What have you done to your Pagoda today?

[Jordan]

Installed a new passenger side mirror.    Problem is now it makes my drivers side mirror look all ratty and old. 

[France]

Hi Guys,

It's almost 80F today, so I opened the garage door and polished the chrome on Carling.  I made a cardboard replica of the clock that He Who Must Be Obeyed has on his desk while he calibrates it and placed it in the hole in the dash.  He bought me a new chrome bezel for the day it finally keeps perfect time.  On Sunday we have a huge classic car show, and all the Pagodas from this area are meeting!

[Neil Thompson]

Big smile on my face today!, 1st February, just above freezing point, but a crisp bright day with not a cloud in sight so, on goes the hardtop, a quick dust off, remove the battery trickle conditioner and had an enjoyable hour or so and 40 miles of Pagoda fun. Didn't miss a beat after a couple of months standing and it felt like the start of Spring!... Snow forcasted for tomorrow.

[louisz]

Removed manifold and throttle body, used paint remover to find the VIN that was painted over.

[dean]

Friday: had a full Tune up done
Saturday: Car wash
Sunday: drove it to Church and now driving to a Superbowl party. 
it has been a perfect weekend so far, just need the Giants to win today!!!!!!!!!!

[Iconic]

Between yesterday and today I got my heater lever assembly out of the car ... finally.
It would have been a lot harder without this Forum. Thanks !!!

[Wolfmann]

Filled my new front crossmember with waxoyl and then installed 20mm grommets in the access holes at the rear of it. Not much really !

Yesterday (Sat) I had my first drive in a manual 113, an early LHD 250SL with a four speed, took a bit of getting used to as I have never driven a LHD car with a manual transmission before (I always end up with an automatic when I rent in the USA). I really enjoyed it and once you accept the facts that the engine will be revving higher at any given speed than a modern car and that the car seems to like it, it really is a nice and modern feeling drive. I was able to explore the handling limits more easily with a manual on some nice greasy roads here in the UK and I have to say that I was very impressed and able to feel the cars sporting pedigree - Very flat and not too tail happy even on greasy roads although it was perfectly possible to provoke a twitchy and sliding rear if the mood takes you !

I was very impressed with the cornering and handling, more so given the skinny tyres on the vehicle ! Body roll was minimal and outstanding for a car approaching 50 ! Went through a 30m tunnel in second at 5000 RPM and the sound really was intoxicating and although I understand that this may vary with the type of exhaust fitted, this example had a Ferrari V8 esqe howl at the higher end.
Marvelous fun and I cannot wait to get my own 230SL auto on the roads in a few weeks time - Spring, not long!!

It certainly felt and sounded like a sports car to me, irrespective of its lack of pace compared to say a BMW M3 or F355 or an E-Type for that matter !

S.

[GGR]

Today I drove my Pagoda with the aluminum W123 Diesel wheels. The car picks speed faster but is also much harsher as I could feel all the roads imperfections much more than with the original wheels.   

[Cees Klumper]

I would venture a guess that a harsher ride cannot be caused by the new wheels, but is likely due to a higher tire pressure. Try lowering the pressure by a few notches and see if that brings the ride back to what you had before.

[Ulf]

I've done NOTHING to my Pagoda today - except thinking about it and longing for spring :-(

[GGR]

I would venture a guess that a harsher ride cannot be caused by the new wheels, but is likely due to a higher tire pressure. Try lowering the pressure by a few notches and see if that brings the ride back to what you had before.

Indeed ! Now that you talk about it I forgot to check the tire pressure before driving the car. I fitted the wheels that were in the back of the Coupe in the front of the Pagoda with 35 psi in them and the ones which were in the front of the Coupe in the back of the Pagoda with 30 psi. So it's indeed all wrong. I need to check what pressure is required for the Pagoda.

[peterm]

Sent it out this weekend for tach rebuild couldnt stand the screeching sound-

while its out its getting a wet sand and proper prep for spring shows!

[Cees Klumper]

The screeching sound from the tach could be coming from the cable rather than the tach itself ... 

[49er]

Sent it out this weekend for tach rebuild couldnt stand the screeching sound-

Back in the late 70's when I will still driving my SL occasionally, my tach made the same screeching noise so I took the cable out and put it in the trunk . That was where it sat until I got the car back on the road in 2011. My mechanic lubed the cable, hooked it back up to the tach and not a peep since. Might be worth a try before you send it out.

John

[hank sound]

Hi all,

In my case, it's not "what I did to", but "what I did for" my Pagoda today.   I'm happy to say that I purchased my 3.27/4.5 rear end today.   

I'm going to love doing 75 - - and not be yelled at by my engine !!

Cheers, Hank

[280SE Guy]

Like Wallace Wheeler I do not have a Pagoda but today I cleaned the "red berries" under the side chrome moldings while listening to Pandora Internet radio of the Beatles, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, among other groups from the 70's.



It's really great to be retired and be able to putz around in the garage and do some "fun work" where there is no deadline.



Regards,

280SE Guy

[Norm]

Oh no!!

Norm

[Norm]

The rest of the story....   

Almost done.  Should be finished next week.

Norm

[Garry]

Norm,
Not putting  in the lower ratio axle!  Nice repair.

Garry

[GGR]

I put the right pressure in the tires and went for a drive. The car now drives at it should. I then had a look under it and I was so pleased to see how sound, original and rust free it is after having seen a bad rust bucket earlier this moning.

[ricrose]

Not personally - but I had the sub frame mounts and the two nylon bushes in the steering column join replaced. The driver's side (RH) mount was almost broken through and the other very badly cracked. The steering had about 3cm play! This was done last week.
I then had to take the car about 300k's this last weekend and the drive was fantastic. I could now stay straight on the road without playing with the steering the whole time and going over railway lines etc was without 'klunk - klunk'!

I think it has to be the easiest and cheapest way to make the biggest difference!

[GGR]

I think it has to be the easiest and cheapest way to make the biggest difference!

You may connsider all rubber bushing in general and the ones at both ends of the two rear trail arms in particular. Also check the play in the kingpins.

[ricrose]

I agree - all the rubbers are due to be replaced over the next couple of years as they are now almost 50 years old. I wasn't as flexible at 50 as I once was

[Alf]

Fitted 4 new Vredesteins today. Wow, new tyre rush. No longer feels like she is cornering on wooden stilts

[thelews]

Today I drove my 250 SL.  She's running great and glad to be out and about.  She's rooming with her 40 year younger brother.