. But the clutch needed work, and the AC was out. A short while later i found the 76 300D i have now. I gave the newer 240 to my brother (a trained diesel mechanic), in exchange for his help repairing and upgrading the 300D. We took what ever we could use off the totaled 240, and gave the remains to the junkyard.

That's how I got the Diesel, how I became a bomber is more complicated.

I've been running the 300D on B99. Primarily so I could laugh in the face of those stuck up hybrid owners. But also I find the smell pleasant especially compared with #2. Regardless of why, the point is that this required me to change my fuel filter after it clogged with old deposits from the #2. The w115 chassis has an older style filter. you have to drain and clean the housing as well as replace the element. This is further complicated by the placement of the drain, you can't even get a dixie cup in there let alone a funnel. Plus the local Kragen doesn't stock the elements so you have to special order them.

After I pinched my 3rd gasket I gave up. I went to the junkyard and pulled a fuel filter mount off of a W123 240D. (they didn't have a price for it, so they only charged me $3.00!) when i got it back I found that it would mount just fine (with different bolts and new rubber washers) but my old fuel lines were to short. After replacing the fuel lines, and putting a new element in the filter I found my manual priming pump was busted. So I hastened of to the local benz dealer, and bought a newer style pump. After installing and priming, the engine wouldn't turn over. Troubleshooting revealed that I needed to prime the Injectors to. In order to do that, you have to loosen the fuel lines at the injectors, and either crank the starter or tow the car in gear, until you get fuel at the injectors. Towing wasn't an option, so 2 battery charges later I had 4 of 5 injectors primed, and a roasted glow plug. I had read about "pencil" style glow plugs, and seen the "conversion kits" online with all the relays and wiring you need. So I ordered one and set to work upgrading my glow plugs. After I got that taken care of i was able to finish priming my injectors and turn it over.

Two upgrades in 1 week and all because I wanted to run B99. But I'm enjoying myself (though you wouldn't know it to hear me swear while I'm working on it) and I'm sure i won't stop here. I'm looking at an SVO kit. I'll put a switch on the heater element so I can run #2 if necessary, my idea is to have as many options for fuel as I can get. I'm also looking at a better intake, mine is in need of some work,a nd why repair when you can upgrade.