Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: TheEngineer on October 30, 2004, 17:09:10

Title: Dented Air Cleaner Housing
Post by: TheEngineer on October 30, 2004, 17:09:10

My air cleaner housing, a black sheet metal can, has a dent where the air intake canal is. Because of the location of the dent, I can not just pound the dent out from the inside. The dent does probably not affect the function and it is not visible with the air cleaner installed. Any bright ideas anyone? I found a used air cleaner from a 230SL and bought it. I assumed, that it was the same, but it is quite different. Yes, I know, it's those first 3 letters of the word "assumed" that get you.
1969 280SL,Signal Red,  Retired engineer, West- Seattle, WA(http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/theengineer/20041031121053_Drehstern.gif)

Title: Re: Dented Air Cleaner Housing
Post by: Jonny B on October 31, 2004, 13:02:28

Perhaps one of those dent removal shops, Dent Wizard or the like??

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Title: Re: Dented Air Cleaner Housing
Post by: Ed Cave on October 31, 2004, 18:26:21

Leave it to "The Engineer" to include a polished chrome, rotating Mercedes Benz Star in his signature.

Very nice!

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL

Title: Re: Dented Air Cleaner Housing
Post by: George Davis on November 01, 2004, 09:27:10

I don't have any great DIY ideas, but if you feel like spending a few bucks, a body shop should be able to pull the dent out for you pretty easily using a stud welder, sometimes called a "spitznagel".  A nail-like stud is welded to the dent, then a slide hammer is used to grab the stud and pull it out.  When done, the studs are ground off.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

Title: Re: Dented Air Cleaner Housing
Post by: Malc on November 02, 2004, 14:53:49

Blocks of wood, cut to shape
A long bar, pipe etc
Clamp it down using ratchet straps etc
gently lever the dent out using the wood as rests
Should work,
if your careful
Malc