After nearly 50 years Pagodas can be expected to be less than perfect. And we all know that a few missing minor pieces will not affect the ride or life of the car…but the parts mentioned here were originally installed in some or all Pagodas. From casual observation at car shows and other events, many cars are missing some of these parts.
Here they are with some inexpert comments:
Hood Spring Stand Offs: two rubber pieces about an inch wide should be around the Hood Spring. They are to prevent the spring from rubbing against the underside of the hood. Each piece fits around the spring about 1/.3 of the way from each end.
Inner Fender Hole Fillers: along the inside of each fender, a little below the top, is a series of holes, each about the size of a nickel. 280SL’s (and maybe earlier cars also) had a rubber plug in each of these holes.
Firewall Straddles: There should be three rubber bumpers straddling the seam along the top of the firewall. Each is about 3 inches long. Can be glued in place if they fall off. Placement is not arbitrary: each should sit where the hood reinforcement member meets the firewall; three hood “bulges”, three bumpers. The bumpers are to protect the firewall and the hood reinforcements from harm when closing the hood. Sold in uncut form about 2 feet long. May be listed by MB as a W107 part.
Drain Fittings: Look down the side of the engine to find the metal tube coming out of the firewall to drain the air vent; one on each side of the car. Each of these metal tubes should have an odd looking rubber drain fitted to it. The piece has a short tube then a round ball shape ending with two vertical “lips”. Designed to allow water to drain out but prevent leaves and other debris from being sucked in when traveling at speed. In Part Diagrams, at Heating and Air, Group 83, Part 122.
Plug Wire Organizers: along the plug side of the engine there should be two plastic plug wire “keepers”. Plug wires are passed through these to keep the wires organized.
Heat Shield (large): should be an irregularly shaped metal heat shield screwed to the floor pan above the exhaust pipes from just behind the wheel well to the first exhaust box. A missing shield can make the passenger’s feet quite warm even with the insulation in place. (You do have the under carpet insulation, yes?)
Heat Shield (small) a smaller heat shield should be in place between the Idler Arm and the Exhaust Pipe where the arm comes quite close to the exhaust pipe.
Glove Compartment Washer: the glove box hinge goes into an oval shaped hole when the box is closed. Should be an oval shaped washer fitted into the hole. The washer has a lip around it prevent the washer from disappearing into the hole. Washer is missing on many cars.
Rear Chrome Rubber Strips: A chrome strip is located above each taillight. Two more chrome strips are between the taillights. All of these chrome pieces should have a rubber strip between the chrome and the car body. Missing on many cars.
Rear Exhaust Bumper: There is a flat metal plate spanning the two exhaust pipes just before the pipes exit from under the car. There is a hole in the plate. The hole is for a small rubber bumper to keeps the exhaust pipes from hitting the car body which is very close to the flat plate. A missing bumper can result in an annoying metal-on-metal sound from the rear of the car. Exhaust Group 49, Part 56.
Sub Frame Access Covers: 230 SL’s (and probably early 250SL’s) came with a thin plastic cover over each of the sub frame mount access holes. These covers were not fitted to 280SL’s.
Shock Absorber Covers: 230 SL’s (and maybe early 250SL’s) came with a plastic cover over each of the protruding Shock Absorber tops on each side of the trunk front. These covers were not fitted to 280SL’s.
Well, that should give compulsive obsessive owners something to worry about this Winter. Corrections and additions are welcome. Please excuse the informal names for the parts. I know the parts but I don’t know some of the correct names.
Suggest you get busy on these as I’ll be looking for them this Spring when your car is back on the road.
Richard M, NYC (No, my car does not have all of these parts but it does have most of them.) I don’t want to shame other owners by having a perfect car…near perfect is good enough for me.
First photo shows the two Hood Hinge Bumpers; and the hole plugs along the inside of the fender; and one of the three firewall bumpers.
Second Photo shows (seen with some difficulty) the Exhaust heat shield.
The Third image shows the rubber insert between the chrome strip and the body. Each rear chrome piece should have a rubber strip.
Last image is the rubber drain ball.
