Author Topic: Cleanup of under carrage  (Read 2050 times)

Pinder

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Cleanup of under carrage
« on: November 28, 2022, 03:50:08 »
I’ve spent several weeks cleaning up the underside of the car. Mostly it’s a detailed degreasing followed by paint. I also removed the fuel lines and installled a new gas vapor line. Not sure if that’s the correct term.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2022, 03:56:48 »
While I was at it I also spent some time with an old tooth brush and mineral spirts to clean the diff. Mineral spirits work well to decrease. It’s a time consuming process. But with a good set of headphones and some good tunes it’s satisfying work.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2022, 04:03:11 »
Another view with cleanup of the trailing arms. I did not paint the diff just minor touch up with paint and buff to give it a matte finish with green scotch pad.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2022, 04:08:37 »
I wanted to show the separation of each of the major components; the exhaust. Hand brake mechanicals and the gas lines vapor  and break lines
. Detail the dot ology etc. cleanup of diff. I’m happy with the results. Mineral spirits seems to not affect the original black paint or the dot ology. But I was very careful on the dots.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

ja17

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2022, 04:43:24 »
Nice job! Where is everyone getting the original looking white/Beige undercoating?
Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio
1969 Dark Olive 280SL
2002 ML55 AMG (tow vehicle)
2002 SLK32 AMG (350 hp)
1982 300TD Wagon turbo 4spd.
1963 404 Mercedes Unimog (Swedish Army)
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Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2022, 05:12:27 »
Joe

 I did not attempt to match the undercoat . After cleaning it was some darker beige and  lighter off white color. My car is light ivory so I just used that color. 
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Figoulu

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2022, 10:53:46 »
Interested to know which process you used to clean so well ?
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Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2022, 14:15:30 »
Here is the process I used. I was lucky in the sense this car has a undercoating  that was 99% intact and no rust repair was needed so it was mainly to remove dirt / grease and what looked like at some point someone painted parts of it with a black paint that dissolved easily with Mineral Spirts or gasoline and in some cases it may have been just dirt as it also, with some effort, came off with Fantastic cleaner.

Cleaning supplies used:
Green Scotch scrubbing pads.
Latex gloves for protection and  eye protection.
Lacquer thinners for some stubborn spots.
Mineral Spirits for degrease.
tooth brush used to scrub nuts and bolts and small difficult areas.


Process:
1. Jack up car and put on jack stands so that I can move around under the car on a crawler.
2. Remove exhaust and heat shield, disconnect handbrake cables at two spots to drop them away from underside.
3. Remove fuel lines from car for detailed cleaning. Kept the brake line from front to back in place to avoid having to re do brake fluid.
4. remove old vapour line and replace with new. (on my car this runs from front of engine to plastic tank in trunk)
5. using scotch pad or tooth brush dipped in Mineral spirits working small areas at a time scrub underside then wipe away with a cloth or paper towels. This will take weeks to complete depending on your tolerance to working in this awkward position. I broke the task up into 1 foot x 1 foot sections.  I generally try to clean i with the least harsh chemical which maybe just soap / dishwashing liquid. If that does not work then try the mineral spirits and if that don't work try lacquer thinner or some also suggested parafin. I tried gasoline too but the smell is terrible.
6. After this process is complete and if you want to you can paint the underside. (originally I was going to leave it natural but after seeing some cars painted I thought it looked good and as my car color is very close to what I think the undercoat was I went ahead and painted it in small sections at a time spraying it on in the flat areas and using a small paint brush to apply it in difficult areas like behind the springs and differential.  The paint I used is high gloss which I think was a good choice. I thought that if I didn't like the gloss look I could always dull it with 0000 wool. But turns out I like the final results.
7. while the exhaust is out I cleaned and painted that in Satin look.  Also cleaned the heat shield using the scotch pads and dish washing liquid.
8. Painted the clamps that helped the fuel / brake lines in gold paint.  Cleaned all the lines and then re installed after the paint process is done.

I hope that helps. The only downside I can see in doing this is I am reluctant to   to drive it as it looks too clean now.

Pinder
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2022, 14:22:02 »
This is picture before painting and removal of lines.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Figoulu

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2022, 15:43:51 »
This is picture before painting and removal of lines.

quiet a nice job...
Mine is really worse... and I believe I need to cure the leaks before...
1965 230 SL
1991 Porsche 911/964 carrera 2
1990 Porsche 911/964 carrera 4 SOLD
2020 Harley Davidson Fatboy
2018 Harley Davidson Street Bob SOLD
2003 Harley Davidson Road King Classic SOLD
2017 Harley Davidson softail Slim SOLD
2008 Harley Davidson Softail Fatboy SOLD

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Brandini

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2022, 15:47:32 »
Looking good!
Brandon
1964 Mercedes 230SL - red
Seattle, WA

jKrashnburn

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2022, 18:59:06 »
........looks good.......just the kind of cleanup I'm contemplating.

Had you considered an initial cleanup with a power washer? Seems like that might be a time saver.
John
1957 190SL 8500074 (RIP?)
1968 280SL 11304410006390 (RIP?)
1969 280SL 113044120011428 - Light Beige/Cognac

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2022, 19:25:44 »
I did initial cleanup with power washer in wheel wells to get off any mud etc.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

zak

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2022, 19:53:58 »
Wow great job. Concours ready ! I t really looks new under there.
What are the gas vapor lines ? The fuel lines ?

jz
1967 250 SL
1983 280 SL
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Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2022, 21:06:26 »
its the black plastic pipe that runs between the brake and return fuel line. I believe its used to vent gas vapor from the tank to the engine. I think only the later cars 70 and 71 will have it as part of emission's.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

zak

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #15 on: November 29, 2022, 22:21:25 »
Thanks. This car looks to be the clear winner at next years NJ June Jamboree !
Would love to see it.

jz
1967 250 SL
1983 280 SL
2015 ML 250 Bluetec
2007 ML CDI
2004 E 320 Wagon
1999 E300 Turbodiesel

MikeSimon

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2022, 14:28:06 »
Thanks. This car looks to be the clear winner at next years NJ June Jamboree !
Would love to see it.

jz

After cleaning it up, he will not be driving it!! ;D ;D
1970/71 280SL Automatic
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Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #17 on: November 30, 2022, 22:17:22 »
Ill drive it on a dry day and avoid fresh pot hole fills.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

StevenF

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2022, 23:55:24 »
Pinder,
I love the job you did.  One day we have to do it on my car!
Fantastic look!
Steven
1971 280sl
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Bamboo MB Tex

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #19 on: December 01, 2022, 00:13:35 »
Thank you Steven. Yes its a well worth effort and presents well.  a good winter project. I actually started the process a long time ago and just spend a hour here and there working on small sections with a tooth brush and cleaners and house hold cleaners. My wife was wondering were all her dish washing gloves would disapear.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

Raymond

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #20 on: December 03, 2022, 14:18:04 »
Fantastic job!  How did you collect all the falling fluids and old greasy dirt?
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

Pinder

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Re: Cleanup of under carrage
« Reply #21 on: December 03, 2022, 15:07:23 »
Mostly i wiped small areas at a time so most of it ends up on paper towels and any old rags I used. Some made it to my garage floor and cleaned it up later. I plan to do a proper cleaning of my garage floor when I get round to it.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.