NorthernMonkey

As this seems to have a bit of a following on here, I’m going to keep this going as an owners thread.
When I dragged it out of the workshop on the remaining 75% of its cylinders, my mate in the unit across the yard came bounding over with his tongue hanging out. Apparently, he did his apprenticeship on these at Mercedes so is chomping at the bit to relive his youth and pull it to pieces!

Anyway, before it starts being stripped, we decided to get it in the air and see what we had to contend with.
It could do with an inner track rod rubber boot.
That’s it. Apart from the dubious cylinder head gasket, obvs…
It is absolutely solid underneath. The jacking points have all been properly repaired at some point but they are as strong as anything and will be fine for years to come. The suspension arms are all spot on as well as the spring perches, the dampers are recent, the exhaust boxes are still shiny and black, it is properly spot on!

 


It’s even got the factory detachable tow pack fitted which presumably needs the ball part locating but that shouldn’t be an issue

The tickover has sorted itself out now but there’s still plenty of coolant burning off

I’m just letting it warm up before loosening the manifold bolts then it can go in the corner to commence strip down of the top end.
I was never really sure what I was going to do with this long term…as well as this, I have a very low mileage white saloon and a grey 300CE coupe both in bits and the plan was to keep the saloon as a long term daily but I think I’ve fallen for the shabbiness of this one along with the crazy interior colour and the practicality of the estate. A rethink may be in order 🤨

Anyway, before it starts being stripped, we decided to get it in the air and see what we had to contend with.
It could do with an inner track rod rubber boot.
That’s it. Apart from the dubious cylinder head gasket, obvs…
It is absolutely solid underneath. The jacking points have all been properly repaired at some point but they are as strong as anything and will be fine for years to come. The suspension arms are all spot on as well as the spring perches, the dampers are recent, the exhaust boxes are still shiny and black, it is properly spot on!

 


It’s even got the factory detachable tow pack fitted which presumably needs the ball part locating but that shouldn’t be an issue

The tickover has sorted itself out now but there’s still plenty of coolant burning off

I’m just letting it warm up before loosening the manifold bolts then it can go in the corner to commence strip down of the top end.
I was never really sure what I was going to do with this long term…as well as this, I have a very low mileage white saloon and a grey 300CE coupe both in bits and the plan was to keep the saloon as a long term daily but I think I’ve fallen for the shabbiness of this one along with the crazy interior colour and the practicality of the estate. A rethink may be in order 🤨

As this seems to have a bit of a following on here, I’m going to keep this going as an owners thread.
When I dragged it out of the workshop on the remaining 75% of its cylinders, my mate in the unit across the yard came bounding over with his tongue hanging out. Apparently, he did his apprenticeship on these at Mercedes so is chomping at the bit to relive his youth and pull it to pieces!

It certainly will…it’s back at the workshop now where the head will be removed next week and sent for testing and skimming before being rebuilt and thrown into use 🙂

Think I’ve lost a bit of trim coming out of Pately Bridge though…I heard a bang from under my side and assumed I’d run over a bit of wood or something 🤬

In other news, the object of the collection has indeed been collected.
Currentiy 10 miles in at McDs for coffee and all is fairly well so far. The heater is still heating so we’ll stock up on water and caffeine before hitting the A1 again 👍

If you haven’t worked out what it yet, it’s very burgundy in here… 😂

It certainly wasn’t!!
The great news is I’ve discovered I fit comfortably in an Exocet so I have no need to bother welding my NA up now! 😂

That. Is. Fucking. Mental.

Phase 1 completed, although Burnley is gridlocked for some reason so sustenance will have to wait until York. Train is due in 7 minutes and I’ve only just got here…

 
Claire is working from home today and one of the spaniels is laid under her desk and farting like a trooper so I’m glad I’m out of the way!
 

In other news, the object of the collection has indeed been collected.
Currentiy 10 miles in at McDs for coffee and all is fairly well so far. The heater is still heating so we’ll stock up on water and caffeine before hitting the A1 again 👍

If you haven’t worked out what it yet, it’s very burgundy in here… 😂

Well, this is a new one on me.
Train is supposed to be heading to York…it pulls into Leeds and we’re all told the onward train is now on another platform. Everyone gets off and heads across the station to platform 11 where there’s no sign of a train, just a bloke who tells us it’s now been moved across to platform 12. Guess where the train we’ve all been kicked off is?!
Fuck me, they’d struggle with the proverbial brewery piss up.
Now back on the same train and heading to York but having to stand as there’s now no seats and my onward connection leaves 6 minutes before we arrive?? 😂

Don’t apologise…I’d have happily endured the shit show that Northern Rail threw at me purely for the entertainment provided by @gm

Don’t apologise…I’d have happily endured the shit show that Northern Rail threw at me purely for the entertainment provided by @gm

Don’t apologise…I’d have happily endured the shit show that Northern Rail threw at me purely for the entertainment provided by @gm

the Exo was on taxi duty yesterday collecting @NorthernMonkey from Durham station. 
as i’ve not met NM before, i didn’t know who to look for - i needn’t have worried - most passengers leaving the station regarded the Exo with amusement / bemusement but when one came round the corner and exclaimed “oh fucks sake” i knew exactly who he was  
we fannied on trying to adjust seatbelt harnesses but, as we had a bit of an audience, chose to drive down the road and pull over on a side street 

harnesses adjusted, i gave it the beans ! there’s a nearby road with a hefty crest - i’m not sure but i think we may have caught some air
stopping at a convenient petrol station, it was time to swap seats and let NM have a go 

he wasn’t in a particular hurry so i directed him onto some back roads to have some fun - i think he likes it.
some time later, we arrived at scaryoldcortina’s place for the actual collection to take place - the big blue merc in the background - must have been quite a contrast coming from the exo !

 

It certainly will…it’s back at the workshop now where the head will be removed next week and sent for testing and skimming before being rebuilt and thrown into use 🙂

Think I’ve lost a bit of trim coming out of Pately Bridge though…I heard a bang from under my side and assumed I’d run over a bit of wood or something 🤬

Just realised this is in the wrong section…bloody useless admin!!
Now relocated 

Phase 1 completed, although Burnley is gridlocked for some reason so sustenance will have to wait until York. Train is due in 7 minutes and I’ve only just got here…

 
Claire is working from home today and one of the spaniels is laid under her desk and farting like a trooper so I’m glad I’m out of the way!
 

That. Is. Fucking. Mental.

Oh yes.
Delay Repay, my best friend.
Already logged into my account… 😂

Luckily, I’ve found a quaint little tea room run by a charming man called Tim who thankfully serve a delicious* breakfast until 12.00 so it’s not all bad…

It certainly will…it’s back at the workshop now where the head will be removed next week and sent for testing and skimming before being rebuilt and thrown into use 🙂

Think I’ve lost a bit of trim coming out of Pately Bridge though…I heard a bang from under my side and assumed I’d run over a bit of wood or something 🤬

It certainly will…it’s back at the workshop now where the head will be removed next week and sent for testing and skimming before being rebuilt and thrown into use 🙂

Think I’ve lost a bit of trim coming out of Pately Bridge though…I heard a bang from under my side and assumed I’d run over a bit of wood or something 🤬

In other news, the object of the collection has indeed been collected.
Currentiy 10 miles in at McDs for coffee and all is fairly well so far. The heater is still heating so we’ll stock up on water and caffeine before hitting the A1 again 👍

If you haven’t worked out what it yet, it’s very burgundy in here… 😂

It certainly will…it’s back at the workshop now where the head will be removed next week and sent for testing and skimming before being rebuilt and thrown into use 🙂

Think I’ve lost a bit of trim coming out of Pately Bridge though…I heard a bang from under my side and assumed I’d run over a bit of wood or something 🤬