What have you done to your Pagoda today?

[Basil]

Now that I am 65 years of age, I find a little more time to work on the Pagoda.
So I built in power steering in my 230 SL. Makes it easy during a rally to turn around after the navigator has sent you in the wrong direction, which always happens on small countryroads.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Good for you Basil! Check out your Navigator next time to make sure he/she knows his/her way Reminds me of the TopGear episode where they were each assigned a totally wrong Navigator (a lady no sense of direction, a midget that could hardly see the road and a great navigator only he did not speak English LOL). Perhaps you saw the episode.

This is the one ----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqx60_KNAE4

[nirmal]

Still trying to figure out to connect the transistorised ignition to the 123 distributor. Meanwhile got some new products from Zymol with which I plan to details my car this weekend.

Nirmal
1969 280 sl
1953 MG TD
2012 Jaguar XJ

[Jonny B]

Nirmal,
Take a look at Pagoda Notes, Volume 3 no 4. It has a detailed article about the 123 ignition and may help answer some of your questions.

[Iconic]

Hi,
I finally finished the following work and drove my car tonight !! So far, it feels great.
New flex disk
Lubed drive shaft
Changed auto transmission fluid and filter ( and re-torqued valve body)
Replaced neutral safety/reverse lights switch cable (push-pull cable)
Replaced auto trans shift rod bushings

Thanks to everyone for their help in a few other posts.

[Jowe]

Today, I have given the beauty some periodical service:
Oil and filter change. I use Valvoline VR1 Racing  20W-50 mineral oil and MANN filters.
Fuel and air filter change
New coolant
Lubed chassis
Dripped oil in the dizzy. I have Pertronix ignition so no need for points exchange or adjustment.
Washed and Waxed
Parked and covered in garage
(Brakes, brake fluid, gear oil and diff oil was checked in February. 1600 km since.)

Recently, during the autumn, I have also:
Fixed window rattle in side windows (thanks to the Technical manual for that)
Fit new door seals
Bought a new Bosch battery

Now its ready for the spring here in Sweden 

[Garry]

Today I took a set of hubcaps to the chromer. The first chromer I tried had them for three months and did nothing. They won’t be back this side of Xmas so I decided to respray my existing hub caps currently 334G light blue to 350H dark blue that is the colour of my hard top after I corrected it to the data card numbers several months ago.

Sanded them back lightly and sprayed with lacquer. Horror, appears the old caps were enamel and there was a reaction.  Have to get some paint stripper and take it all off and start again before next weekend when the car is on show for a MB Car club bash on the south banks of the Yarra River in Melbourne.

Interestingly was using the club stencil.  The outer stencil does not work that well and it did not cover the outer area correctlyl so taping is needed but the centre stencil works just fine.

Tomorrows job.  Paint stripping and repaint.  

Garry

[batman]

Today I freed up the heater valve that was stuck on "on" (as the first step in also replacing broken heater/air levers). I followed the instructions in the Tech Manual (thanks to JA & everyone!). They are very precise and easy to follow. I was able to now turn the heater valve to the on & off positions.

Interestingly I was NOT able to remove the valve to replace the O ring and grease the valve. No matter how much pressure I applied to lift the valve up and out of its cylinder I could not get it out. I was able to push it downwards (until fluid was escaping but not up and out). I have been applying generous amounts of silicone lubricant so I will try again tomorrow.

Then as it has been a beautiful December day in Melbourne I took my son (and black Lab!) for their very first ride.

[Garry]

Mark,

Good to see you getting into it. Was a great day for a drive, also took my 230SL out for a drive to Kyneton and surrounds for a couple of hours.

Will catch up in the New Year.

Garry

[Flyair]

Today, taking advantage of a dry weather my Pagoda went for Winter pampering session. In fact this is to seal some leaks in the engine as well as to do the usual review and fine-tuning. The car should be ready for Spring season.

As Artur was to go and collect his Green beauty, he actually offered to drive mine to the maintenance shop. So he had the unique opportunity to drive two Pagoda the same day. A distinct pleasure I suppose

[Mike K]

I had a gap this morning and decided to change the diff oil. I took the car for a short drive to heat things up.
Firstly made sure that I was able to unscrew the filler plug before undoing the drain plug. I couldn't imagine anything worse
than draining the diff oil and then finding I couldn't undo the filler plug  

The old oil came out looking like freshly brewed  espresso, it definitely didn't smell like espresso....I put it through a strainer just to check for any debris and found nothing.
Once most of the oil had drained out, I then jacked up the RR side and then the RL to get the rest of the old diff oil out.
Capacity is 2,5L approx. 2,4L drained.

I replaced the diff oil with Comma 80W–90 Hypoid GL-5 Gear Oil and found it easiest to use a plastic siphon pump to get the new oil into the diff.
I’m thinking that next week I’ll repeat this whole exercise just to give it a flush and refill again with fresh oil.

I've only had the car for just over a year and have never done any of this work before. In fact in the time I've had the car, by following advice on this Forum, on my own I’ve replaced the fuel tank, installed a new fuel pump, installed a stainless steel exhaust, installed Thermo-Tec heat shield and replaced all the carpets, renewed seat bases using pool noodles, new seat belts, serviced the original Becker Mexico and installed new front speaker, hidden ignition cutoff switch, replaced cracked steering wheel, new shocks, new suspension springs and rubbers as well as steering damper and all rubber bushings. Not to mention doing regular oil changes and servicing.

Also had 123 ignition installed by a mechanic.

It’s been a very mild winter so far here in the south of France, I've been driving the car everyday and enjoying every minute.

Best,

Mike

[Peter h]

This week I replaced the power steering, hoses. Hope the oil leak is found with it. Also, I have built a shelf for the pagodas parts and 2 hardtops. If everything is stowed, both pagodas fit back into the garage.
For some, the cold winter in Europe is good. 
Peter

[ncsurfer]

Where did you find door side windows in the Technical Manual?

[Garry]

Here

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/ChassisBody/Windows


Just typed in Side Windows in the Tech Manual search function.

[ncsurfer]

Thank you Garry......

[Khurram Darugar]

Hey Peterh, slick job on those wheels.
Kay

[Peter h]

the two girls are back in the Garage 
Peter

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Nicely done Peter, one day I need to drop by and have a closer look (hope to get to Germany next year touch wood as we say).

[49er]

Very nice Peter. Do you have room in there for another one? Hi Rolf, if you can make it to Peters, I can assure you it will be most memorable. Peter is great host and has a wonderful hotel serving great meals along with two fabulous Pagodas. What's not to like

John

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi John, I know Peter is also a great organizer of tours (he has two on the go May and June this year). Perhaps before I turn 80 I will ship my Pagoda to Germany (or England) have it checked over from front to back and take some of the trips I was never able to take as a young fellow growing up in Germany It is something I'm thinking about anyway, no harm to put it on my bucket list ~grin~

[Garry]

Rolf-Dieter

Funny you should mention that as I have been doing some quiet planning on a similar thing going through USA to Europe, only my thinking is either Pagoda or Kombi.  Not sure which yet.  It is definately on my bucket list.

Garry

[Peter h]

Hello John
I could imagine a beautiful old Mercedes, but since there was a big problem with my wife.
@ Rolf-Dieter I would appreciate a visit. A pagoda for a small tour I had.

The second Moseltour 03.-05.July is fully booked. Some rooms are still available for the first 29-31.May.
Peter

[49er]

Actually a couple of days ago, this past Sunday, we took a lovely top down drive here in the foothills. Weather was almost balmy for January but the navigator required some additional warmth of which the Pagoda's heater provided. We have not had the car out for some time but it fired up immediately and ran without a hiccup. High light of the jaunt was going through the drive thru of our local In and Out getting lots of admiring glances/comments and ordering two #3s. Happy to say no crumbs or french fries were left behind . I guess I should add for those members that are not familiar with "In and Out", it is a very popular chain of Hamburger joints here in California and a few other western states.

John

[49er]

I did "something" for my car today. I bumped up the insured value. After reading where some of the prices these cars are going for I thought it might be a good idea.

John

[Garry]

I am with you John,

I think I also need to up my insurance. The car is sitting in the street this week  with covers on it after getting the back axle out after getting all the seals and rubbers replaced.