Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: 66andBlue on May 10, 2006, 22:03:21
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After pestering all of you with many questions during the past months to get the car ready for painting and new upholstery I thought it is about time that I show you what I am up to and what happened to the car.
Well, actually the real reason is that my wife asked me point blank today "are you sure you are REALLY making progress?" :?
I guess I am very much in need of some moral support!
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Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic
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I see why she said that!
It looks like progress to me, definitely. Are you going to strip it to metal?
Good luck.
1967 230SL (Manual)
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That was a beautiful car before this happened! ;-)
Reminds me of my home improvement project going on right now. Things always seem to get a lot worse before they actually improve. Then, after the 90% preparatory work, the final 10% finishing makes all the difference and you come out way ahead of where you started. Hang in there, once the new paint is on you will catch your second wind ...
Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic
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Awwww, Alfred,
(Finally someone with a name as old-fashioned as mine; my Norwegian grandfather's name!)
Cees is spot on; the paint will really raise your spirits. Carling went from dull to fabulous with new paint. Good luck on the last (well, when is it ever the "last"??) leg of your restoration.
Surely the experienced guys here can provide you with a snappy comeback when the naysayers start. Do a number of you have less-than-sympathetic family members? I know my neighbors think I'm crazy when they see my normally fashionable figure grovelling around under Carling...
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes.
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Hi Alfred if its any consolation I am in exactly the same position although m,y car didn't look as good as your to begin with !
My other problem is that having stripped it myself and trailered it to a bodyshop, I just hope I'll remember where to put everything back !
Bear in mind these cars will increase in value but also that the cost of parts and labour is only going to rise also so the sooner you start and finish the cheaper the job will be !
See photos,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/BeCos/DSCF0015.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/BeCos/DSCF0013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/BeCos/DSCF0012.jpg
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
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Hello 66an blue,
Hang in there :) Beauty lies upon the eyes of the beholder and your pagoda, though its in its restoration state is still beautiful to behold. It was already beautiful to begin with so I am sure that after you are done it will truly be the envy of your friends and neighbors :)
Cheers
Joel-j
1969 280sl auto
White exterior
Blue interior
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Whew Alfred, that is a comprehensive strip down.
Don't make the same mistake I did and leave the oil pressure line unplugged. Got a nice reward like a Herbie moment on my shoes and pants.
Remove the sticker from the drivers door and cover up the door striker area with tape. No need for overspray on these areas. All rubber seals removed?
Remove the sillcovers, so they remain black and get the area behind painted. If in any case, keep on moving forward. It took me 7 years to move from a grey prmer car to a finished DB180 silver color. Now all that's left is a wetsand and polish. Then the 220SL is out of the garage for a daily drive-of course weather permitting.
Walter Klatt
1967 220SL diesel
1963 230SL gas
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Remember: It is not education, it's not intelligence, it's persistence that gets you there. Remember Edison: He tried hundreds of materials to come up with a filament that would not burn up in his lightbulb. In the end it was pumping the air out of the bulb that did it. It's always PERSISTENCE.
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That reminded me of an old topic I posted, http://sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=2407+examined (see the two photos in the original topic message at the top)
But Alfred I must say, I'm sure it feels great knowing you are well on your way.
Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA
1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0
2006 GS430
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Thanks everyone for the comments and encouragements!
Yes, it was a nice car, that’s why I bought it for my wife 3 years ago.
But as a California car I guess it didn’t like the Midwestern weather changes because during the last two years the MB-Tex really started to change to a brownish color (I blame the plasticizer for that) and it also started to shrink around the dash and the soft-top cover lid (the foam underneath had totally disintegrated) exposing the metal. So, after a few “can’t you fix this?” the decision was made to change to leather and upholster everything. Little did I know that in order to get all the MB-Tex trim off you have to remove the windshield! The carpets were not in good shape either, so lets do that too.
And as many of you know, one thing leads to another: once you have the tachometer out, wood trim off, why not check the O-ring in the heater core valve, right? Then the many different little paint jobs started to show, no major repairs, just overspraying here and there. OK, lets fix that too but since she likes the light-blue (“hellblau”) color I had to promise that it would not change. At the same time we can also take care of the very small rust bubbles around the chrome trim on each rear fender before it gets worse. So most likely we'll take it down to metal, just to be sure. And Walt thanks for your suggestion to take the sill covers off and paint behind. The painter will also spray wax in all cavities where possible. But I cannot figure out what you mean to leave "the oil pressure line unplugged". Which line, and why?? :?:
I am enjoying it a lot and without this challenge I probably wouldn’t have met all you very helpful Pagoda fans!
Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic
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A --
Glad to hear your wife loves the "hellblau"; DB334 is probably the ONLY thing my wife like about ours (rather, mine...).
Keep up the good work: there's light at the end of the tunnel!
LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl - auto
DB334/Hellblau
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Hello All,
it is about time to let you know that there is progress - very slooow but still a little faster than glacial speed :)
And yes those red heater hoses that made Joe Alexander and kbailey squint are gone now! [see http://sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=5600] [:0]
Not everything is connected yet in the engine bay but If any of you spot something that's horribly wrong please let me know.
Thanks!
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Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic
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Alfred,
Boy, it looks beautiful!! I'm ready to ship mine down from Nebraska and have you oversee it's transformation!
Tim Dunagan
1971 280 SL
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Looks very nice Alfred. Just be sure to remove that rachet before you install the air filter!
James
63 230SL
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Yes that looks wonderful and it IS encouraging since my car was stripped last year and went to the body shop in February. I havent seen it since...........(mmmm must check eBay :mrgreen: )
Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
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Hello friends,
I thought it is time for an update: the car (and we) are back in California - North Sand Diego County to be precise - hooray! :D
At the last minute I managed to to get almost everything back on the car. As you'll notice still missing are the hub caps and beauty rings because I could not get the rings mounted. I suspect the balancing weights on the outside interfere. Also the car now smokes quite noticeable because after the engine and transmission went back in again not enough time was spent to adjust the linkages. But next week I'll hand the car over to a local repair shop that specializes in old MBs and hope that we'll be able to enjoy some of the scenic drives here very soon.
(http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/66andBlue/20071116125_Back%20in%20Southern%20California_1.jpg)
(http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/66andBlue/200711161345_Back%20in%20Southern%20Cal_2.jpg)
Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic
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Hi Alfred,
Looks great! Please keep us posted, and we like pictures.
Regards,
Bob
bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320
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Gorgeous color combination, by the way. One of my favorites!
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch...
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Alfred
It looks like you have been channeling my car ca. 1977 through Kenny Mitts, I did'nt realise they were so similar. Hopefully in the not too distant future my SL will again be as nice looking as yours. Currently I'd settle for it looking like your "before" pictures.
BTW. I don't miss being in Missouri at all when winter starts rolling in.
Al Lieffring
66 230SL
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Hey Alfred! Welcome to Hotel California. Now you are only the equivalent of 4 states away from me!!
And I think you need to change your Username to 66 and VERYBlue! Car looks good though...
James
63 230SL
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Alfred,
It's great to see the car back on the road again. It looks great. Can't wait to see shots of the engine bay and interior (subtle hint).
James
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quote:
Originally posted by jameshoward
.. Can't wait to see shots of the engine bay and interior (subtle hint).
Hi James,
shall do once I have my main computer and camera set up again. I am currently limited to my lap top until we have unpacked and spruced up the the house.
Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic