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Waking up a 1957 220S

TomSidlik
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 15:50:03 GMT

Hi, I am a new member here and I thought I would ask for advice before I started on my winter project of waking up my 1957 220S. Work and life got in the way of driving the car and time has flown away too. It has been 10 years since I drove it. It has been in a heated garage with a cover on it. I was wondering about the fluids that you would recommend: oil, transmission, differential, brake, coolant.

cvdljr
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:44:15 GMT

First, you will have to check that you engine has not seized. I have a '59 which sat for a long time. I had to take off the spark plugs and squirt inside the cylinders some WD40 to loosen up the cylinders. For the engine you will need to use standard oil, not a synthetic oil. I have some manuals that I can check for you and will get back to you with additional information.

TomHanson
Sat, 17 Nov 2018 00:45:56 GMT

Change the oil and drain the gas tank for starters. Coolant should be changed. almost anything rubber (water and fuel hoses) would be a good idea. I can help you out with parts.

cth350
Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:26:25 GMT

WD40 isn't a lubricant; don't use it like that. That's not the right thing to spray for metal to metal contact. Before hand rotating the engine, you should consider pulling the rocker cover and making sure the cam lobes are lubricated. A spray down with white grease works. So does a well place coating of engine or or Marvel Mystery Oil (which is a light weight, flows well, lubricant). Other than that, the two prior gents are both correct on all counts especially the source of parts. -CTH

tws4
Wed, 02 Jan 2019 16:13:01 GMT

Sorry for the delay, lots of things got in the way. I think I can start on this project in February. Thanks for the ideas. I had most of them on my check list. I want to have my list and the parts I need prior to starting the project. What coolant are you using? It has the old green in there now. Motor Oil: Conventional 20w-50, Valvoline VR1 for the high zddp content. Any thoughts? For the other fluids: transmission SAE 80, axle 85w-90 and steering gear 90. All conventional. Opinions as to which brands to use or other weight recommendations? As far as parts go, I know I need the rear license holder that bolts to the trunk. I am embarrassed to say it, but I drove the car with the license plate in the rear window. I did not have a template or the holder and I did not want to drill holes into the newly painted trunk lid without them. I know some people I have seen just have drilled the holes in the trunk lid and attached the plate. I don't want to do that. I would like to have the proper parts and location.

TomHanson
Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:02:18 GMT

You're better off using MB coolant. Back in the day all the dealers had to 'invent' license plate mounting. We have a bracket that works, but you will need to drill holes if there aren't any there. You can send me a picture of the lid and I can see what might be needed. [email protected] . I can assist you with many of the parts you'll need for your project.

[email protected]
Sun, 06 Jan 2019 00:19:07 GMT

I use spray fogging oil in cylinders before I turn over the engine, change fluids, and get rid of gas, possibly get gas tank professionally cleaned if gunky, change the gas filter and tank screen, I would also rebuild the carb (if you have a carburetor). might have to change fuel pump if it has a rubber diaphram, Rubber bits deteriorate and cause leaks so replace all of them if possible

RichardSimonds
Fri, 11 Jan 2019 19:11:32 GMT

Awakening a classic that has not been used for even one year is a great winter project. Hope you enjoy it in a heated garage/work area, both for you and for the car. Here are the steps that should get your 220S working again without doing any damage. 1. Drain and replace all fluids: gasoline from the tank, oil from the crankcase, coolant from the radiator. All of these should be done when the components are at a comfortable temperature (e.g., 70oF or warmer). Be sure to remove the gas cap, oil filler cap and radiator cap first. If the gas tank has sludge it will need to be removed and professionally cleaned. The fuel lines should then be cleaned out with solvent and air pressure after disconnecting from the fuel tank and fuel pump. Replace oil with an oil that meets “SL” grade standards (such as Castrol GT 10W-40 or 20W50) containing zinc and phosphate levels to lubricate camshafts, tappets, and bearings on classic cars. I strongly advise using Mercedes-Benz brand coolant (Part # BQ 1 03-0004, M-B Specification #325.0) that is formulated for anti-corrosion, antifreeze, a nd coolant conditions for your classic Mercedes-Benz. 2. Once these are done, remove the spark plugs, and with a well-charged battery (new?) use the starter to rotate the engine components to be sure everything is lubricated. This will let you know if the fuel pump is working. 3. Set the points and plugs to their correct gaps, re-install the plugs, and start the engine. Once it is running you can sort out if the carburetors need to be adjusted or rebuilt. The transmission and differential fluids and a full lube job can be done after it is running. Finally, before it is taken on the road, check the brake system for a firm pedal (highly unlikely if it has been unused for 10 years). If the pedal is firm, bleed the brake system using DOT4 brake fluid. If the pedal is not firm, remove and rebuild the master cylinder and all four wheel cylinders. Flush out the brake lines and replace all four brake hoses from the lines to the brake backing plates, then bleed the brakes with new DOT4 brake fluid and adjust the brake shoes within the drums. 4. Once you are confident it will go—and stop—you can proceed with all the other steps needed to prepare you classic for driving. This includes the paint, chrome, glass, interior, etc. Be sure you know how far you want to go with it: a fun driver or a Concours d’Elegance contestant. Have fun!

tws4
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 17:12:54 GMT

Richard: thank you for the detailed advice. Do you have any leads on the battery brand and number for the car?

RichardSimonds
Wed, 16 Jan 2019 18:12:19 GMT

Call the MB Classic Center in Irvine, CA at 1-866-622-5277 for the correct battery for your car. If you want a non-original battery then any auto parts store will have a cross-reference to identify the battery type.