re-commissioning of an 1965 230sl, 50000km

[Nelmlund]

I've inherited a white Mercedes 230sl from 1965. The problem is that the last time it rolled on the roads were 1993... The car has spent totally only 50000km on the roads.

My question is what to do with it to make it driveable? I suppose the gaskets need to be changed, and that the old gasoline is sucked out. But what more? i want to take this beauty on to the roads!


P.S. The original tires is still on   D.S.

[Bonnyboy]

Have a look at my posts by searching my name - I too got a car that had sat since 1991 and I hope yours is in better condition than mine was.  There are several posts about resurecting a sleeping beauty.

There is lots of advice on the forum but the main thing for me was the fuel - clean the fuel tank / replace,  get fuel pump working (NEEDS PRESSURE AND VOLUME), change everything you can think of like maintenance items and be careful about making sure it will work and is not seized. 
 
Brakes will most likely be seized and all rubber lines should be replaced just because.

Then see if she starts and drives before doing an engine rebuild unless that is something you really want to do.   

[Nelmlund]

Okay, thank you for the post. I'll do that, dont know if it's worth to begin with the project now and work on it this winter or wait til summer to start. I live in a place where there are 1m of snow from december - april..   

[Nelmlund]

Here is some pictures of the old dusty beauty..












 

[Iconic]

Nice car !
Of particular interest is how nice some of the plating is in the engine bay.
And that driver's side mirror position ... must be a Sweden thing.
IMHO, depending on your level of knowledge of the Pagode and your general automotive knowledge, I would take it slow.
Read, read, and read more of this forum !!!
Good luck and tell us more if you would like. It was inherited from who (whom?)?
Enjoy the ride. 

[stickandrudderman]

I think you should re-define your project as a "re-commisioning" rather than a "restoration" as judging by the pictures I would have that car up and running in a week!
Congratulations on a nice project!

[Nelmlund]

Thanks! I haven't seen the mirror position on any other pagode actually. Kind a strange, maybe a personal desire to the mercedes factory?

I have a friend who has alot of experience with old volkswagen cars, i'll let him change all the necessary parts. I can't do anything with a car except from changing glow plugs on old 300 diesels 

I inherited it from my father, whom only drives BMW..

[mbzse]

.../...And that driver's side mirror position ... must be a Sweden thing

That is correct. The Swedish vehicle inspection authority in the sixties were wary of mirrors mounted by the A pillar, and quite a number of Swedish Mercedes cars had wing mirrors fitted left and right in order to pass inspection... (my W108 for instance). Another requirement by law at that time were the splash guards behind the rear wheels. Made with a M-B star and fitted in-country by the Swedish authorized dealer Philipson
/Hans in Sweden

.

[Paul & Dolly]

Gosh, what a fantastic legacy .......this car looks brilliant from your pictures..

Please listen to the advise given freely on this site, and try and find some expert help on recommissioning this lovely car.

A lot of damage can very easily be done at this stage by people who may think they are doing the correct thing.

I my opinion it would be worth paying to get the correct help - it may not be free, but it could well be worthwhile.

I am very experienced in pre war cars, BUT when it came to a Pagoda, I researched and found a local expert, to guide me,
and I know he has easily saved me over twice what he has cost me,  and that does not include the grief and wasted effort from potentially following incorrect procedures.


Enjoy your Pagode,

Good luck,

and keep well in your long snowy winter !

Paul

[Nelmlund]

Thank you very much!

After second thoughts i will search for an expert instead. This car will hopefully go on to my own children's somewhere in the future, so i want the re-commissioning to be correctly done!

This pagode might just be perfect to be a new winter project

[Nelmlund]

The original steering wheel were already changed when my uncle bought in the mid seventies, the steering wheel attached were an Nardi Wood steering wheel. Feels more like a sport car if you ask me.

http://wood-steering-wheels.com/42-porsche-356-b-c-nardi-steering-wheel/

[Nelmlund]

Sorry for being away for so long. I have had a lot to do lately, and with that i reeeally mean a lot.

I have now cleaned up the fuel tank. It was absolutely filled with rust, dust and other things that doesn't belong in a fuel tank. It was a mess. It's now attached again to the car. The fuel pump though were a mass as well. But i cleaned that up too. I had some problems to start it, it didn't totally go around. My mechanic did some magical things that made it start up. There is something wrong with the relay he told me.

Problems for now:

1. Something is wrong with a relay, to make it start.
2. The brakes on the front wheels are stuck.
3. Need a workshop manual to the mechanic whom wants more knowledge of the car before he starts to work with it. Any advice?




Out in the air for the first time since 2001....

[Bonnyboy]

If you are looking for a manual the big blue book is a must (BBB).  Its also good reading in front of a fire when there is a metre of snow out side.  There seems to be lots on ebay - if you don't want a pristine one they are quite reasonable.

If your brake sticks - get a new / rebuilt caliper - they are nasty to rebuild without a full machine shop and new calipers are not that expensive.    replace the rubber brake lines at the same time.

Good luck.