Author Topic: Restored Hardtop (Read 15103 times)

CraigD · « **on:** August 01, 2008, 12:38:41 »

I did a trial fitting yesterday of the hardtop I've restored over the last 1-1/2 years. It was pretty rough to start with... a few rusty spots had to be patched and welded. But the end result is great. I just have the left quarter window to install (still awating it's arrival), and the left locking handle (also waiting for parts)

Saw the recent posts regarding the value of these tops... sad to say that expenses for beading, paint, & rechroming ~~slightly~~ (more like far) exceeded the apparent value!!

Many thanks to Walter Klatt, Gernold, Pete Lange and Siegfried for alot of advice, help, and a number of parts that were needed.

Hubcaps to match are next.

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Before restoration.JPG
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Inside.JPG
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Rust.JPG
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Repaired area.JPG
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Ready for liner & Rails.JPG
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Ready.JPG
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On the Car1.JPG
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Headliner.JPG
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waqas · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2008, 13:32:58 »

Very nice work!

So how many hours did you spend on it all? (and how much of the work did you farm out?)

CraigD · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2008, 15:42:08 »

Waqas,

I didn't keep a record, but I'll guess: I spent maybe 5 hours taking it apart, 5 hours researching where to get things done and talking to possible painters and chromers, 5 hours driving the top and parts around between bead blaster, painter, chromer, and the interior guy. After the headliner and chrome rails were installed, I spent about 7 hours putting the chrome back on and the windows in. So my hours add up to about 20 or so.

But the painter and the chroming were by expensive by themselves, not to mention the headliner, seals, bead cleaning, and the headliner/rail installation. I chose high quality vendors in each case, but I paid for it.

The article by Gernold and the discusssion thread here titled "Hardtop Window Success" (George Des, Walter, Ben in Ireland, Alfred, and Luca) was invaluable in the assembly process, which went smoothly.

All in all it was fun. Would I do it again? Considering the total money... hmmm. Ah what the heck, probably, yes. I like the black over silver look.

Garry · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2008, 17:21:16 »

Hi Craig,

I am about to do a resto on my hard top. It has what appears to be a rust/corosion spot in the bottom of the rear painter corner. Did you have to do any non steel areas?
Have read the Gernold article. Was considering not removing the glass as the rubbers look good. Any other advice to watch out for?

Garry

CraigD · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2008, 08:38:33 »

Garry,

The only repair on the frame that was needed was some welding in the rear corners. I had to get a few new parts: pins, sleeves and 1 new mounting bracket for the rear locking handle, a new headliner, seals, & one quarter window. One thing that helped was doing some dry assembly of the quarter window chrome before applying sealant in the final assembly. The order of chrome installation is important - in addition to Gernold's article, I found the discussion thread I mentioned earlier to be very helpful.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions along the way.

Garry · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2008, 16:16:27 »

Thanks Craig,

I have been putting it off for a year but winter has struck and driving around in the last few weeks taking photos for the coffee table book has made me realise I should finish it off.

Regards

stassenk · « **Reply #6 on:** August 05, 2008, 03:29:39 »

You have done an excellent job! Well done!!

I must still do mine, but I need to get the liner first. Where did you buy your liner and do they sell the original liner?

Regards

Kurt

thelews · « **Reply #7 on:** August 05, 2008, 05:56:23 »

Very nice. Now you need to paint the hubcaps black.

Douglas · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2008, 08:52:16 »

Look how nicely that top fits. It's a nice tight fit at the corners against the body. Compare it to the $120K Cooper car which has a lot of air between the hardtop and the body.

(Also, it's nice to see that the hardtop headliner and sunvisors match. Also wrong on the Cooper car.)

Nice job, Craig.

CraigD · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2008, 13:30:34 »

Kurt,

I obtained my headliner through Gernold at SL Tech. I had to purchase new seals from him, and he gave me alot of advice, so I just asked him to get the headliner too. He bought it from GAHH, and you could contact them directly if you want. They're in Hollywood, CA at 800-722-2292. Several headliner colors are available - white, grey, & tan, at least. Talk to Gernold and he can advise you correct color for your interior.

And thanks for the comments, Douglas!

mbzse · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2008, 14:56:37 »

quote:
Originally posted by CraigD

Hard top headliner .../... Several headliner colors are available - white, grey, & tan, at least

A note, should you choose to stick to "factory" on your car:
Only a few correct colours. When new, the two vinyl colours fitted as headlining on 230SL and 250SL HardTops delivered from Mercedes was off white (Weiss 3050) or cream (Creme D22). Each of the two was tied to a specific interior code (colour). Code 116 for instance, Caviar (tan) M-B Tex, well it had white headliner in the HardTop.

Sun visors came in two colours as well, Creme D22 (same as headliner) and Grey (Grau 2108)

280SL had other shades for the vinyl in the H/T headliner, also tied to the range of interior vinyl or leather colours the customer could choose from : White (Weiss 9002); Cream (Creme 8036) and Bamboo (Bambus hell 8038).
Sun visors on 280SL were two of the above vinyl colours: Cream and Bamboo, but there was also Light grey (Hellgrau 7005) added.

The above is from factory literature.

Note: Edited this post with more specific info /Hans
.

Douglas · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2008, 16:08:07 »

quote:
Originally posted by mbzse

Quote

A note, should you choose to stick to "factory" on your car:
Only one correct colour. When new, the only vinyl colour fitted as headlining on W113
HardTops delivered from Mercedes was off white

I don't think that's correct, Hans. I believe the hardtop headliner matched the sunvisors -- and sunvisors on a 280SL came in 3 different colors.

mbzse · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2008, 17:02:30 »

quote:
Originally posted by Douglas

quote:
Originally posted by mbzse

Quote

A note, should you choose to stick to "factory" on your car:
.../...

I don't think that's correct, Hans. I believe the hardtop headliner matched the sunvisors -- and sunvisors on a 280SL came in 3 different colors

You are right, I got myself in at the deep end in this matter :oops:
After checking, I now changed my original posting...
The good thing is, making mistakes means you get to learn more and more...

.

J. Huber · « **Reply #13 on:** August 05, 2008, 19:52:44 »

Can I stir the pot a little more? Wouldn't the front upholstered band where the front top handles are be the color of the interior seats and dash covering?

Bob G ✝︎ · « **Reply #14 on:** August 06, 2008, 02:03:55 »

I have two hardtops with my 280SL. A later 1970 with the heatedrear window, althought I think the back window is not the headed one. It has a couple of dents in it from some earth quake damage. Then I have the orginal hard top it needs chrome work and seals and a headliner. I got the headliner kit. I got the right side read handle kitbut, was told the lft side is NLA from Mercedes-Benz?
I have some questions as to how the drip molding come off? I would like to restore the orginal hard-top it also has the chrome bars for the luggage rack. I have Gernold's artical and would like to attempt to restore it this winter lucky for me there is no rust.
Are there any special tools I need not mentioned in Gernold's artical I should buy?

Bob Geco
1968 280SL
113044012001906

Bob Geco

66andBlue · « **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2008, 11:18:38 »

quote:
Originally posted by Bob G
Are there any special tools I need not mentioned in Gernold's artical I should buy?

Hi Bob,
unless you have someone helping you I would recommend to buy twin suction cups with swivels on both ends so they hold on to curved glass.
For me they were extremely helpful getting the quarter window back in because I could hold the window and push down from the outside and with the other hand using a plastic spatula guide it into the channel on the inside.

Douglas · « **Reply #16 on:** August 06, 2008, 11:47:45 »

quote:
Originally posted by J. Huber

Can I stir the pot a little more? Wouldn't the front upholstered band where the front top handles are be the color of the interior seats and dash covering?

James,

I think you're thinking of the soft top frame on a 230SL, no? The 280SL soft top had a tan piece of vinyl on the inside leading edge by the front posts.

J. Huber · « **Reply #17 on:** August 06, 2008, 14:53:52 »

Hi Douglas, I recall a question about that piece and I think you are correct, it was the soft-top piece in question. However, on my hardtop, that piece is also dark blue (matches dash, seats, other trim). I guess I was thinking this was universal.

In any case, Craig, didn't mean to take away from your restore -- it looks fantastic. Nice job! (wanna do mine next?)...

stassenk · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2008, 01:45:38 »

Thank you Craig, will give them a ring when I'm ready.

Bob G ✝︎ · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2008, 15:11:00 »

I tried Eastwood for the twin suctioncup glass holders. They have discontinued the item from their list. any thought were else I can fine a set of these?

Bob Geco
1968 280SL

Douglas · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2008, 10:13:15 »

There's an original hardtop on ebay right now you should see for comparison sake. It's auction #260274388344. Not my auction, no connection to seller, etc. (Nice original wood too.)

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Author Topic: Restored Hardtop (Read 15103 times)

stassenk

Douglas

Douglas

Bob G ✝︎

Douglas

stassenk

Bob G ✝︎

Douglas