help!! Dad's 230sl has sat for 22 years

[n/a]

I've been looking at your forum for my Dad and seems you guys have at lot of GREAT information and he needs some help.

He has a 1967 230 SL fuel injected automatic that he bought in the mid-1970's. He is only the second owner. The car only has 66,000 miles and the major reason is that he has let the car set for 22 years without driving or even starting. He has now decided to get it back in shape and drive again. So far he has removed the gas tank and is getting it cleaned. It sat for about 10 years with a full tank of gas. The body is in good shape but the major worry is in the mechanicals from sitting so long.

Questions.  What should he expect to be wrong?  What bearings and seals should he replace at the onset?  What proplems should he expect with the injectors? And what other problems should he look for in getting it started (the engine is free and will turn, but the starter was burnt out at the time my nephew filled it with gas and tried to start it 10 years ago)? It has been stored inside.

I thank-you in advance for taking time to read this and for any replies.

Mark

[Ben]

Hi Mark and welcome.

This topic has been discussed at length before, with some great advice, you could do a search using some keywords.

Anyway getting the tank in order is the best way to start, and then literally replacing all the rubber pipes, particularly brake and fuel pipes, change fuel filter, engine oil and oil filter. What country are you in, did the car get damp ?  You should probably remove the plugs carefully and add some WD40 into each cylinder and let that sit for a while before turning the engine over. I think most of the damage could be done to the injection system if you DID try to run it with fuel from a rusty tank !

I'll let the experts chime in now !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[n/a]

Ben,

Thanks for the reply. Good idea, I'll try a lot of searches. The car has been kept in a unheated shop near Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Thanks again.  

Mark

[rwmastel]

I did a search (hard to decide which key words to use) and found these various topics of interest:

http://index.php?topic=485

http://index.php?topic=684

http://index.php?topic=539

http://index.php?topic=993

http://index.php?topic=1151

These should lead you down the right road.  After reading these threads, please ask some more specific questions and we can help.  Also do some more searches on various key words to find more topics.

Have fun!

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Sphe]

Hey mark!
Sounds like a fun project you guys are undertaking. Rodd already linked you to my post, cause we have a very similar situation. But from the sounds of it, yours is a little easier, cause me and my father have been working daily on getting rust off of the body while the gas tank is away.
My outlook for the job, not being a professional opinion what soever, is to replace the fluids and filters (as to not damage any of the already working components), and turn over the engine. If the engine doesn't turn over, fix something, and try again. Rinse and repeat until the car is running. Trial and error the whole way. Might not be the smartest way of going about things, but it sure is fun.
Have fun with it! It's the most important part of the job. And let me know how it comes along. I'll keep checkin your post if you keep updating us.

-Eugene
 1965 230Sl, Max speed: Zero