I am looking at buying a used 1968 220D(automatic transmission).

The car has two problems:
1. Hard to start- It takes a long time of trying for it to start up. We noticed that one or two glow plugs were still cold right after trying to start, and also the wiring is frayed as could be going to the glow plugs.
I think if I replace glow plugs and wiring, it should start up fine. What do you guys think?

2. The owner says that when he starts it up and shifts to drive, it takes off really quick, as if you dropped the clutch in a manual. He also says that when you come to a stop, it tries very hard to keep going. You need to shift to N to keep from killing it. He also says it doesnt always do this, sometimes it works fine. I think it is just having trouble deciding when to shift into 1st gear. I think if I adjust the transmission a little, so that it shifts sooner, it will work fine. What do you think? Also, if I'm right, where would I find the cables(or whatever) to adjust this?

Any help and feedback is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Thanks for your reply!
I looked at it again today, and it is indeed starting up in 2nd gear.
It seems like it's idling high and shifting late as well.

If I decrease the idle speed, will that let it get down into 1st gear?

Also, it shifts at REALLY high RPM's.
Any clue on what adjustments I could be making specifically?

 

Well, when I said I needed help with teh car, I wasnt kidding.
I am obviously inexperienced with this make/era of car.

How big of a deal is it to order parts and repair one of these tubes or bushings?

Do you think fixing that will help out the whole 'acting like you dropped the clutch' situation?

 

I bought the car today.
Now I'm in for it.

 

Got glowplug kit from DieselGiant, put 'em in, and now it starts every time.
Starting problem solved.

Diaphragm and tubes are all good to go. No intake leaks.

I recently changed the tranny fluid in it, thinking the fluid coupling may be acting up.
It will now idle when in gear and stopped, but the engine doesnt like it at all. It still pulls really hard when stopped and it blows thick smoke.
It helped the problem tremendously, but did not fix it.

So today I tried turning the throttle down a little bit, and now the engine just dies when I put it in gear and don't move.

So now what?

 

The vacuum modulator?
I didnt know this particular transmission had a vacuum modulator?

Anyway, if that rod goes to push the throttle open, I would get feedback through the petal.

 

Right.
You'll have to bear with me here...

So you want me to disconnect that?

What does this modulator do specifically?

 

So am I correct in assuming you want me to disconnect the rod, then try putting it in gear?

 

It still does it, even with the rod disconnected.

Perhaps it's an engine runnability issue?

 

I'm looking into the air leak again.
Supposedly it didnt have a leak, but I'm going after it myself this time.