Restoration: Engine Rebuild
Keep the heart of your classic pumping
With luxurious wood trim and meters of mirrored chrome, sometimes the glitz and glamour of a classic Mercedes-Benz masks the fact that a half-century-old power station lies at the heart of it all. Even if every stitch in the upholstery is perfect, a pristine classic won't garner much attention if it doesn't run.
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This W113 had been meticulously maintained throughout its decades with the owner and had always run pretty well, but a full restoration hadn't yet come to pass. After a couple more years on the road, some rough running issues started to appear.
It was time for a rebuild.
This W113 was never a garage queen nor was it poised for a top finish at a future Pebble Beach competition, but it was in good shape and had given its owners decades of enjoyment. With its history of usage and regular maintenance, the engine was actually in good working order, but it did need a deep clean and deserved a careful rebuild to ensure nothing major was lurking.
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Belts and pulleys were all removed and replaced, the fuel injection pump went to our pump shop for its own restoration, and we removed the cover to get started.
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Despite appearances, all was generally well on the inside. Yes, a good coating of grime and buildup covered the surfaces, seals were worn out and leaking, and there was some carbon buildup on the cylinders, but there was no damage or indication of major issues.
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We moved forward with a thorough cleaning of all surfaces in addition to the replacement of wearable items such as seals, gaskets and hoses. Bolts and clamps were replaced or refinished and new belts were fitted. Overall, the vast majority of parts were reusable and no major restoration work was required
We wouldn't go so far as to say it was easy, but when it comes to rebuilding a 60 year old engine, this went about as smoothly as possible.
Cleaning and replating went a long way on the cosmetic side, while a restoration of the fuel injection pump took care of running and idling issues. Leaks were cleaned up with some new seals and gaskets, and some media-blasting brought the cast aluminum back to its original finish.
