[W126 Coupe] Camshaft replacement - No AC

[Mike R.]

Andy,
My '87 560SEL has the Nippondenso AC Compressor and they generally have a blown set of o-rings in the top-hat area, where the freon lines attach to the compressor. If you have that compressor, it might be a very inexpensive repair.

I was quoted $1300 to fix my "leaky AC system" with a rebuilt compressor or $1700 with a new one. I put six new o-rings into the compressor top hat and freon line attachments and had the system recharged. A couple of dollars for the o-rings, my labor, and $150 to convert the system to R134 and recharge it. It's been working for four years now. 

Later,
Mike Ramay


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Sporner" <asporner at googlemail.com>
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 5:47 AM
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Camshaft replacement



> Hi Dawid,

> 

> Its a 1982 500 SEC with 340,000 Kms.  Big things wrong with it:

> 

>     - no A/C

>     - Bad headliner.

>     - Driver side seat has rips.

>     - Doors are not really good on the bottoms.

>     - small rust areas on top left of trunk.

>     - Rust areas on wheel wells.

>     - Clutch on motor fan is siezed (engaged all the time).

> 

> Other than that -- no problems.  Starts on the first try every time

> no matter what the weather.  So far I have done the following:

> 

>    - Brakes systems fundamentally rennovated (new calipers front and rear,

>      new lines throughout. front rotors and rear rotor-drums replaced.

>    - Transmission completely overhauled (though the flairing remains!)

>    - New Starter coil

>    - Complete new set of locks

>    - exhaust replaced.

>    - chassis repair as it applies to rust.

>    - new fuel line/pump/relay

>    - Fuel distrubutor (in german  "Massenteiler") rebuilt.

> 

> it has no real re-occuring problems (outside of the flairing) but because of

> the camshaft problem it won't pass German emissions next time around

> (the car has been updated with a Catalytic converter in 1998 -- It normally

> would meet EURO-3 standards).

> 

> Andy

> 

> On 6/24/08, Dawid Loubser <dawidl at solms.co.za> wrote:

>> Hi Andrew,

>>

>> What model / year / mileage is your car? (sorry if I missed this earlier)

>> If it's a very tattered, pre-1985 380 or 500, I can see that it may or may

>> not be

>> worth it to you (depending on how sentimentally attached you are to your

>> car) but,

>> if you consider how infrequently this major work is needed to sustain an

>> otherwise

>> bulletproof, amazingly built car which will surely appreciate in value in

>> coming

>> years, I would gladly pay EUR 1500 to give my SEC's engine a new lease on

>> life

>> (for he next couple of decades...:-) if it needed it.

>>

>> If your car is cosmetically sound, I can't think of anybody here that would

>> discourage you from putting the money and effort into maintaining your SEC.

>>

>> I am not a complete stranger to mechanicals, but when the time comes for my

>> car, I will certainly best leave a camshaft replacement to an experienced

>> mechanic -

>> the potential cost of a mistake is simply too high! (and it's my daily

>> driver).

>>

>> On the other hand, as was already mentioned, the expertise is certainly

>> available

>> here to guide you in doing it yourself, but be prepared for a lot of

>> patience and

>> care...!

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> On 24 Jun 2008, at 2:07 nm., Andrew Sporner wrote:

>>

>> > I see you took magic in the spirit intended ;-)

>> >

>> > I had a price here of EUR 1500 to do this and was advised not

>> > to do it on account of the value of the car itself.

>> >

>> > I am rather torn on this---but if I figure I do anything to the motor

>> > it is something

>> > that can be salvaged into another car later if the body is too far gone.

>> >

>> > Ideas?

>> >

>> >

>> > Andy

>> >

>> > On 6/24/08, Pete Williams <hwilliamsjr2 at cox.net> wrote:

>> >

>> > > Andy,

>> > > Cam timing marks are already there. There is a lot more "magic"

>> involved. At

>> > > least two special tools, spring compressor and offset hex head wrench.

>> Don't

>> > > try to just get by. There is the danger of the threads coming out with

>> the

>> > > bolts. Half of the bolts go into the head, half are head bolts entering

>> the

>> > > block at approximately 1-1/2 degrees off perpendicular. Get all new

>> rockers.

>> > > You'll need at least an oiler kit, very inexpensive. It'll be a good

>> time

>> > > for a timing chain and tensioner if they haven't been replaced in recent

>> > > memory. If you do end up with tread problems, then you'll have to be a

>> > > magician to master all of the "magic" involved. Make sure no washers,

>> bolts,

>> > > master links, or loose timing chain ends fall into the engine where the

>> > > timing chains enter. Remove the plugs for easy engine rotation. In case

>> the

>> > > chain jumps on the other head, it's best to remove all of the rockers.

>> If

>> > > you do decide to do it yourself, there are a lot more "tricks" involved

>> but

>> > > there are a lot of magicians on this forum to help you. It's all

>> possible

>> > > and can be very rewarding, but there can be a lot of frustration too.

>> > > Good luck,

>> > > Pete Williams

>> > > 1972 350SL 4.5

>> > > 1983 500 SEC AMG

>> > > 1984 500 SEL (parts)

>> > > MBCA, Central Oklahoma Section

>> > >

>> > > -----Original Message-----

>> > > From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com

>> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]

>> > > On Behalf Of Andrew Sporner

>> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 2:54 AM

>> > > To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists

>> > > Subject: [W126 Coupe] Camshaft replacement

>> > >

>> > > I am told that the right camshaft needs to be eventually replaced

>> > > (makes a clacking sound when the motor is cold and their are grooves

>> > > on one of the cams)  They tell me that the car can go up to 50K

>> Kilometers

>> > > more without problems -- or die next week.

>> > >

>> > > Can anybody suggest the level of difficulty.  I am not foreign to

>> working

>> > > on cars (rebuilt the motor on my 1976 Ford mustang -- though admittedly

>> > > I sent the top-head away to get remachined).

>> > >

>> > > I suppose you just have to mark the gears on the timing chain and just

>> > > replace?  Or is there more magic involved?

>> > >

>> > > Andy

>> > > The MB Coupes Website!

>> > > W126 SEC Mailing List

>> > > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>> > >

>> > >

>> > > The MB Coupes Website!

>> > > W126 SEC Mailing List

>> > > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>> > >

>> > >

>> > The MB Coupes Website!

>> > W126 SEC Mailing List

>> > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>> >

>>

>>

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

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