Rightnider's past and present - Mercedes S210 test tour and Mk2 Granada progress

[Rightnider]

Mondeo getting an oil change in preparation for a continental road trip. 

[Talbot]

On 3/14/2023 at 7:38 PM, Rightnider said:

Finally, the Mercedes is on the operating table.

Since I don't have a lift, I wouldn't be able to do this myself, but the Polish guy who helps me seems to be a decent, problems solving oriented kind of guy. 

It will get newly sand blasted and powder coated front and rear subframes with all new bushes, new rubber couplings for the prop shaft, new steering axle bellows, engine mounts, new springs and some other stuff including brake lines and some other things. 

 

It looks better underneath than expected (which admittedly doesn’t say much for a 210 of this age). 

I really really need to do this to mine.  It has quite the noticeable power on/off movement at the back, making driving it (especially loaded) quite "interesting"  I'm fairly sure the subframe bushes are shot, and I know for sure several of the arm bushes are quite tired too.

Having a spare subframe seems like the best plan..

[Rightnider]

Do it, it makes huge difference!

[Rightnider]

Our tour of the continent - Prague achieved via Berlin. The Mondeo soldiers on, 840 miles so far. And it better do, with new oil and all. 

[Rightnider]

After three days in Prague we’ve stopped in Bielsko-Biala, a nice little town in southern Poland, and have now had a few days in Krakow. Can only recommend. 

The Mondeo has behaved well, was treated to 100 octane fuel by the border between Germany and the Czech Republic, and did achieve almost 39 real life MPG’s despite 80-90 mph stints on the motorway.

Unfortunately some of the not-so-smooth Czech country roads has taken its toll on the left (NS/OS? I can never get to grips with that!) strut bearing, so there’s a bit of a noise when going lock-to-lock. Fortunately we’re going straight ahead today to Szczecin, and then for the ferry from Sassnitz to Ystad in Sweden tomorrow. 

Why didn’t we take the w210 estate? Well, I had just got it back on the road after the suspension work, and there are a few things to sort out before commencing on a longer journey. One is that the alarm keeps going off from time to time, which makes it impossible to lock the car.  I suspect the tailgate lock isn’t reporting that it is closed, a replacement is waiting at home now. 

The most daring choice would have been the 69 XJ6, but it is a non-starter in the garage. Hopefully I will get time to sort it out when I get home.

Georgian cuisine. Fantastic!

Krakow is not only medieval buildings, there’s also some proper eastern architecture as well. 

[Rightnider]

Just arrived in Szczecin after 400 miles in 5 hours 20 minutes. The roads are terrific! The strut top bearing was alright again, just needed a couple of days rest. 

[Rightnider]

Collection time! Only this time I’m off to Västerås to pick up my own Mk2 Granada Injection which has been given a respray by my cousin. It passed its MoT yesterday with an advisory for a slight leak from the steering rack. 
 

[Rightnider]

Today’s task is to drive this back home, around 350 miles.

 

Quite an improvement over what it looked like last year.  

 

[Shite Ron]

That looks fantastic, I would love to be in your shoes today, a far more enjoyable task than another day of work. Good luck,  I hope all goes well and that you have a really enjoyable day. When reading your post I immediately thought of this:

[Rightnider]

Thanks, @Shite Ron!

It went well today, I’m back home. But the car doesn’t run well, it is very ‘jerky’, on constant throttle. It runs fine when accelerating, though. I’m not keen on understanding and troubleshooting the K-jetronic system, the best bet would probably be to get the EFI from a 1985-87 Scorpio or Sierra, but they’re not easy to find in Sweden nowadays. Anyway, it’s back home again. Now I need to find storage for the Granadas, and preferably also the Jaguar for the winter. 

[Rightnider]

Went to see this tonight:

I didn’t buy it. It was a bit of a wreck, last MOT in 2008, but I’d love to run a Ford 1,8 diesel again. 

[High Jetter]

Really? Please show your reasoning for this decision... 

[Rightnider]

Yes, I know. It was stupid. I was taking aspects that had nothing to do with it into account; lack of time, a garage already full of a dead Jaguar and all the other cars that need attention. 
 

That way I ended up with an ill informed decision, and I can understand if my membership of this forum will be up for discussion.  
 

I’ve already begun to suffer the consequences by not getting to look for a trailer and arrange for transportation home, not lying awake in the early morning, thinking of what I’ve done. 
 

Rest assured, there will be something soon. The eldest is about to get his license soon, and even though he’s not been thinking of getting a car, I have. Of course. 

[Rightnider]

Finally got down to replacing the trailer floor. 

 

 

[Rightnider]

The fleet is out!

[Rightnider]

Just found new brake discs, pads and calipers for the Mk2 Granada. 

£ 100 isn’t too bad! The colour is though, it was meant for a hot rod. 

[Nibbler]

7 hours ago, Rightnider said:

Just found new brake discs, pads and calipers for the Mk2 Granada. 

£ 100 isn’t too bad! The colour is though, it was meant for a hot rod. 

That colour is so you! 

[Rightnider]

The Granadas are tucked in for winter. 

[Shep Shepherd]

Superb! I love Granadas, especially the mark 2, which is just 'right' in every respect 

[Rightnider]

The XJ is giving me grief, as always. Last year the water pump gave up and sent the cooling fan into the radiator. 
 

With the pump treated to new seal and bearing, I’ve driven half an hour with it. Last time I took it out of the garage it started dumping oil. 
 

I love the way it looks, but it should not be started at all. 

[Rightnider]

This year, I’ve done nothing with the cars apart from taking them home from their winter storage.
I just can’t muster up the energy for it. This time of the year I love to tinker away, but not this summer. Right now I contemplate selling all apart from the Granada coupé, but I fear regretting it later.

 

 

 

This is how far I got today. 😀

[Rightnider]

Progress!

 

I didn’t paint the callipers though 

[Rightnider]

I finally bit the bullet and dragged the ungrateful old Jaguar out to try to asses where the oil came from last time I started it. 
 

Maybe it isn’t the rear main bearing seal as I, optimistically* thought. It look like there is a tube with a hose leading from the oil filter back to the sump. I have to clean the engine and crossmember to get a better look, right now it’s all covered in 55 years of oil leaks.

And yes, the Mk 2 Granada has got new spark plugs and HT-leads. It still runs rough when warm. Probably an air leak. Needs further investigation. 

[Rightnider]

 

 

My favourite Jaguar picture. 

[Rightnider]

I've found at least one air leak on the Granada, the EGR valve base had visible cracks where air got in. Luckily I have a donor.

The old one disintegrated on removal, and the 'new''.

[Rightnider]

Granada. The EGR base is replaced, the idle is higher (?) but not as lumpy, and it still jerks at constant throttle. 
 

XJ. It’s not been this clean this side of 1980. I’ll check the hose later.

Good thing is that the oil pressure is over 50 psi on idle when checking with a proper gauge. 

[Rightnider]

Today I’ve removed the carburettors and oil filter housing to get to the pipe and hose.

I’ve ordered a few gaskets and seals along with a new filter and the aforementioned hose from SC Parts, hoping it will arrive before the weekend. They’re usually quite quick, I think they’ve got a warehouse in Germany (since brexit?). 
 

 

[Rightnider]

The spares arrived yesterday. Oil return pipe is back. 

I splashed out on a couple of new hoses for the crankcase ventilation when the carbs were out of the way. 

[Rightnider]

It runs again!

https://youtube.com/shorts/C03aS9tBDek?si=TpyUhhSC1FK_T8Bi

Time to sort out the coolant leaks then…

[Nibbler]

Great updates and I’m glad you got some motivation back.