Andrew280SEL
New Member
Hi everyone, long time no see (as usual 
). Good few years since I've posted around these parts I think, I'm absolutely terrible like that when that thing called life gets in the way.
I had a bit of a reminder somewhat recently though when, unfortunately, my Yahoo email account was hacked and taken over (this has happened a lot recently) and it seems my email account was used to spam many people in my contacts, including "OzBenzHead" who soon let me know about it. Apologies if anyone else suffered "my" spamming. I did regain my account though.
Secondly, and if this is the wrong forum area for this I apologise and feel free to move it... but just today I acquired a 1973 280 W114 saloon. As you will see it's in need of a bit of TLC and well... a good clean up.
Sorry that the pictures are absolutely horrible, I literally drove the car into the driveway, took the snaps and had to go again But perhaps it will make a good before and after.
This car was given to me by family friends who hadn't neither the space nor time to do much with it, so despite not having much space myself, I couldn't resist taking it off their hands.
Drives nicely in terms of engine, gearbox and brakes etc... steering box needs some serious work though, the steering is horrendously loose and capable of wandering a bit if you're not alert to it, but have not investigated it yet. Original owner reckons some part of it just needs welding (?), but again haven't had the time to look into it. Body is virtually rust-free though, from what I've seen.
Other main thing to mention... it's a carburettor model, and if I'm correct the carby is the infamous Solex 4A1! Sure enough apparently it has suffered warping before and most likely has a vacuum leak. My limited experience with it thus far hasn't revealed anything odd about the running state of the engine except maybe a chuggier idle under load, but I suspect perhaps it could be harder to start when warm.
Seems my options in this case would be to persist with the Solex or get one of those Holley converter kits from the US if all else fails *shrugs*
Anyway I'm well aware the old girl might require some $$$ that I don't have to get it properly up to scratch, but since it's a freebie I hardly care I suspect just a proper clean up, cut and polish etc will make it look a tonne better. I will try to investigate the mechanicals myself as much as I can, when time permits. I figure it might be a fun little project anyway and I have to admit I quite like the styling of these older ones (or maybe because it's just different).
Anyone have opinions or insight into these types of Mercs? It's kind of a nice familiar feeling that the engine is the M110 like in my 280SEL W116. Feels quite a bit more peppier than my 280SEL though, but I think I can excuse the W116 since she's not only a heavier body, but done nearly 600,000kms and the engine is getting a little tired
). Good few years since I've posted around these parts I think, I'm absolutely terrible like that when that thing called life gets in the way. I had a bit of a reminder somewhat recently though when, unfortunately, my Yahoo email account was hacked and taken over (this has happened a lot recently) and it seems my email account was used to spam many people in my contacts, including "OzBenzHead"
who soon let me know about it. Apologies if anyone else suffered "my" spamming. I did regain my account though.Secondly, and if this is the wrong forum area for this I apologise and feel free to move it... but just today I acquired a 1973 280 W114 saloon. As you will see it's in need of a bit of TLC and well... a good clean up.
Sorry that the pictures are absolutely horrible, I literally drove the car into the driveway, took the snaps and had to go again
But perhaps it will make a good before and after.This car was given to me by family friends who hadn't neither the space nor time to do much with it, so despite not having much space myself, I couldn't resist taking it off their hands.
Drives nicely in terms of engine, gearbox and brakes etc... steering box needs some serious work though, the steering is horrendously loose and capable of wandering a bit if you're not alert to it, but have not investigated it yet. Original owner reckons some part of it just needs welding (?), but again haven't had the time to look into it. Body is virtually rust-free though, from what I've seen.
Other main thing to mention... it's a carburettor model, and if I'm correct the carby is the infamous Solex 4A1! Sure enough apparently it has suffered warping before and most likely has a vacuum leak. My limited experience with it thus far hasn't revealed anything odd about the running state of the engine except maybe a chuggier idle under load, but I suspect perhaps it could be harder to start when warm.
Seems my options in this case would be to persist with the Solex or get one of those Holley converter kits from the US if all else fails *shrugs*
Anyway I'm well aware the old girl might require some $$$ that I don't have to get it properly up to scratch, but since it's a freebie I hardly care
I suspect just a proper clean up, cut and polish etc will make it look a tonne better. I will try to investigate the mechanicals myself as much as I can, when time permits. I figure it might be a fun little project anyway and I have to admit I quite like the styling of these older ones (or maybe because it's just different).Anyone have opinions or insight into these types of Mercs? It's kind of a nice familiar feeling that the engine is the M110 like in my 280SEL W116. Feels quite a bit more peppier than my 280SEL though, but I think I can excuse the W116 since she's not only a heavier body, but done nearly 600,000kms and the engine is getting a little tired
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