What have you done to your Pagoda today?

[Sweden_Mike]

I have had the underside on my car dry ice cleaned. All of the old gooey rust protection was removed in the process, exposing possible "issues". Exhaust, tank and rocker panel covers were removed. The black/grey paint under the rocker covers didn't seem to survive the dry ice treatment, unfortunately.

Anyhow, I made quite a lot of pictures of the whole underbody, including pics of tiny details. If anybody is interested in specific parts, please let me know and I will post.

Meanwhile, I'm trawling old threads elaborating on coat layers, colors, and manufacturing trivia, trying my best to understand the stuff under the car..

[Cees Klumper]

Hej Mike, your car looks quite alright in these pictures. Did you come across any surprises?

[Sweden_Mike]

Thanks Cees, I knew there would be surprises. On one hand you want keep to keep the goo on, happily not knowing what's underneath, but on the other hand, you desperately want to know what's lurking under the car. It's almost like Schrödinger's cat.

There are some spots that need to be taken care of. The PVC has cracked up in some places and in others it's like it's chipped. I hope it's not too bad.

[Sweden_Mike]

While looking at pictures from the ice blasting, I came across two things I didn't notice when taking the pics.

First, there seems to be brushed black/grey paint on the metal part (sorry, I don't know the name for it) just below the lamp house. The car paint looks as if it has been applied afterwards. I guess this is normal.

The second thing is the image "stuff2", there seems to be a textile piece hanging down from the spring. Is this meant to be there, or have someone managed to run over a shirt or something without noticing..?

[Jonny B]

Mike,

I believe there are some rubber under the springs that are covered in textile material. I would suspect that it is wear over time. Cool detail that the paint markings on the spring have survived so well.

[49er]

 Took the car out for a nice drive yesterday as the weather was ideal for a top down drive. We have been away traveling a bit this year so their hasn't been much driving time in our beloved SL so it was nice to get behind the wheel again. It still always amazes me just how much fun this 48 year old car is to drive especially with top down. Car ran great as always and the driver remembered his clutch "skills" too after driving a half dozen other cars with automatics this past month. Just like riding a bike, you never forget.

John

[star63]

Looks really good, Mike!

I think you're doing the right thing digging out those (very very few) rust spots and addressing them.
With a little paint and a few litres of cavity wax your car will survive in original shape at least for another 45 years   

[Sweden_Mike]

Thanks Petri!

Maybe loads of road dirt is a good protector after all(!) This is what it looked prior to blasting. Can't help posting a picture of a fuel line holder. People must think I'm nuts taking pictures of clamps.

[Howard Long]

Dear Mike,

I love seeing all your photos of your car with everything correct.  I would love to see the fuel line clamps for my car but they are somewhere in a box with lots of other parts.  Maybe one of these days.

Did you happen to get those 2 measurement on the rear inner fender that we talked about?

Howard
71 280SL 4-speed

[Shvegel]

Sweden_Mike,

The textile bit you are seeing is a piece of tape that was used to keep the rubber on the spring when the spring was installed.  This is listed in the factory repair manual as the correct way to retain the rubber.

[Sweden_Mike]

Thanks! I will leave the textile part as is for the moment, perhaps just make sure it's not flapping around.

@Howard, pm sent. I will get the car back from the mechanic next week, hopefully. Then I will get the measurements.

[Mike K]

Last year when I replaced my fuel injectors & posted some pics here, it was pointed out to me that the "slipper" /upper guide on the timing chain was fitted the wrong way around: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=23478.msg167881#msg167881

This has bothered me ever since, and today I had the time to sort this out. I removed the "slipper" / chain guide and flipped it around. All very straightforward, just had to make sure I didn't drop any bolts into the abyss below....

With the cylinder head cover off I also took the opportunity to replace the rubber gasket valve cover.

Best,
Mike

[Mike K]

I did an oil change, which I do every 1, 500 miles on my 132, 000 mile engine  -renewed oil filter & rubber seals in the filter housing.
I'm using Liqui Moly 15W40 High Tech mineral oil.

Also renewed the filter and sealing ring in the power steering fluid reservoir.

Best,

Mike

[neelyrc]

I removed the spare wheel and tire from the trunk space today to do some general clean-up work.  The rim and tire are the originals delivered with the car in 1969 and I thought a couple of pictures might be of interest.  Tire replacement is coming up after the holiday season and as I want to keep this set intact, I will be looking for an additional rim for mounting a spare for day to day use.

I also shot a couple of pictures today of the often discussed factory paint runs on the trunk lid.

Clean-up continues!

 

[Jonny B]

Ralph,

Great shots for history!

Have a wonderful Holiday season.

Jon

[Mechudo62]

After ordering a refurbished Kangol seat belt set, I had always wondered how Mercedes-Benz had dealt with its placement when not in use, in the late 1960's pre reel era. A simple anchoring buckle behind the seat back also seemed primitive and not well finished. Then at a Mercedes Club gathering I noticed that a friend's 4 door sedan had these covers with built in hangers for the seat belt buckles. I took a chance and  bought them on e-Bay, assuming they could fit my 1970 280SL. They simply snapped into place over the original shoulder anchor point and provided a way to keep the belts tidy. I am very happy with the way they complement my Pagoda's interior and recommend them as the perfect finishing touch.

[kpick]

Not only "What have you done today"  but many, many days in the future.

I purchased my first Pagoda today.  One owner with 55k miles.  100% complete with all parts present.

Lots of rust in the floors.  A friend purchased the car and started the work and ran out of steam.
I (wisely or foolishly) decided to take on another project.

Wish me luck and please allow me to ask a lot of uneducated questions.

K.

[Bonnyboy]

I think that will buff right out. 

Congrats on a wonderful choice. She looks great.

[Peter h]

Pull out the injektion pump.
Peter

[Cees Klumper]

Looks good Peter. Why did you pull it?

[Peter h]

Jerks in the lower speed. My friend Hans Fritzsche has designed a self-built electronic set-up machine.
It can calibrate the individual cylinders more precisely.
Peter

[Peter h]

Chrome is back. 
Peter

[Jonny B]

Wonderful! Pagoda jewelry!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Looks smashing Peter, will look even more smashing on the car!

Pictures brought back some memories when I refurbished my original 1987 BMW 535is for my daughter back in 2004. I did what you did removed all the chrome trim including the bumpers. All worked out well except for the bumpers. The bumpers started to peel in 2008 and my daughter was not very happy. Apparently the shop did something wrong is all I know.

Anyway, Kim and I used the same BMW dealership for our service since I drove a ///M3 at the time in 2008. So I ask the service rep to order two new bumpers from Germany and put them on the car next time Kim took her car for service. I told Mike the service rep if she ask questions just to tell her "the boys in the shop decided to give the bumpers a good polish" that of course did not last very long until she figured it out.

Dieter 

[guyke]

started yesterday at the small restauration , and making a list of al the parts needed to make her road ready , also started to clean untherneed the car to expose the rusty areas
i wil need
fuel pump inc cover
interior complete ( second hand)
2 headlights ( the ones in the car are so worn they are beound restauration) 
2 taillight
steering wheel ( depending on the color interior i wil choose black or white )
soft roof ( the one in the car is euhhhhh ........)
one chrome handle to release soft roof cover ( its missing )
interior mirror ( if i do not find one i wil restaure the one inside the car )
all the rubbers possible i can find ( they are almoast all worn by heat )
buschings from the shift handle , they fall out
all filters including tank filter
and i also buyd a getrag 265 in germany  5 speed

tomorow im gona shop in pagoda heaven , its a friend who has second hand parts , but he is not always willing to sell them so i hafe to persuade him  , im hoping to purschase a lot of stuff there ( it would safe me some $$$$$$$ )