Hello MBWorld. I drive a 85' 190e 2.3 8v stick-shift w/ a quarter million plus miles.

Needless to say in this forum but, these cars pretty much R.U.L.E. , however as with all good things.. Finally managed to blow the head gasket. Decided to look for a runner with a donor motor to swap in.*

Found a 92' 2.3 automatic with what I believe is an identical crank and head assembly. The motor ran pretty sweet for 191k, oil pressure gauge pinned to 3 instantly on startup, idle kicked down and I thought the temp sensor was broken after running for nearly five minutes, it barely rose above 40c mark. The car was on blocks and beginning to sink into the earth. Owner said motor runs but, "car just doesn't drive". Body on this 92' appeared straight, with the exception of the painted bumpers and door handles?!*

Offered $300US and after levitating it out of the earth, trailered my new Mercedes parts home! The 92' appears to be a fine successor to my old 85'. ABS brakes, Motorized seat control, lil extra tilt on the moonroof, crack free dashboard w/ all the electronics pretty well in tack.

Upon getting the car home and giving a more complete survey, I found two things:*

** * * * * #1 auto tran is completely disconnected from the driveshaft, and the driveshaft is also missing the entire bushing and poss. CenterBearing assembly that holds the driveshaft in place not far from were the trans linkage ends.

** * * * *#2 there was a collision w/ something dense. right rear frame has been struck on the vary point where the control arm connects is bent 2.5" - 3" towards the rear of the vehicle?! It puts a noticeable cant in the rear wheels stance.*

anyhow.. my question. go with original plan of using the 92' as part donor for the 85' (which in many respects is still alot closer to being a stock classic, than the semi-hacked 92' complete with it's csi approved crime scene of paint.)

Or I have way considered putting the manual trans in the 92'. that was before I found the driveline disconnect and frame damage. With the driveshaft reconnected this car may drive. However heating, beating, putting a come-along on the right rear would also have to be addressed.

So with these two MBs in the garage, the motor and trans pulled from the 85' and is in the process of disassembly and nearly on engine-stand (conrod bolts holding flywheel giving me a bit of a hassle.) I'd like to drive one of these machines out of the garage in the near future any thoughts.

 

id go for the swap to the 85. there will be some things that need to be swaped from the 92 but you know the 85 better.

 

Thanks for the reply, Just when I was starting to question the usefulness of the messageboard. I appreicate the voice of reason here in mist of two 'formerly' great rides, it can be bit difficult without a specific goal and plan.

Just got 85's engine off the hoist and on the enginestand. Hoist had to be topped up and bleed as it did not has enough lift while pulling the first motor (had to add a block and wench to the get final clearance, other than lift problem, the motor/tranny came right out without a hitch, pretty insane how straight forward and simple to work on so far).

With hoist ready to work again, I'll start the removal process a second time. Some weird juju goin on with '92. Upon closer inspection it's driver-side motor mount bushing is completely mashed, and the lower bolt on the mount is the same one I pulled from the TOP of the 85's, not the 8m Allen bolt that I think is supposed to be there? The passenger side is not even on the mount! And here when I ran the '92 I thought it felt smooth. Well it ran fine, but it ain't even close to sitting where it's supposed to.

I'll try to post a few of the pictures that I've been taking along the way to sort of journal the process. Took the exhaust manifold off the '85and peered through the ports, wow couple of the values look knarl, with build-up and debris. Thanks again for the reply sameone. respect.


So that's one vote for 85'.. Anyone else want to chime in on this with any possible foresight.

 

photo essay.

 

originally bought this benz for it's motor, and after discovering that the motor was off it's mount, which may have lead to the wear and dislodging of the intermediate bearing and then the driveshaft all together. and the frame has struck something at the right rear where the control arm connects, moving it back 2-3" out of alignment.

other than this and les swag paint job, this may be a $300 dollar runner.

 

If it is just a blown head gasket, then just replace the gasket!
Now with the new one replace the drive shaft, replace the rear suspension parts and anything else the might need it.
Then you will have two runners.
$300 for the car, get junkyard drive shaft and suspension parts and anything else you can. Then sell it for $2000

 

Wish it were as simple as part replacement for the '92. I bought the intermediate/center bearing carrier for it, so must still think it worth while to look into.

Went to remove bolts from manifold/exhaust pipes, however one of the bolts became inaccessible due the the engine being off it's mount on the passenger side.

Put the hoist to work, lifting the motor enough to access the exhaust bolt and to replace the motor mounts on both sides.

The drivetrain looks to be in good nick. It is the right rear frame where the lower section of the control arm attaches that is pretty well hammered. Need to either talk to a frame shop or try put a come-along on it myself. But kinda seems like the sort of thing that 'if not total' then could nearly be cause for wreak'n. Just seems like a lil bit of precision lost in the collision.

 

The 85 may need more than a head gasket. Radiator went out on a road trip, started using some mechanic-in-a-bottle 'leak stop' radiator treatment, in fact I used a **** load of that stuff. Raditor was not Holden h20, but it was our only way through the desert so I kept driven, filling up at periodic water crossings.
Drove it till it stopped running once and then continued another 112 mile or so, taking breaks as temp rose over 120c.

When I went to drain the oil just before pulling the engine, and out came about 8qts of leak stop, coolant, and what was left of the oil.

 

More discovery along the way. Removed what was left of the exhaust. Had to lift the engine to access one of the bolts on the manifold. The beginning section of the exhaust was pushed into the body in such a way to hold the engine from going back into it's place on or near the passenger side mount.

so good news is with exhaust removed the engine swings freely again and can positioned correctly. The BAD news is, after supporting the autotrans and removing the rear mount support, I found that the autotrans 'tang' the 5/16" thick mount has been sheared in two. I still have both bits. Is this some kinda composite metal, seems like I've heard talk of different sorts of alloys around here. Both with the engine mount and now the transmission I have now seen this material FAIL twice on this newer sedan.

This is just when I thinking I may not have to pull the engine to get this car going again. Now looks like I may need to research the material used to cast these '92 transmissions. Can I weld this thing back on?

I will try to get a few pictures up here in a bit.

 

Should be aluminum on the transmission