Funny Bolt

[mdsalemi]

Anybody have any of these bolts hanging around?  They are used in a couple of places in the trunk/boot.  They are "pressed in" by hand to a square hole about 5mm in diameter, and then protrude as studs on the underside of the car.  The little wings keep the bolt from turning in the hole.  There is a head but no flats on the head.  One use of them is to secure the fuel pump cage.

Of course I could use regular bolts but if anyone has any laying around, let me know.

Download Attachment: Funny Bolt.jpg
26.18 KB


Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[peterm]

As these are original equipment I'm sure you could find a machine shop to custom make them for you, hopefully they'll be able to get German steel smelted in late 60's.  Of course don't get stainless or alloy as the ability to rust is more original.  This is an item I will bring to the attention of the concours judges at the next starfest.

[ctaylor738]

How can a square hole have a diameter? :-)

Chuck Taylor
1970 280SL #14076
Falls Church VA

[Tom230sl]

Yep,  I gots one!
send address via email.

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by ctaylor738

How can a square hole have a diameter? :-)

Chuck Taylor
1970 280SL #14076
Falls Church VA

...about 5MM square...(wise guy!)

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by peterm

As these are original equipment I'm sure you could find a machine shop to custom make them for you, hopefully they'll be able to get German steel smelted in late 60's.  Of course don't get stainless or alloy as the ability to rust is more original.  This is an item I will bring to the attention of the concours judges at the next starfest.

Come on, Doctor Pete, I know you know that Aluminum is smelted, and steel is melted.  The difference is fusion in an electric furnace.

But aside from that, those who go to Starfest and are familiar with the process know that judges don't lift up trunk mats--they are not allowed to touch your car without asking--and the rest of these bolts are hidden...

I'm simply trying to mount my fuel pump cage at all 3 points.  It's a visual disturbance to mount it any other way.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Tom230sl

Yep,  I gots one!
send address via email.

Thanks Tom, I'll contact you off-line.  I appreciate an honest answer to an honest question--and I can't wait to properly mount my fuel pump cover at all 3 mounting points.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[mdsalemi]

Good News.

First of all, due to some erroneous information at MB the part is available--at least I ordered it today and they tell me they'll have it.  I assume the dealer's on line system would say it is NLA if that were the case.

Gernold at SL-Tech came through with the part number 120-420-02-27 and that is different then numbers the Classic Center as well as Caliber came up with.  Gernold also came up with the explanation of why they might have provided the incorrect part--there are two listings for this part--one, the actual listing, and two, as an "add on" for the fuel pump cover.  Gernold suspects if the dealer goes to the fuel pump cover part number, and looks below for other needed parts, it will show numbers that are NLA for the hardware.

When my car was in for service in the summer of 2005, I gave my new (I had never had one and my attempts to find one not cut up on eBay were fruitless) fuel pump cover to the shop and told them to install it.  They were waiting for the hardware parts that never showed up.  Then I called Caliber, and they gave me the part numbers, but they were listed as unavailable.  Then I contacted the Classic Center and here's their reply--

The 113-470-15-48 fuel pump cover should use the following bolts (most recent numbers I could find) :
1 ea  304017-006018, 304017-006034, 000933-006047. Nothing special about them. Just standard 6mm thread German hardware. I hope this helps somewhat.

Of course that information is wrong and they were NLA as well.  Gernold came through with the above listed number.  Yesterday I simply went to the local MB dealer, gave him this part number, popped right up on the screen and he said he'd have it 2-3 days.  I want to believe that if it was NLA the dealer's on line part ordering system (same as Caliber which told me NLA on the other numbers above) would have said so.  I'll find out hopefully by Monday/Tuesday the latest.

Having the right number all the time helps.

I actually needed more then one since the rusty one in the photo had its wings broken off...there really is nothing else like it out there, and even my local fastener store had never seen anything like it.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Bob G ✝︎]

I knight you "Sir michael". I was wondering why the bolts were looses when I undue the nuts that hold my fuel pump cover. Know I can fix one more thing.
You have truly earned  your  scholarship  of classic Pagoda SL models. According to the classic center the part nummber gernold supplied is stil good. I ordered 20 of them for my stock.

Bob Geco

[Vince Canepa]

Michael - Please post if you receive the correct part.  I went through this drill one year ago.  I found one in my "stock" but didn't have the part number and my usually reliable part source couldn't find the part number to order a second.  I needed two so I had to "re-condition" one.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by Vince Canepa

Michael - Please post if you receive the correct part.  I went through this drill one year ago.  I found one in my "stock" but didn't have the part number and my usually reliable part source couldn't find the part number to order a second.  I needed two so I had to "re-condition" one.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

Vince and all others--got the parts today and they are exactly what I needed and ordered, so this part is STILL available, and the part number 120-420-02-27 is good.  Price is $3.00+ each.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Vince Canepa]

Thanks Michael!

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[hands_aus]

quote:Originally posted by mdsalemi

quote:Originally posted by Vince Canepa

Michael - Please post if you receive the correct part.  I went through this drill one year ago.  I found one in my "stock" but didn't have the part number and my usually reliable part source couldn't find the part number to order a second.  I needed two so I had to "re-condition" one.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

Vince and all others--got the parts today and they are exactly what I needed and ordered, so this part is STILL available, and the part number 120-420-02-27 is good.  Price is $3.00+ each.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

Hey Michael,
In the MB EPC (electronic parts catalogue) that part is listed as 'SCREW... FUEL and BRAKE LINES to FRAME FLOOR UNIT'
A120 420 02 27

When I rebuilt my fuel pump I had to grind one of my bolts off because the thread had rusted and the nut kept on rotating without undoing.
I replaced it with a similar sized bolt and I painted the head with black paint.
Of course now that I know the correct part exists I am on the horns of a dilemma.
Do I buy the correct part and install it right away or buy the correct part and wait until I need to rebuild the fuel pump in another 37 years? (that is how long it took for a rebuild to be needed)
Keep in mind I am 57 YO.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[Vince Canepa]

Bob - Some of us are just whacked out about original parts.  I must have spent 6 hours "reconditioning" one of my bolts rather than two minutes doing it like you did.  I can't explain why.  But it is harmless fun, so what the heck.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[mdsalemi]

Hey Hands,

Is this a trick question?

No, if your fuel pump cover is mounted properly and you are satisfied with it, leave it alone.  If one has it apart wondering what to do, this might be the answer if you can cough up USD $3.00 per bolt.  Knowing your issues with Austrialian Mercedes prices, they are probably about A$57.00 each!

Mine wasn't mounted properly, in fact it was hanging by one correct bolt, one incorrect bolt, and missing the third.  Others share the same issue.  You can use a standard bolt--Metric or English of course, as long as the nut fits--and with a combination of washers etc. make it work.  You can even use a push-in nylon rivet from the top as well.  If the correct part is available, is reasonable in price, and you have yet to sort it all out, why not use the right parts?

In my post of 18-October, I share the incorrect and NLA part numbers given to me by--separately--Caliber Motors; my mechanic, Motorwerks; and The Classic Center.  So somewhere in the EPC something isn't or wasn't right to get that same wrong answer three times!

I'm happy to have the right parts, and happy to share my experience.



Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[hands_aus]

quote:Originally posted by mdsalemi

Hey Hands,

Is this a trick question?

No, if your fuel pump cover is mounted properly and you are satisfied with it, leave it alone.  If one has it apart wondering what to do, this might be the answer if you can cough up USD $3.00 per bolt.  Knowing your issues with Austrialian Mercedes prices, they are probably about A$57.00 each!

Mine wasn't mounted properly, in fact it was hanging by one correct bolt, one incorrect bolt, and missing the third.  Others share the same issue.  You can use a standard bolt--Metric or English of course, as long as the nut fits--and with a combination of washers etc. make it work.  You can even use a push-in nylon rivet from the top as well.  If the correct part is available, is reasonable in price, and you have yet to sort it all out, why not use the right parts?

In my post of 18-October, I share the incorrect and NLA part numbers given to me by--separately--Caliber Motors; my mechanic, Motorwerks; and The Classic Center.  So somewhere in the EPC something isn't or wasn't right to get that same wrong answer three times!

I'm happy to have the right parts, and happy to share my experience.



Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

Hey Michael and Vince,
I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about replacing the bolt.
Michael I did as you suggested and there is no visible difference.

Of course you are right about Aussie prices.

an aside about prices.
I have been buying new parts for my front brakes and suspension rebuild,
including new shocks, subframe mounts and brake caliper rebuild (seal, pads, pistons, bleeder valves), master cylinder, hoses.

I have spent $1700.00 AUD on parts from the USA and Australia.
If I had bought them from MB in Brisbane Australia they would have cost $5400.00 AUD... a saving of $3700.00
This will pay for the job to be done by a MB trained mechanic.

Bob Smith (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[mdsalemi]

...that's why I asked if it was a trick question!

I also was NOT kidding about Aussie prices...I've followed the little tidbits of pricing over the years that you mention and I don't understand how anyone can afford to buy anything there.  It can't be the shipping, must be something with import duty?

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored