Author Topic: My 1969 280SL Adventure over 34 years. (Read 8769 times)

su8pack1 · « **on:** April 03, 2016, 16:06:32 »

It all began in 1982 when the body shop next to my office that specialized in foreign cars found this for me, a one owner 1969 280SL. The original owners daughter took it for a spin.

They even knew to put the notches back in the fender back then.

Then over the years and only a few thousand miles, lots of maintenance, which I have done myself. First I has to stretch the soft top which had never been out of the boot and was several inches from latching in the back. I built a jig and stretched it back over 6 weeks.

Then years after that when the fabric was so dry and ripped, I installed a new soft top.

I've replaced the air vent levers twice , as well at the plastic shifter linkage grommets twice.

Due to work and family it sat for about six years which was a bad idea. The gas tank had to be removed and cleaned out, the fuel pump and all gas and brake lines and hoses were replaced along with rebuild calipers and new brakes.

My daughter used it for the wedding car.

I just recently cleaned up the hard top and put it on for the first time in 30 years.

Now I'm retired and have some time and have started a few new projects. I installed new injectors, rebuilt cold start valve, and removed and sent away the injector pump for a rebuild as it just wasn't right. As well as new motor mounts.

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More to come, new transmission mount, new exhaust donuts, and a new flex joint on order.

Waiting for parts.

Jonny B · « **Reply #1 on:** April 03, 2016, 16:32:15 »

Great shots! Especially like the one by the red fence.

ejboyd5 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 03, 2016, 19:22:31 »

A remarkable photo history that demonstrates your involvement with the car over the years. I've copied the picture of the top stretching as it is similar to what I used for a folded Corvette top but neglected to photograph. Now I can easily explain the process without using "a thousand words." Thanks.

By the way, I just noticed the left positioned poster on the wall in your pictures # 6 & 7. It is the one produced by Automobile Quarterly and the car in the lower right hand corner is mine, the picture having been taken in 1974 in Southold, NY.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 03, 2016, 21:06:00 »

Quote from: ejboyd5 on April 03, 2016, 19:22:31

A remarkable photo history that demonstrates your involvement with the car over the years. I've copied the picture of the top stretching as it is similar to what I used for a folded Corvette top but neglected to photograph. Now I can easily explain the process without using "a thousand words." Thanks.

By the way, I just noticed the left positioned poster on the wall in your pictures # 6 & 7. It is the one produced by Automobile Quarterly and the car in the lower right hand corner is mine, the picture having been taken in 1974 in Southold, NY.

That's really amazing about the AQ poster, the picture taken in 1974 and it's seen by you here in 2016. We're both getting old.

As for the soft top I sent that into the Star Magazine and it was included in the Sept/Oct issue 1987.

Kayvan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2016, 16:57:04 »

Nice story!

Waiting for parts pic is classic...often forgotten part of classsic car ownership

49er · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2016, 17:36:34 »

Great story and seeing the photos of the restoration you had to do are really something. Is that a '30 or '31 Model A I see in one of the photos? A '30 coupe with rumble seat was my first car

John

PS Congrats to your daughter too

su8pack1 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2016, 17:47:50 »

Quote from: 49er on April 05, 2016, 17:36:34

Great story and seeing the photos of the restoration you had to do are really something. Is that a '30 or '31 Model A I see in one of the photos? A '30 coupe with rumble seat was my first car

John

PS Congrats to your daughter too

It's a 1930 that I've had since 1963 when I was twelve.

49er · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2016, 18:17:36 »

I was 15 and didn't have my license yet so a friend of my brothers had to drive it home back in 1960. It was truly a barn find and it took me 4 years to restore it. Sold it to go to Europe in '65. Do you still drive yours as it looks to be in good shape? Here is a before and after of mine. Sure learned the basics bringing that car back to life.

John

stickandrudderman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 06, 2016, 14:12:23 »

Great story, great pictures!

su8pack1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2016, 02:55:48 »

Started on the transmission mount tonight. The cover plate was tough to get off as the muffler heat shield bolt access holes weren't lined up. I'll get the flex disc replaced tomorrow and put the new transmission mount in.

Sam SL · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2016, 14:08:31 »

Thanks for such a great story and the fact you took the pictures through the years is remarkable. 34 years ago we did not have the convenience of using a phone camera or even digital. It was old school, film.

Rolf-Dieter ✝︎ · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2016, 15:40:07 »

Sam,

Where in Canada are you? If you are in Ontario perhaps our paths may cross at one of the car shows. I always have spare Pagoda World issues and our club window stickers with me for someone with the same car or interest. Of course new Full Members get two Pagoda Word magazines per year (we started this just now) and some window stickers with there welcoming package.

All this for less then 8 cents per day, this kind of deal also was not available 34 years ago

our magazines are super and tell great stories from way back just like Superpack's then you do know all this having been around for quite some time.

Sam SL · « **Reply #12 on:** April 23, 2016, 18:30:45 »

Rolf, I'm on the west coast in Vancouver.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2016, 03:19:38 »

I finally received the last part for the flex joint (the fat o ring that goes on the end of the transmission shaft inside the center of the flex joint) and installed it tonight with the transmission mount. I should have my rebuilt injection pump back next week.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2016, 02:48:03 »

I got my rebuilt injection pump back and installed it tonight. I made sure I was at 20° ATDC with the rotor pointing to the #1 plug wire, and checked through the oil cap that both cam lobes were up. I will double check everything tomorrow and give it a try.

Just finished installing points, plugs, condenser, rotor, cap, fuel filter, changed the oil and oil filter, and the air filter. Still have to do the power steering filter and change the differential oil.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2016, 02:37:06 »

Started her this morning, and after about 20 seconds to get the gas through she started right up. I made a few adjustments to the distributer and she runs great. It hasn't run this good in 25 years.

https://youtu.be/JGY7ccwiCi0

su8pack1 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 06, 2016, 21:38:59 »

Just changed the differential fluid tonight.

Also changed the power steering fluid and filter.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 07, 2016, 19:44:42 »

I just finished a good detailing, and now I am ready for the summer. It's been a busy winter and spring, with just a few minor details yet to look into.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2016, 00:33:08 »

With the new motor mounts, transmission mount, and a rebuilt injection pump and tune up, the engine is running so smooth I put a nickel on the valve cover on end and it stayed put. It's leaning against the star just to keep it from rolling back with the tilt of the engine, but it stayed there at 750 RPM.

https://youtu.be/E-AoSulltu8

Jonny B · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2016, 00:38:51 »

Just noticed the "BFGoodrich" sign in the background. I have a vertical one. I also worked for Goodrich for about 25 years (chemicals side - we supplied some chemicals to the tire group).

kampala · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2016, 05:16:15 »

Very nice. Enjoy the next 34 years.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 25, 2016, 02:59:30 »

Took it to a small local show this past weekend and won Peoples Choice against some nice other cars. Nice way to cap all the work since last fall.

su8pack1 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2016, 02:32:46 »

Today again someone wanted to buy the tires right off my car. I put them on in 1982 and the car is always garaged, I put it up on jacks and lower the pressure during the winter. They have less than 2000 miles and show no dry rot. I only use it for shows and never drive it very fast, so I'm not too concerned, but I do inspect them regularly.

mbzse · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2016, 09:47:23 »

Kind of like your plate at the front

/Hans S

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Author Topic: My 1969 280SL Adventure over 34 years. (Read 8769 times)

Kayvan