What have you done to your Pagoda today?

[Cees Klumper]

This is a very popular topic on other car sites - so I thought I would 'import' it over here and see where it goes.

In my case, today my new front brake pads came in the mail and I will install them probably tomorrow night. The old ones are not worn but the front brakes ran hot due to restricted brake hoses a couple of years ago. I replaced the hoses but ever since the left front brake regularly squeels and after replacing the wheel bearings did not help I thought of the pads - also following a tip from Dr Benz I believe it was. So I did not really do anything to the Pagoda today! But I did drive it to the gym and back, hopefully that counts ...

[Bonnyboy]

I got up early to put out the garbage and since everyone was asleep I snuck into my garage, turned on the air compressor, put on my radio earmuffs, put a wire brush in my air grinder and went at some last little areas of rust under the trunk floor.  After 30 minutes I blew the dust off the work areas, opened my garage door and blew the rust dust out into the lane all over my neighbours recently washed truck, closed the door and then coated the bare areas on the car with Por-15 rust paint.  Then I snuck back into the house, had a bath, breakfast, sang happy birthday to my kid and still got her off to Jazz band for her 7:30am practice. 

Ian in North Vancouver

[49er]

Great topic! Today I took the cover off my hardtop and cleaned all the bright work that is impossible to get to once the top is on the car. Took the screws out that hold the wood trim around the rear window and buffed them up bright and shiny. Polished the wood trim and gave the glass a good cleaning. Top goes back on in a few days, reluctantly.

John

[J. Huber]

We had -- yet another -- pleasant winter day here. After a quick wipe with the California Duster, I took the 230SL for a short spin to the local corner coffee joint, where I read a bit and sipped a Dark Roast. I have had the soft-top up the last few days. A nice change of pace from the long summer top-down season.

[Benz Dr.]

Hi cees,
is it OK if I talk about Pagodas rather than just my own? I have some work to do on my car if I have time later in the winter.

  Replaced all of the rear brake hoses and lines on one of the cars we have in ( 280SL). Also rebuilt the fuel pump and will replace the rear brake pads tomorrow along with all of the fuel hoses.
 Once we get the pump back for the 230 I'll start test driving it again if the weather stays nice. Very warm here for mid Jan. at + 8 degrees C today. 

[Sableco]

oh we finally got some rain here in Kuwait (which is a very welcomed thing),
but the canvas top (which I did not need at all since Nov.) is to be replaced. I had already received my new canvas top from German Auto Tops and look forward to having it installed within the next couple of days by a professional.
over the last couple of weeks I replaced brake pads, oil rubber seals (engine & transmission), gaskets, fiddled with the fuel pump and changed the oil twice so far.
gave my Pagoda a complete wash, wax and polish treatment.
But what i enjoyed the most was taking an early morning drive on the beach road Friday morning with my wife (where it was very peaceful and quite since Friday is the weekend here), and had many thumps up.
I also was approached by one of the local TV channels for an episode on Pagodas and use my car as a show piece.  I am still thinking about it.
the family and I are to leave on a trip to beautiful Malaysia by the end of Jan. so I am thinking what works needed on the car while I am gone.
Sorry all for the long email
Best wishes to all

Basem

[Larry & Norma]

Well I had planned to change my subframe mounts but the more that I looked at what was involved
the more I decided against doing it myself. I had the parts so contacted Colin (stickandrudderman)
who quoted 1 hour labour. Can't beat experience I suppose, but I had planned a weekend at least
Am I glad I went to Colin as one side needed a blow torch to persuade the old mount to come out!
Great job. Next I will be replacing the rubber tube things that take the wires through to the headlamp
bowls as the old ones are perished.

[Cees Klumper]

Hmmm ... this is depressing ... all these great images of members enjoying their Pagodas on beach drives, special coffees, shining up the chrome, even the lucky ones who manage to get their hands dirty before the day even begins! This is making me jealous. Oh well, can't complain as I started this and please do keep it coming, I really do find it very enjoyable!

Yes Dan, I think it's actually quite interesting to hear what the pros do to the average Pagoda that wanders into the shop, so please do post that here as well.

[Jordan]

After sucking all the oil out of my FIP yesterday, as discussed in another thread, tonight I will just sit and enjoy Michael's book Pagoda Style to quell my nerves.  I have already changed the colour of my window crank, ash tray top and door pull to match the interior colour, which I am told is correct, and tomorrow will struggle with removing the 4th screw from the thermostat housing.  I don't know what they were thinking when they put a screw under all those fuel lines.  Anyway, that is tomorrow, tonight is the book.

[wwheeler]

While I don't have a Pagoda, the city is repaving our alley that I use for garage access for the 111. I am using this 2-3 month time to rebuild the rear axle and recoat/paint the underside from the trans back.

As a late Christmas present which will assist me with the project, I just received a two post lift. It is semi-portable and is made to be removed once the job is complete. http://maxjaxusa.com/ This is perfect for my smaller garage since I don't have the manuvering room to have a permanent lift. We will see how it works in a couple of weeks. 

[twistedtree]

Got my fuel injection pump back from H&R today.  Hans said it was a total wreck.  Wrong springs, wrong seals, and leaking like crazy.  I guess the previous owner wasn't as good at FIP work as he thought.....

[69280sl]

 (Literally today) I replaced the crosspin on the right side rear hard top latch. One side had broken off and drifting out what was left was very difficult. But, perseverance pays off.

Gus

[Sleeping Beauty]

Here's what I plan to do Tomorrow:
Drive the 230SL to the Woodside Bakery and buy a top hoist and cradle for $75...Craigslist ad. 

[Richard Madison]

I'll be getting a beach chair, an iced drink, a floppy hat, and set up next to the car (in the commercial garage), pop the hood and admire the beautiful new Firewall Pad I just installed (with thanks to the efforts of Alfred and others.)

I'll ignore the outside temperature soon expected to drop to near 15 degrees Fahrenheit...and I'll muse about the beautiful April days just around the corner (I wish).

Richard M, NYC

[49er]

 Took our trusty SL out for another wonderful topdown outing today in mid 60 f degree weather racking up another 50 miles on the odometer. But the time had come to put the HT back on so when we got home we attached the hoist, raised the HT up, pulled the car underneath and lowered it back down. I am happy to say it all went well without a hitch. Since we have gone nearly 2 months without any rain, I told my wife maybe we were the cause:-) Weatherman just said on the news that rain is expected next week.

John

[JamesL]

Road have been salted so going nowhere  

Edit: looked at it as my rowing machine is in the garage and I just did a 5km piece

[gugel]

Finally got new rear springs, pads, and bushings installed on my 230SL.  The parts came from Dave Gallon, and the work was done as a birthday present to me from my son, who's a far better mechanic than I'll ever be.  Surprisingly, the original pads and bushings were actually not too bad, but the springs were tired.  Then took the car out for a test drive on the freeway, up to 90mph.  (Nice warm day here in soCal).  Now the rear height is what it should be, and the car handles much better and runs in a dead straight line, not wandering a bit as it used to.

Chris

[Shvegel]

My car or rather the shell of my car is nestled in my friends shop in Northern Minnesota getting some needed corrosion repairs while I am stuck working on a yacht in St Lucia. We are at anchor about 150 feet(45 meters) from the Pitons so it doesn't suck too badly. I did however email my friend and ask about progress so that's something.

[71Beige280SL]

Hmmm...Winter in Minnesota or St. Lucia? I think you made the right choice!

[dean]

Well on Friday Jan 13 (A lucky day in my book) drove my trusted Pagoda all day/night  in New York City with flawless performance, without any issues, heater performed to expectations, started numerous time without any hesitations etc.......

Enjoying the Pagoda in the middle of January in NY........................PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just checked the forecast for Today's temperatures between 16 & 23 F (-9 & -5 C) sunny skies and no salt on the roads, should I push my luck??

Regards,


Dean

[Sableco]

Dean
I would say GO FOR IT and have a great time,
all the best wishes from sunny Kuwait on the other side of the world 

Basem

[dean]

Hi Basem,

I went for a drive in town!!!!
It feels good to drive the Pagoda in the frigid January winter.  A first for me since I had my car for the last 3 years.

Without snow/salt on the roads will keep driving it every chance I get.

Warm Regards,

From sunny frigid NJ.

Dean

[GGR]

Yesterday I fitted some 15x7 wheels on my W111 Coupe : http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14796.0

as a result I fitted the alloy 123 Diesel 14x6 wheels that were on the Coupe on my Pagoda. I couldn't drive it to see the difference because they had salted the roads, but i guess it will be quite an improvement.

I had to start the car and move it arround in the garage to access the front right wheel. Despite the freezing cold the car started right up and idled smoothly immediately. Very nice engine.

[ctaylor738]

This is more like the last week, but on my project car:

- made one good set of Kangols out of three sets
- found a set of hanger covers for a good price on eBay
- installed covering, wind lace and caps on the pillars
- re-sealed power steering box
- installed pump seal and front seal in transmission

Can't believe how much work I still have to do!

[Cees Klumper]

Today drove the car into work to be picked up by an importing agent, so he can have it titled in Switzerland. I sure hope the technical inspection will go smoothly, the Swiss are known to be pretty thorough; should hear back early next week. At least the brakes work pretty good (see other thread on that)!