[W126 Coupe] Camshaft replacement - No AC

[Dawid Loubser]

Do you mean, even when new it had no airconditioning? I find that  
amazing, I never knew
you could order an SEC without airconditioning! Or, has it just  
always been non-functional?

I do agree that one can live without it, although somehow older cars  
seem to deal with it
better (maybe less glass area). My 1961 220S Fintail is just dandy  
without airconditioning,
and it gets really hot here, but somehow the SEC has a lot more glass  
area, and I'd have
a very hard time in it without the climate control.

Back on topic: Since your car is fairly old and with high mileage,  
only you will know if it's
worth it to you to have the camshaft repaired.

D.

On 24 Jun 2008, at 3:29 nm., Andrew Sporner wrote:


> Thats what i tried to append.  It never had A/C and that is why I  

> wondered about the

> value--but as far as I am concerned, I don't miss it with the  

> sunroof open and rear windows

> also.

>

> Here in southern Germany it never really gets so scorching hot  

> where it has been a

> problem.  I guess it also could be that I am not so sensitive.   

> Where I come from in

> Northern Indiana (just under Lake Michigan) it can get extremely  

> hot (dog days) and

> bitter cold and in my youth nobody had A/C just a 455 (4 windows  

> down at 55 mph).

>

> Andy

>

>

>

> On 6/24/08, Mike R. <mramay at att.biz> wrote:

> 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.

>

> 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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