Rad removal on W124 300D Auto: Urgent

[penderb]

Hello

1986 W124 300 Diesel Auto
I had a recent post on the removal\replacement of noisy\worn viscous fan.
Got great tips here on same. Was examining same on Sat, putting a plan to gether to make sure I could replace it, with a further plan to do the actual job next Sat. On Sunday, heard a little rattle from under the bonnet(ignored it!)
On way home about a mile from home, temp shot way up, got car home, lifted bonnet, fan had come off shaft, & wedged itself against rad, puncturing it in about 3 places. Rad now dead!!! I have a manual 300D for spares but have discovered I cannot use it's rad due to mine being an auto box. Bottom of rad on auto used to cool auto box oil. Also current car has air con(not used as is faulty, so not worried about that). My query is: is removing the rad from the auto car a big job, is there anything I need to know prior to removal. Or has anyone a guide anywhere on the forum?? It looks fairly straight forward.I did a few searches prior to posting & couldn't find anything.

As always, any\all info greatly appreciated.

Billy

 

[television]

The rad just unbots,re the oil cooler, if you can jack the front of the car quite high, this will stop the oil running out of the gearbox, let the oil in the cooler go.
(Do clean the union joints well first) You could bung the pipes from gearbox with something like the top of a thin biro pen, or tape them up. As you have an oil dip stick it is no problem to top up.
Do the fan before you fit the new rad (get one from a local firm that re cores them, or get your own one re cored) then you cant damage it.

The last couple of days many threads on pumps packing up, bad luck in your case.

Malcolm
Just one thing,as the oil cooler was an option, maybe it will unbolt from the rad, but I do not know for sure.

 

[penderb]

Hi Television

Excellent tips there. Many thanks.Would never have thought of the jacking up to minimise box oil loss. I did think there would be oil loss allright. That's why this forum is priceless with those little tips & tricks.
Interesting point there about the possibility of the oil cooler being attached to rad!!!..If this is so, Then could I use the spare rad from the manual 124.
If anyone could clear that up??? I'll investigate more thoroughly tonight, plus I hope to be speaking to a Indi Merc specialist about a second hand rad & will now ask him about oil cooler & is it a seperate thing just bolted to bottom of rad.

Billy

 

[Ian B Walker]

Malcolm
Just one thing,as the oil cooler was an option, maybe it will unbolt from the rad, but I do not know for sure.

Sorry Malcolm, The oil cooler on an automatic is integral with the radiator and isnt an option, its normal. The steering oil cooler sits in front of the rad and looks like a electric kettle eliment.

 

[television]

Hi Ian that's yes when it has one factory fitted The 124090 car that I had did not have one. I did say that I did not know for sure


malcolm