Mercedes W116 300SD "Planet Express" ownership/build log

I've never tried this trick before and didn't expect it to work so well. I'm sure a leather or rubber belt would have worked even better

Going to "elevate" my work environment

My dad and the tow truck driver(a retired career mechanic) joke that I'm about to have a lot of new friends

Racecar progress paused while I get the lift installed. She's taaallllll

We have liftoff! 

Now I can get back to working on this thing

Intercooler piping is buttoned up, now with MAP sensor. Radiator is plumbed. All the wiring is hooked up, I hope. I could theoretically fire it up at any point but I'm nervous so I'll keep doing other tasks. 

I thought today was the day, but I forgot to get a serpentine belt. So tomorrow should be the test day. Tidied up the wiring, filled the fluids, grounded the engine. Checked the engine mount bolts. And welded up a quick dump pipe. I haven't decided on exhaust yet. I'm torn between spending the time and money on exhausting out the rear or a side pipe. I kinda love side pipes... 

Side Pipes. 

ALWAYS Side Pipes.

Awesome lift!  It's really a game-changer, isn't it?  "Oh, darn, this bolt isn't cozy to get at, I shall raise this 2 ton vehicle an additional 3-1/2" skyward to facilitate the repair in comfort."

Can't wait to see this fella on a track again.  Did you see the 2025 schedule released yesterday?  

I know that feeling of "I _could_ start this thing...but I'm nervous to do so".  Been there many times.  It's a good thing- always take a day or 3 and think of the stuff you forgot....like a drain plug...

Belt on, coolant in, diesel installed. No smoke when I turned the kill switch. No smoke when I turned the key. No click from the starter solenoid. Oh well, today's the day for a start button. I wired a momentary switch to the starter solenoid, pushed the button, and popped the fuse just after hearing the starter make a solitary clunk. Guess the solenoid takes more amperage than I expected. Oh well, let's add a heavy gauge wire and a relay. Still no click. I grabbed my volt meter to start checking the wiring and my volt meter decided to die. The light comes on, but not the display. Tomorrow I'll get a new volt meter and begin to diagnose my no-start. 

In reply to volvoclearinghouse :

There are a few tasks I saved until the lift went up, driveshaft and exhaust. And this bad boy is tall enough I have inches of clearance between my 6'0" head and the arms of the lift. I actually had to lower it so I could reach up high enough!

I haven't looked at the schedule. I really want/need to race next year but don't want to hype myself up until I have access to one running and driving Lemon.
 

In reply to buzzboy :

*Cough* Summit Point *cough*

I got shafted 

Southwest Speed sells driveshafts in ½" instruments increments up to 63½" which is exactly what I needed. Good price and looks nice. I hope install goes well... 

I rewired my starter circuit to be button>relay>solenoid. Real racecars have big red buttons to start, right?

First try it started spinning over. Success! Or was it?

Second try to spin it over the new relay clicked... and nothing else happened. What now!?

Another season has come and passed. I'm "this" close I feel to firing up Planet Express but not quite there. On Sunday I leave for 4.5 months at my winter job. This time a little closer to home. The wife an I are teaching skiing at Stratton VT if anybody wants to come visit.

I love you and I'll miss you Planet Express. I'll be back for you.

We usually hit Stratton 1-2x a year, I'll try to remember to shoot you a message!  It's a nice mountain, quieter than the Bush or Killington, that's for sure.