Author Topic: What have you done to your Pagoda today?  (Read 403857 times)

Gary Crutchley

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #150 on: November 10, 2012, 05:17:51 »
Took my car to a classis Mercedes specialist for a look over and to come up with a plan.  Good news is that it’s not too bad.  The report was generally complimentary.  A few issues here and there but no real surprises (except maybe some body filler in the rear valance).  Some minor fettling of the linkages was carried out on the spot!  It’s always a nerve wracking experience when an expert starts looking around your prized possession with a flash light.  Garry, I saw your car there looking glorious with a new paint job that I’m told me will look even better when final buffing is completed.  I’d be keen to hear how you are sourcing your soft top in terms of materials and fitting etc.

Cheers
Gary 

Alf

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #151 on: November 30, 2012, 00:08:55 »
Put the hard top on ready for winter tonight. Hadn't driven the Pagoda for about a month due to a combo of heavy work travel commitment and bad weather. So, went for a 20 minute drive. My goodness, after a month of driving 'moderns', it makes you appreciate just how nice to drive the Pagoda is. Such well balanced controls and a feeling of oneness with the car
Alf
'69 280SL. Silver (180 G) with black hardtop

Flyair

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #152 on: November 30, 2012, 08:04:21 »
As my Pagoda is (and still will be for a while at renovation shop), I can only mention what is the current stage. Yesterday I got hold of a beefy box containing all seals for the body and engine compartment as well as the diamond shaped firewall pad. All bought from one of Members (see who sells diamond shaped firewalls ;). Now, I was told by my mechanician that they are proceeding with remanufacturing of the engine and gear box as well as with galvanization of all parts that it is suitable for.
I hope to see the car on Saturday.

By the way, there is just an incredible wood restorer that I can recommend, based on what I have experienced. The guy is able to turn scrap stuff into shiny and joyful part that would adorn one's car again.
I must say that looking at pics on his website is a pure pleasure, but seeing it in real is a must. Too bad he is located in North Poland, quite away from everywhere :). The website is in English and German. If you click at the pic showing a Mercedes, it will open showing many models, including our lovely-one.

http://www.autodrewno.com/en/index.php

hope you enjoy it :)
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

Larry & Norma

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #153 on: November 30, 2012, 09:27:42 »
Nice work, a craftsman :) :)
Larry Hall (Gnuface)
2023 Ioniq6
2005 C230
1970 280SL

zoegrlh

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #154 on: November 30, 2012, 12:21:34 »
Just added new badge to front grill, AACA Senior Award.  Also working on the wiring of rear fog lamp.  It's ready for winter.
Bob
Robert Hyatt
Williamsburg, VA.

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R172 2012 SLK350, Black Premium leather 801 on Mars Red 590, 7-speed auto
W211, 2007 E320 Bluetec, Cashmere MB Tex 144 on Arctic White 650, 7 speed auto

dean

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #155 on: December 05, 2012, 05:46:51 »
toady I drove it with the top down in new York city IN DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  PRICELESS!

Garry

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #156 on: December 05, 2012, 09:34:15 »
Well I was having a total engine rebuild and whilst the engine was out decided to overhaul the front end so that was out as well.  With that out I was able to have a through inspection of all the metal around the bay and to my horror have found some rust in my rust free car around under the drain tubes on the firewall as well as some rust in the bottom of the front cross member at one end as the drains were blocked.  All can be fixed but it means that everything around the engine bay will need to be removed, again, as we were in the process of putting everything back together. Well at least I wanted to paint the engine bay whilst everything is out, along with painting the rest of the car whilst all the chrome is off, may as well put in new carpet whilst at it, oh and remove the ugly air conditioner and whilst everything is off and the engine apart, can do all the cad plating, overhaul all the ancillary equipment in the engine bay, paint all the black bits etc etc  etc.  Getting to sound like a 3/4 restoration.  All I wanted to do was an engine overhaul.  Did I say chrome off, well may as well re-chrome some of the pieces, well actually quite a few items.  Cheaper to replace the bumpers whilst we are at it as well.

Now what have I done to my Pagoda today. I will be at it for another couple of months at this rate.
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

J. Huber

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #157 on: December 10, 2012, 04:16:21 »
Pretty nice day here today -- so I took a nice top-down spin. Felt good to get some December exercise. Then decided to do my annual oil and filter change. Felt good to get my hands a little dirty too. And yes, took my ceremonial peek to make sure the oil "garden hose" seal was present!
James
63 230SL

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #158 on: December 10, 2012, 21:10:14 »
Pretty nice day here today -- so I took a nice top-down spin. Felt good to get some December exercise. Then decided to do my annual oil and filter change. Felt good to get my hands a little dirty too. And yes, took my ceremonial peek to make sure the oil "garden hose" seal was present!
Hi James,
 Glad to hear you and your SL had a chance to enjoy the nice weather we had last Sunday. We were out and about (in our "ordinary" car) and thought about taking a drive ourselves but by the time we got home things had turned a bit too chilly for the navigator. I am torn between leaving the soft top up this winter or putting the hard top back on. Since I have it on it's stand it is just sort of outta sight, outta mind. Also I always get a wee bit nervous when that HT is over the car and lowered down into place. Besides you just never know when another nice (as in warm) day might come along ;)
 Big countdown has started here for Christmas. Could somebody tell me where the year went??

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

Montreal V8

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #159 on: December 11, 2012, 05:40:27 »
Finished the installation of a Getrag five speed (Overdrive 5th) and did a few miles road test - most satisfactory. The four speed ratios seem to be better spaced than in the standard four speed box, and 5th should prove a nice improvement for freeway driving. Overalll I consider it a worthwhile excercise.

ricrose

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #160 on: December 11, 2012, 21:17:14 »
I have been using the Pagoda as everyday transport while staying for a couple of weeks down on the Gippsland Lakes (400k's from home) doing some boat maintenance.
Just before I left I did a through service and as I have now been using the car regularly for a couple of years now it has really 'shaken down'.

However - the one thing I had never done was a decent night time drive. I had driven back from functions within the city - but always with street lights. It happened that I couldn't leave until after 9.00pm one night. I had the hard top on - it was a cool but not cold night and I was alone. I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed a driving as much as I did that night.  ;D ;D
As there wasn't much traffic I sat towards the middle of the road (after dark we need to be careful of kangaroos and wombats that can do a LOT of damage). The car was AWESOME - great engine note and lighting - sitting on 110kph the whole way. The one thing you notice is how dark the rest of the car is - on a 230 no lit gear selector (auto) or any other ambient lighting.

If you have never taken your car on a cross country drive well after dark - do it - the darkness enhances the senses - the engine note becomes sweeter and the car really comes into it's own!

Richard

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #161 on: December 11, 2012, 22:33:52 »
Hello Richard,
 Sounds like you had a great ride. We often take "Sunset" top down drives in the summer here and usually by the time we pull into our driveway it is completely dark with no street lights for miles. Nothing beats those drives with stars over head and that unique sound our cars exhaust makes. And I know what you mean about the instrument lighting. It is certainly subdued by today's standards but colorful all the same. Our car is US spec so the sealed beams don't light up the road like the Euro versions but we can normally drive with the high beams as we have these country roads to our selves. We have to keep an eye out for deer (no roos in these parts:-) and other critters.

 Hope you have many more enjoyable days ahead in your Pagoda

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

ricrose

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #162 on: December 12, 2012, 01:33:24 »
Hi John

It was magical - unfortunately no one was with me to also enjoy it.  :-\
I have not upgraded the lighting, just cleaned the lenses and reflectors as they were really filthy. The Euro lights really are great, just no necessity to upgrade the lamps to halogen or any other mods.

Richard

J. Huber

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #163 on: December 13, 2012, 17:47:48 »
Hi James,
... I am torn between leaving the soft top up this winter or putting the hard top back on. Since I have it on it's stand it is just sort of outta sight, outta mind. Also I always get a wee bit nervous when that HT is over the car and lowered down into place. Besides you just never know when another nice (as in warm) day might come along ;) ...

John

Hey 49er. Well, I face that "to Hard-top or Not-to-Hard-top" dilemma every year. The car sure does look snappy with it on -- really changes the driving experience too. But then again, here in Northern Ca we will get such great stretches of sunshine that having the top down and at the ready is sure nice... Then there is the trusty soft-top up look -- a mere 60 seconds or so from tucked away??? Hmmmm. More often than not, I seem to vote for Hard-top staying against the wall. But you never know. I thought I had it all figured out when I got a hoist -- but we know how that turned out  ::).

Present state: HT OFF -- ST DOWN
James
63 230SL

J. Huber

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #164 on: December 13, 2012, 17:54:40 »
Hi John

It was magical - unfortunately no one was with me to also enjoy it.  :-\
I have not upgraded the lighting, just cleaned the lenses and reflectors as they were really filthy. The Euro lights really are great, just no necessity to upgrade the lamps to halogen or any other mods.

Richard

A man and his Pagoda -- what more is there?  :)

I agree that everyone needs to take a night drive once in a while to get that sensation. It always sends me back to when I was 16 -- and once or twice snuck the car out for a drive when my parents were not home. Shame shame. I know but I couldn't help it! Anyway, it was cool seeing the dimly lit gauges and the colorful control panels. Just the right amount of reds, blues, and greens to feel really European and sporty.
James
63 230SL

71Beige280SL

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #165 on: December 13, 2012, 18:21:07 »
Ah...the hardtop dilema. I have a teenage daughter who is 4'11" and 90 lbs...my wife is 5'1" and 105 lbs. I tried just once to solicit their help to put the hardtop on. We were successful but, it was nerve wracking. The two of them on one side, me on the other...I'm sure you can picture it! Not having a hoist, I now ask my neighbor's teenage son to help but not very often. Hardtop has been off for 14 months. It sits in its padded rack with a nice cover. Probably stay that way for another 14 months. The new soft top needs to be stretched anyway! 
- 1971 280SL Beige/Cognac Leather
- 2024 Mercedes GLE 350
- 2023 AMG C43 Cabriolet

awolff280sl

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #166 on: December 18, 2012, 12:20:33 »
Central locking and Security system:
Driving the Pagoda as often as I do, I've had it with fidgeting with my keys to lock and unlock the doors.
Almost everything is available in kit form. Installation is not all that complicated and is easily adapted to the Pagoda because, as it turns out, our door looking mechanisms appear to be the same as those used on the sedans. In other words, there is a tab with a hole in it that is used for those cars that have vertical push-down/pop-up buttons to lock the doors. These tabs can be used  to hook to the actuators which can be mounted directly below. It is a direct shot, no bending or drilling needed, except for some small screws to mount the actuators. An original MB "rod locking ring" can be used to hold the actuator's rod in the hole in the tab.
Running the wires (5 for each actuator) is painstaking in order to do neatly. 1/2" holes needed to be drilled in each door, and pre-existing holes in each door post had to be enlarged to run the wires into the cabin through rubber accordion loom tubing. From there, the wires hide behind the kick panels and run to a 2" square control box hidden at the front of the driver's kick panel. Refusing to stop there, I hooked the control box to a security system "brain", mounted a small fusebox on the kick panel, and wired in the parking lights, siren, and several sensors.
Final result: When I lock the car with the remote keyfob, the siren chirps once, the parking lights flash once, the doors lock, and the alarm is set. A "dual field" sensor will emit warning chirps when anyone gets close enough to touch the windows, and sets off the alarm and lights if the cabin is entered. A sound sensor is mounted in the trunk near the lock to deter tampering there. A tilt sensor is placed under the parcel shelf to deter jacking, and a backup battery is placed there as well in case the alarm is disabled by heavy duty wire cutters on the battery cable.
Unlocking the car with the remote also turns off the security system, turning the ignition key automatically locks or unlocks the doors. and manually locking one door will automatically lock the other door.
Enough for now.
Andy   Sarasota, FL
'69 280SL 4speed
'06 Mitsubishi Evo

Jordan

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #167 on: December 18, 2012, 13:16:56 »
Wow.  Andy, do you have photographs showing the entire process?  This might be something to add to the wiki for others that want to do it.  How long did it take you and what were the sources for the materials you needed. ???
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed

awolff280sl

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #168 on: December 18, 2012, 13:23:48 »
I forgot to take pictures, but I don't think it's crucial. I'll put the materials, wiring diagram, and instructions in the wiki, under accessories.
Andy   Sarasota, FL
'69 280SL 4speed
'06 Mitsubishi Evo

Jordan

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #169 on: December 19, 2012, 19:51:45 »
Dropped the rad out of the bottom of the car (much easier removing the front grill and the battery for getting at the bolts either side) to get it recored.  Went for three cores instead of the existing two.  While the rad was out replaced the water pump and both belts and cleaned up the front end of the engine.  Probably scraped and washed a kilogram of crap off the front end.  Cleaned the plastic fan back to its glorious yellow.  Replaced the pump and fan bolts with new stainless.  Repainted the rad when I got it back, ordered new rubber spacers for the rad and reinstalled.  Did my final test today running the engine up to temp and no leaks (knock on wood).  Won't know if it will run cooler until next summer.  Almost certainly would not have attempted this myself without the help of this site and special thanks to Dan and Joe for their assistance.   ;D ;D
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed

Garry

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #170 on: December 20, 2012, 04:05:39 »
Finally started to get the engine back together.

Here is the new head with all new parts. and new pistons in block.

Woohooo
Garry Marks
Melbourne/ Kyneton, Brisbane. Australia
1969 MB 280SL 5 speed RHD SOLD.
1965 MB 230SL Auto RHD Lt Blue 334G, Top 350H, 213 Leather, Tourist Delivery.
1972 MB 280CE Auto RHD 906G Blue Grey
2005 MB A200.
2006 MB B200
2019 Izuzu DMax 4x4 with Slide-on camper.
2022 Volvo XC40 Twin Electric

Larry & Norma

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #171 on: December 20, 2012, 09:29:13 »
Looking good Garry 8)
Larry Hall (Gnuface)
2023 Ioniq6
2005 C230
1970 280SL

France

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #172 on: December 21, 2012, 13:54:46 »
Gave Carling her pre-Christmas Italian tuneup in the warm sun!  Happy Christmas, all.
Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Austrian Alps
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...

awolff280sl

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #173 on: January 01, 2013, 02:59:40 »
3rd Brakelight: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As a frequent passenger, my wife has been after me to install a third brakelight for safety sake. Never found one I liked, until now.
The product is called Brakelighter, http://www.jandlenterprise.com/  No vested interest or ulterior motives.
Easy to install, instructions are straight forward. The light wedges securely against the back glass without fasteners or adhesives in our cars.
Wire is easily hidden between the softop cover and the back shelf of the hardtop. I installed a male-female power connector at the parcel shelf (can be hidden under the parcel shelf) for easy removal.
Wires can be run from the brakelights, into the softop compartment via the softop hinge opening and then down to the parcel shelf, and completely hidden.
No holes were drilled. Removing the chrome soft top hinge cover reveals existing holes that allow passage of the wires from the softop compartment down to the parcel shelf.


Andy   Sarasota, FL
'69 280SL 4speed
'06 Mitsubishi Evo

Flyair

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Re: What have you done to your Pagoda today?
« Reply #174 on: January 06, 2013, 17:00:35 »
Just got hold of about 10 boxed of parts that arrived over the Holiday period, including one from SLS with a list of 20 parts. Now I will get it to mechanics tomorrow so that they would start the final part of the renovation my Pagoda is enjoying… as much as I am BTW :)
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA