Mercedes W114 250 Coupe - help!

[219]

That's nasty! Almost as nasty as...



...that! Nothing against you sticking with manual box (I see the sense in it) but please will you circumsise that knob? And have something more spherical on the shaft's end? Just does not look right in there!

That knob does look too late for a pre facelift car - early ones either had column change like mine pictured above , or a slim chrome plated shaft with a small ball shaped knob , either black or white according to the colour of the steering wheel .

The knob in Charles's car is the shape fitted to all post facelift W114/5 cars .

 

[Bellow]

That knob does look too late for a pre facelift car - early ones either had column change like mine pictured above ,

It looked out of place when I first saw it and made me wonder if the box wasn't from a much later (1980s) car....

The knob in Charles's car is the shape fitted to all post facelift W114/5 cars .

....not so, it seems it was in use soon after CM's car was built.

or a slim chrome plated shaft with a small ball shaped knob , either black or white according to the colour of the steering wheel .

Now you're talking!
Exactly what I perceive it should have. And with that dash of chrome - as per the tiller.

 

[219]

My dad's 1970 250 automatic ( he had it briefly before the 220 ) had the chrome shaft with white ball shaped shift knob matching the steering wheel , just like in a Pagoda .

I know the later style black rubbery knob was fitted to all post facelift cars , but not sure when exactly it came in .

 

[Charles Morgan]

I think the rust is pretty superficial Bellow in that it is nothing structural and easily welded. It is hidden away though in an area you'd really need to hunt for - as there are no rear seats in mine it was easy enough to find but semi concealed by sealant.

If the manual stays, which is not yet decided, I agree the knob (and the gaiter which is broken) needs to be replaced. My wheel is black.

So far though I've only located a 4 speed manual knob with gear positions on - there is an auto one that is plain, but that looks smaller.

 

[Bellow]

The rust merely looks nasty. A few hours of surgery with a grinder and MIG will sort that out.
Knob looks good! It's not like you will forget there's a fifth gear. Plain, perfectly spherical black knob that will thread straight onto a shaft? - Citroen 2CV.....

 

[jaymanek]

Im not sure you should have that knob.

MB do a 5 speed pattern in that knob but its for the ZF box which has reverse in the wrong place for your car.

See the SLS website which lists it under the pagoda.

SLS | A111268104226 Gear lever knob,ivory,5 g A111268104226 Gear lever knob,ivory,5 g | purchase online

Dont trust the illustration as the pagoda 5 speed ZF box had reverse down underneath 5th IIRC.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Intriguing. When you say I shouldn't have that knob Jay, do you mean the one in the car currently or the one I showed in post 364.

As to which gear is where I don't honestly know with the car immobile, but I'll have a little fiddle tomorrow.

 

[Charles Morgan]

My white W115 was NSX126J , almost feels like they could have been distant cousins

Definitely related - they're both wearing the Morgan clan fighting tartan colours...

 

[Charles Morgan]

Treated the superficial rust in the boot to a curative, the aim being to clean it all up, primer it and paint it so I can then use it for storage (that being at a premium) before putting in mats.

Started on the engine bay, it looks like the vacuum lines are in place to the manifold which is good news. The radiator and oil cooler will need to be re-cored. Lots of bits floating around in boxes under the bonnet so will clean, sort and identify to the best of my knowledge. The fan is of course an engine fan from that period - I'm inclined to replace this with a modern electronic fan that can be connected to the ECU so the operation can be restricted to when it's needed, as long as the alternator is up to it. That ought to save a tiny amount of fuel.

 

[grober]

Ruyl Classics

This is an interesting thread:-
Droolworthy? 5-Speed For Your Diesel - Mercedes-Benz Forum

 

[Charles Morgan]

That car is lovely. The manual rubber gaiter is available as a part whereas I've not seen the gaiter on mine at all from any supplier.

If I can squeeze under the car (surprisingly easy with the high suspension) I'll see which box is up there (assuming I can make it out!).

 

[Charles Morgan]

A shufty in the engine bay and from underneath and it is definitely not the Getrag - it has the same shape as the Mercedes flat top above. Not sure it is exactly the same as that as my viewing angles were not great, but it looks the same.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I decided to have a good clean out of the mess in the engine bay. Pleasingly everything seems to be there, if not all connected. I found the loom for the D jet too, with all the sensor locations clearly visible, a good start.

The D Jet fuel rail complete with all injectors and mounts, plus the fuel pipe in and return pipe out are there but not connected.

An injector

The cam cover in need of a clean

 

[grober]

As far as I can make out you will have the 5 speed 117.261 box or G76/27-5 [ the G76/27-A is I believe the 4 speed equivalent?] Despite what that thread says I think the flat top box is also made by Getrag not MB. The box casing will be iron with a separate alloy bell housing unlike the later "all in one" alloy combined bell housing and gearbox 717.400.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE SEE THE FIRST POST IN THIS THREAD
https://translate.google.co.uk/tran...otenforum/forum_entry.php?id=84342&edit-text=

 

[jaymanek]

What I mean is I dont think the round knob was ever made for any MB showing the correct pattern engraved for your getrag box... so I doubt you should have the round knob.

Unless after all this you actually have a ZF box which would make sense... as it was an option on the pagoda at that time, in which case Mercedes did make a round knob to suit.

 

[Charles Morgan]

It seems to be a stock image all the suppliers use.

Niemoller has a 5 speed knob in stock for the Pagoda 250 (but again use the wrong knob as above).

5 speed gear knob

 

[John Jones Jr]

Get a nice bit of old ivory, snooker ball, bakelite etc. Have it turned down, drilled & tapped and then have the gear shift engraved and painted. A really nice personal touch to the car. Lovely.

 

[Charles Morgan]

What a lovely idea!

 

[Charles Morgan]

While fiddling around unprofitably under the dashboard to remove the wood screws I took the opportunity to look at the gear lever set up some more. Despite the clutch having been removed the linkages are an utter bugger to use, and there is a microswitch (clearly for the reversing light) which would be triggered in the rare event I could get the lever across into what I think of as fifth, and there is no opposite gear (that would be reverse according to the lever) that I can find.

Enough for today, I'm going to have a good think about what I want to do with the car next and whether to revisit the engine choice - yesterday's Jay Leno 300SEL 6.3 youtube video got me back on the V8 thought.

 

[Bellow]

If you're not finding six slots - then possibly only a four speed box. My deepest suspicion is that that box has been retro fitted (hence later gear knob) and there's no guarantee it's a five speed. Time to find some identifying numbers on the gearbox casing I think.
Is that bolted in plate obstructing a slot? (struggling to orient pic L/R, F/R).