Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Wanted To Buy => Topic started by: col320ce on January 29, 2021, 11:43:52
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My front grille surround is a little damaged so I'm looking for an undamaged second hand one to either buy or borrow whilst the front of the car is made straight. If need be I can put my old one back until I can afford to do the chrome work properly.
I'm in Melbourne Australia...
Thanks
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I was always told that when doing front body work on these cars it’s a long process of constantly fitting the grille on/off to make sure that the seams are correct and a proper fit. The grilles can be a little different. I have seen many beautiful cars with terribly fitted grilles.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in here on best practices but I think getting your grille fixed(straightened) first and then make sure the front body work fits to it.
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https://www.sls-hh-shop.de/main/en/bargain-sale-products-mercedes-w113-230-280sl-c-4075_4077/chromed-nose-frame-repro-b-quality-p-136425
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I was always told that when doing front body work on these cars it’s a long process of constantly fitting the grille on/off to make sure that the seams are correct and a proper fit. The grilles can be a little different. I have seen many beautiful cars with terribly fitted grilles.
Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in here on best practices but I think getting your grille fixed(straightened) first and then make sure the front body work fits to it.
I am not of more knowledge, but what I know is this: fit the body to the chrome you are going to have, the same very piece. That is my chassis guy keep repeating - whether it is a grille, bumper, headlight, rear light - he wanted me to give him my exact pieces that will be fit later even if it caused delays (it did in case of early version 190SL rear lights).
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I was always told that when doing front body work on these cars it’s a long process of constantly fitting the grille on/off to make sure that the seams are correct and a proper fit.
You were told correctly, Fatboy.
When I had my car restored, and needed a surround, first call was to Tim Kidder at K&K. "Do you want one that fits, or is one that doesn't fit so well OK?" He was talking about OEM versus reproduction from "somewhere in eastern Europe". Dilemma...
Then I found a guy on eBay from LA, with a shady reputation. He had full, re-chromed surrounds for $600. So I got one. The restorer gets it, claims it's beautiful, but doesn't fit. Rising above his reputation, he sends a second one. That too, same result. Finally he sends a THIRD one. Restorer calls me. "Good news is, we got one that fits! Bad news is, it's not rechromed!" So, I negotiate a $150 discount with the guy. Where did he get all these surrounds? Turns out he was collecting them like Cees collected engines, or Scoot wheels, or Bob Youngman fuel pumps, or Mike Mizesko took kits. Then he'd take them to Tijuana, have them banged and fixed, and rechromed. At least at that time when crossing the border wasn't an issue and Covid didn't exist, "Tijuana Chrome" was cheap.
So, the restorer sends the 3rd surround out with other parts for plating to Graves Plating, and once back, the iterative process of fitting begins. After all was said and done but before completion, he calls and says a crack developed in the upper RH corner of the surround. So, we relieve the stress by opening the crack a bit, and brazing and filling it all up. Then back to Graves for plating again.
Third time was a charm, as it's been installed since that time with no issues.
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Looks like I need to get a new oem one. I can get a genuine MB sent to Aus for US$2150. Repairing my old and getting it chromed will be more than this. I notice that the repros appear to be stainless steel (I don't think they are chromed) and made by Uro which I avoid like the plague.
Thanks for everyone's advice!
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Col,
I have done two front grills on my Pagodas. In each case i have had some difficulty, trying three different ones in the current car and ended up reverting back to the original one that i had repaired and rechromed and was then refitted. I tried a SS one and it was close but no cigar, I tried a oem from another vehicle and it wasn’t even close.
There is a company out in Dandenong called Vinney’s Chrome who do an excellent job of repair and then rechrome. I would recommend them but be aware it is a slow output and can take them three months sometimes. Last one i did about 5 years ago cost me $750 all up. I took it apart and they did the barrel, star, cross members and surrounds. The surround was dinted and pretty rough and they repaired it prior to re-chrome.
Garry
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Thanks Garry... That's a much better price than my guy gave me. I'll call them and re use the original.
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Col,
That was 5 - 7 years ago but it did need a lot of work done on the dints.
https://www.vinneys.com.au/ (https://www.vinneys.com.au/)
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$2750 for the grill and bumpers to be repaired and chromed. Just dropped them off.
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Always better with original and they do a good job. Timing?
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They'll do the grill within the month as I'm on a deadline and the car was supposed to go off to the painters yesterday but it was raining. The bumpers I've said they can take their time with... So 2-3 months I'm guessing.
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hi Garry
Just picked up all my w113 chrome from Vinney's. They did a great job, and it did take ~4 months start to finish like you expected (understandable given Xmas and COVID).
Unfortunately my chrome grille star is beyond repair with not only the star disconnecting from the barrel, but also that a small piece of one of the star points is also missing.
Do you have any local leads for a second hand part i can get re-chromed? I assume given my missing piece, even your silver smith solution may not be viable, but open to all suggestions before i shell out the eye-watering price for a used piece from O/S. I'm also a little worried of it being damaged in transit / restoration and me being at square one again.
thanks
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Aharalam
The star is very hard to get and are ridiculously expensive and if it can be repaired then you should try to go there. The separation and missing pieces should not necessarily mean it is not repairable. I would try to find a jeweller or silversmith to see if they can repair before going down the replacement avenue.
The small jewellers i used in South Melb is no longer there so suggest you shop around to see if anyone will take it on.
Good luck.
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thanks Garry. I'll enquire some of the jewellers on Swanston st - might get lucky!
regards
Andrew
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More likely the smaller suburban jewelers might be the go. How much is broken off the star. That is the harder bit as it is pot metal.