Reborn in 1982: I Became the Richest Man by Repairing Cars

Chapter 159 A tycoon who isn't short of money naturally uses a solution that isn't short of money.

With such a big order coming in, Jiang Hui naturally had to handle it personally.

The first two days were spent preparing various spare parts. Only after all the parts were in place and the specific modification plan was determined could we start work without getting flustered.

Otherwise, it would be awkward if we made half of the changes and then had to come up with a different solution.

Starting on the third day, with all the spare parts almost ready, the workshop of Xiaojiang Modification Factory was filled with the clanging of tools.

Jiang Hui, dressed in work clothes smeared with engine oil and holding a box wrench, was squatting under the front of a Mercedes-Benz 170V, carefully inspecting the layout of the engine compartment.

Lin Yuanwu and Fan Weimin arrived at their posts early, and the two were working together to lift the engine of the recovered Mercedes-Benz W123 wrecked car onto a special support.

"Master, this W123 engine looks much sturdier than the original engine, but it seems a bit larger than expected. Will it fit smoothly?"

Fan Weimin leaned closer to Jiang Hui and asked, his eyes showing some worry.

Nowadays, car modifications rely entirely on manual operation, and many things depend on experience and judgment. A slight mistake can lead to parts not being compatible.

Jiang Hui crawled out from under the car, dusted off his hands, and pointed to the engine compartment, explaining, "You have a good eye. This W123 engine is an inline four-cylinder. Although the displacement is a bit larger than the original car, the overall structure is similar to the original car's M136, only the cylinder block is slightly wider."

"We'll first remove the original engine, then slightly expand the crossbeam in the engine compartment to increase the space, and then we can install it."

Lin Yuanwu then walked over, holding a measuring tape. While measuring the engine's dimensions, he said, "The fact that we can use recycled accident car parts for modification already saves us a lot of trouble."

"The engine size is slightly different, but I don't think it's a big problem."

"However, I just measured it, and the mounting holes on this engine are different from those on the original car."

"We need to re-weld the bracket, otherwise even if we can fit it in, it won't be able to stay in place."

"That's right, the support frame does need to be remade."

Jiang Hui nodded, took the measuring tape from Lin Yuanwu, and checked the dimensions again. "Let's first remove the original engine, take a look at the structure of the original bracket, and then remake the bracket according to the hole positions of the W123 engine."

"Weimin, go and prepare the gas welding tools. Make sure to control the temperature during the gas welding so you don't burn or deform the sheet metal in the engine compartment."

"Brother Yuanwu, come with me to disassemble the original engine. Let's hurry up and try to replace the engine today."

The three had a clear division of labor and immediately got to work.

Fan Weimin skillfully inspected the gas welding equipment and adjusted the ratio of oxygen to acetylene.

Current gas welding tools are still relatively rudimentary, lacking automatic temperature control functions, and rely entirely on the operator's experience to control the heat.

Lin Yuanwu and Jiang Hui then used a wrench to unscrew the engine mounting bolts. The original bolts were rusted and very difficult to tighten.

"The bolts on this old car are so stubborn, they're all rusted. If you keep tightening them, the wrench will break."

Lin Yuanwu tried to tighten the bolt several times, but it remained firmly in place, and he couldn't help but complain.

This was the first time he had encountered such difficult bolts to remove. After all, the car had been stored for over forty years, and the aging of the parts far exceeded expectations.

Jiang Hui stopped what he was doing, pondered for a moment, and said, "This part of the support needs to be replaced; we can just cut it off."

As he spoke, he pulled the cutting machine over and cut off the rusty bolts and part of the bracket.

That made things simple, and the engine was quickly removed.

Seeing Jiang Hui's actions, Fan Weimin couldn't help but ask, "Master, this car was manufactured in 1942, and the parts are so worn out. Besides replacing the engine and transmission, shouldn't we replace all the chassis parts as well?"

"I just checked, and the suspension springs in the chassis are all deformed."

Jiang Hui nodded and pointed to the chassis, saying, "You're right. Although the basic structure of this car's chassis is still there, parts such as the suspension springs and shock absorbers are no longer usable."

"We currently have suspension parts for the SH760 in our inventory. Although they are not Mercedes-specific, they should be compatible with this vehicle after modification."

The group talked as they worked.

Although Xiao Jiang's repair shop may not have all the necessary equipment, Jiang Hui has several factories, so meeting the needs of a modified car shouldn't be a problem.

For example, engine mounting brackets are simply stamped with a stamping machine and then welded into the engine compartment.

As long as it doesn't interfere with other parts, the shape requirements for the parts are not high.

Unlike parts that are mass-produced, which require specialized molds for processing.

In the afternoon, after the support frame was prepared, Jiang Hui personally took charge of the welding.

Jiang Hui operated the gas welding machine, Lin Yuanwu assisted him, and Fan Weimin was responsible for handing over the tools.

The flame of the gas welding torch leaps across the metal, making a sizzling sound, and the high temperature melts the metal.

Jiang Hui precisely controlled the temperature of the flame and the welding angle, welding the bracket to the appropriate position little by little.

"Master, when welding, is it better if the flame temperature is as high as possible?"

Taking this opportunity, Fan Weimin naturally wanted to ask his questions properly.

Jiang Hui shook his head and said while welding, "No, the temperature of the flame needs to be adjusted according to the material of the metal. Too high a temperature will burn through the metal, and too low a temperature will not allow for a proper weld."

"We are welding steel now, and the temperature is best controlled at around 1500 degrees Celsius."

"Moreover, when welding, you must keep the flame stable and your hand must not shake."

"Otherwise, the welded bracket will not be sturdy, and the engine will easily wobble after it is installed."

Lin Yuanwu added, "That's right, welding is a technical job, and even the slightest deviation is unacceptable."

"The engine of our vehicle is quite heavy. If the bracket is not welded securely, it can easily pose a safety hazard while driving."

Compared to Fan Weimin, Lin Yuanwu is already considered a veteran car mechanic.

In the entire capital, apart from Jiang Hui, there are really not many people whose car repair skills are better than his.

Even with equipment like gas welding machines, he learned very quickly.

Before they knew it, the sun had already begun to set, and the light in the workshop gradually dimmed. The three of them turned on the light bulbs in the workshop and continued working.

It wasn't until after 8 p.m. that the engine mounts were finally all welded.

The entire engine compartment has been completely renovated.

Jiang Hui turned off the gas welding machine, wiped his sweat, carefully inspected the welded area, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no problems.

Although it's just welding brackets, ensuring the accuracy of the mounting holes means the process can't be very fast.

"Finally welded! We can install the engine tomorrow."

Looking at the welded bracket, Fan Weimin couldn't help but exclaim, "Master, your welding skills are amazing! The welds are so smooth and strong, you're better than any other craftsman I've ever met."

Jiang Hui smiled and said, "It's all about practice. Practice more, summarize more, and you can do it too."

"Tomorrow we'll install the engine, then check the transmission, and try to complete the powertrain installation as soon as possible."

On the morning of the fourth day, the three of them arrived at the workshop early as usual and began installing the engine.

They used a simple crane to slowly lift the W123's engine, align it with the welded bracket, and adjust its position.

The engine installation process was more complicated than expected. Because the engine was a bit large, its position needed to be constantly adjusted in order to fix it precisely on the bracket.

Lin Yuanwu was in charge of directing the crane, while Jiang Hui and Fan Weimin adjusted the engine position and tightened the bolts.

The three worked together seamlessly and carried out their work in an orderly manner.

"Master, the engine position is almost there, we can tighten the bolts now," Fan Weimin said.

Jiang Hui carefully checked the position of the engine, and after confirming that there was no deviation, he began to tighten the bolts.

Then the engine wiring and piping were connected.

Because the original wiring in the vehicle was old and broken, Jiang Hui had to re-lay the wiring.

Fortunately, wire harnesses are relatively easy to buy.

However, there are many techniques involved; it's not something you can just do by randomly laying it on.

Instead, it is necessary to lay and connect the components little by little according to the engine's requirements, and carefully wrap each interface to prevent short circuits.

"Master, are there so many intricacies involved in connecting the wires?"

Fan Weimin asked as he laid the lines.

"Of course."

Jiang Hui said, "The engine's wiring is very complex, and different wirings have different functions."

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"We must connect the parts according to the engine's instruction manual. If we connect them incorrectly, the engine will not work properly and may even burn out."

"Furthermore, the wrapping of the wiring is also very important. It must be carefully wrapped with insulating tape to prevent the wiring from being exposed and causing short circuits."

The situation involves electrical leakage.

"Of course, there's no instruction manual for this car, so that's where your skills really come in."

Although there was no instruction manual, Jiang Hui had the system.

Under his guidance, the three of them connected the lines little by little, and before they knew it, the whole morning had passed.

After a quick lunch, they returned to work and didn't finish connecting all the engine wiring and piping until after 3 p.m.

"Next, we'll inspect the transmission, then install it, and try to complete the powertrain tuning as soon as possible."

.

"Yuanwu, go and bring over the gearbox of that SH760, let's inspect it together."

Lin Yuanwu and Fan Weimin worked together to lift the gearbox to the worktable. The three of them disassembled the gearbox and carefully inspected every gear and part.

"Fortunately, the gearbox isn't seriously damaged. We'll grind the gears, add some lubricant, and then we can install it."

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Lin Yuanwu had spent a lot of time with Li Shigui operating those devices during this period.

Grinding gears is a piece of cake for them.

Over the next few days, the three of them devoted themselves to the modification work.

Grinding the gearbox gears, installing the gearbox, adjusting the powertrain, modifying the chassis suspension, cleaning the car's exterior—every step was done meticulously.

During this time, Jack indeed came to check on the progress every other day. Seeing that the modification work was progressing in an orderly manner and the engine had been installed, Jack was very satisfied and praised Jiang Hui's modification skills.

"Director Jiang, your skills are amazing, even more professional than some of the modification mechanics I found in Europe."

Jack looked at Jiang Hui, who was adjusting the engine, and said with a smile.

Jiang Hui smiled and said, "Mr. Jack, please rest assured that we will complete the modification on time, guarantee the quality, and ensure your satisfaction."

Jack nodded: "I trust you. I can't wait to see what it will look like after the modifications are complete."

After seeing Jack off, Fan Weimin couldn't help but ask, "Master, since Jack is so satisfied, can we raise the modification fee to 20 yuan?"

Jiang Hui nodded: "Okay, let's see how it goes after the modifications are complete."

Afterwards, Jiang Hui and his team installed new tires and refurbished the interior.

The tire installation was relatively simple, and they quickly installed the four retro tires, adding a touch of vintage charm to the old car.

The interior renovation is more complicated. They use sandpaper to clean the used interior parts, then repaint them, replace the aging seat fabrics, and install new dashboards and radios.

"Master, how do you connect the wires on this instrument panel? It's different from what we usually use."

Fan Weimin held the dial and asked with a puzzled look.

Jiang Hui walked over, took the dial, examined it carefully, and said, "This is a retro-style dial from Mercedes-Benz. The wiring connections are different from ordinary dials."

Jiang Hui personally connected the dial's wiring bit by bit. After more than an hour of effort, he finally completed the installation of the dial. When he turned it on, the pointer on the dial rotated normally without any abnormalities.

"Jiang Hui, our modification work is almost complete. All that's left is to tune the chassis and clean the car body."

A few days later, looking at the brand-new Mercedes-Benz 170V in front of him, Lin Yuanwu's face was full of a sense of accomplishment.

"Yes, let's fine-tune the chassis and clean the car body, then we can notify Jack to come and inspect it."

The three worked together and quickly completed the chassis tuning and car body cleaning.

When Jack returned to the tuning shop and saw the modified Mercedes 170V, his eyes lit up.

He circled the car several times, carefully inspecting every detail, a satisfied smile spreading across his face: "Excellent, Director Jiang, you've done a perfect job. It's exactly what I imagined, even better than I expected."

Jiang Hui smiled and said, "I'm glad Mr. Jack is satisfied. Let's start the vehicle now so you can experience the effects of the modifications."

With that, he started the engine and Jack himself drove the vehicle around the roads near the modification shop.

Upon returning, he praised Jiang Hui's modification skills: "Director Jiang, your skills are outstanding. The power of this car is even better than I imagined, and the comfort is also excellent. I am very satisfied."

"I have no objection to the 20 yuan modification fee."

Jiang Hui smiled and said, "Thank you for your recognition, Mr. Jack. It is our honor to provide you with satisfactory modification services."

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"If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to contact us."