Question from ROOKIE????

[terry shores]

I have a red pagoda.  Behind the grill on the drivers side next to the radiator and in front of the battery is a piece of sheet metal about 9 inches wide.  Looking through the grill from the front of the car, I can see that this sheet metal has been painted red!!  DID IT COME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THAT OR IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE BLACK SO THAT IT IS UNNOTICED???  DO I NEED TO PAINT IT BLACK??

THANKS,

TERRY

[Mike Hughes]

It should be painted black (flat or satin, like the radiator or inside the trunk - not too shiny!).

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Kenneth Gear]

http://www.motoringinvestments.com/RestoLog3.htm

Here's a link from a recently completely restoration which shows the black paint on the sheet metal at the battery which was brushed on at the factory.

Ken G
1971 280 SL
Silver/red

[terry shores]

Ok!! I spent the last hour painting that piece black.  Turned out nice!! THANKS ALOT TO BOTH OF YOU WHO RESPONDED!! I had seen a couple of restorations where that piece was painted the same color as the car, so I just wasn't positive!!!

quote:Originally posted by Mike Hughes

It should be painted black (flat or satin, like the radiator or inside the trunk - not too shiny!).

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[rwmastel]

quote:Originally posted by terry shores

Ok!! I spent the last hour painting that piece black.  Turned out nice!! THANKS ALOT TO BOTH OF YOU WHO RESPONDED!! I had seen a couple of restorations where that piece was painted the same color as the car, so I just wasn't positive!!!

Terry,

That's a common mistake.  Other common paint mistakes:

- Engine bay (under hood, inner fenders, etc.).  Engine bay should be body color except the part you found and the curved plate behind the big air filter housing.  Many times the whole think is painted black.

- Trunk lid.  The inside of the trunk lid and the inside of the trunk is painted the dark satin grey (almost black).  The inside of the soft top lid is also this color.

- Rocker panels are typically dark grey/black.

Anyone else care to add more common painting errors to watch for?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Jonny B]

Oh why not! Usually, the inside of the wheel wells are painted body color, though there have been some exceptions noted.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[J. Huber]

I'll add a couple that I think I'm right about. While the underside of the hood (bonnet) is body color, the hood rod & spring that spans it is not. Some kind of metal covering. Same goes for the hood latch on the firewall and the door check cams. Not body color. I'd show pictures but mine ARE painted ala a low-end paint job!

James
63 230SL

[Douglas]

Terry,

Go to the site Ken Gear mentioned earlier and study the restoration log. You'll see exactly what details to look for and to emulate. The site is:

http://www.motoringinvestments.com/RestoLog.htm

Brian did an excellent job of hunting down a very original CA car and restoring it for a client who frequents this message board.



Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220