280SL in Laos

[Thierry du Laos]

This topic is the continuation of:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=20051.0
And is targetted to share my experience on refurbishing my car.
My car is a 280SL of 1968, that I bought 3 years ago on the web near New York.
She came in a container to my home in Laos after a 2 years trip, mainly due to the expensive Laotian Import Tax problem I had to deal with.
Now, March 2014, I start at last this new project based on my experience on Pontons:
http://www.mbzponton.org/pax058/people/savidan/savidan.htm
All the pictures I take can be viewed on my album at this link:
http://www.hostingpics.net/album/thierrydulaos-127354.html
All comments are welcome to enhance my knowledge on our marvelous Mercedes "Pagodas".

[Thierry du Laos]

Removing the parts under the dashboard, i found a mice nest and they have eaten the rubber hose drains nearby.
And I think that anyway, after nearly 50 years these rubbers are cooked, and fail to do their job. It is interesting to check the condition on your cars, as if these are damaged the water entering the front cabin air intake will drain on the cabin floor, not anymore in the engin bay!!
http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=277633IMG2263.jpg

[kampala]

Thierry,

I just went through some of your photos through your link (not all) and it's amazing the amount of work you have taken on. 

It would be interesting to know what condition the car was in when you purchased it vs. the condition it was in when you finally got it through customs.  I was shocked at what you found in the gas tank and the condition of the brake calipers.  Based on your rebuild experiences of past cars this will turn out to be a gem ... the tremendous amount of work you are doing will pay-off!

Appreciate you posting updates ...

Bon courage!

[Thierry du Laos]

Thanks Kampala,
Just posted these 2 pix:
http://www.hostingpics.net/membres/voir,269074IMG2272.jpg,22.html
http://www.hostingpics.net/membres/voir,319080IMG2275.jpg,22.html

You will have it all on my album (refer to first post of this topic), before and step by step, after...
So far, I am still discovering the condition of the car. There is stil filler and primer in many exterior places where I still wonder what's under?

Quel endroit en region Parisienne?

[kampala]

Thierry,

I live in the Champs-de-Mars area and work in Marne-la-Valee.  

The two additional links you provided do not seem to work for me ... but I went to your album link from the pervious post and saw some additional photos.  

Keep it up ...

[Thierry du Laos]

Kampala,
Very nice place to live in!!

[Thierry du Laos]

Going through more discoveries:
http://www.hostingpics.net/membres/voir,535105IMG2303.jpg,22.html
and
http://www.hostingpics.net/membres/voir,762608IMG2302.jpg,22.html

I remind you if you want more pix, they all here. The last ones in the last pages:
http://www.hostingpics.net/album/thierrydulaos-127354.html

Lots of work coming.
Thierry from Laos

[kampala]

Lots of work coming.

Thierry, you said it perfectly. 

You've got quite a bit taken apart ... quick work.  What's going on with the door?  Is that some previous owners attempt at welding the door panel? 

[Thierry du Laos]

Yes the door might have been hit, and a guy welded a new piece! Then they filled the door with at least 1/2 an inch of filler.
But it was cracking, crying under the weight. So I pulled it out.
Out of many bumps all around more or less important, everywhere the car has suffered an heavy corrosion under the body.
So the only way to save the car is to do it from scrap.
I don't know if anybody knows the contact in Poland where it seems that they produce some sheet metal parts for this car?
It would be easier than the US for me, as its part of EU. And probably cheaper too than from Germany?

[Flyair]

Since you called on the culprit for the contact in Poland I sent you a PM

[Thierry du Laos]

i am starting to make a tool like on this drawing to work on the car.



Updated attachments to the frame...

[Thierry du Laos]

Hi Petri (Star63)
Just found your Post: Another DIY restoration!!!!!
Very interesting at the beginning of mine.
You've done all that job without removing the mechanic parts.
Wasn't too hard to access?
I've removed all from mine because anyway I have to refurbish all in the same time.
I'll try to make mine as well as yours...!
Nice job.
Thierry from Laos
(Used to work a while with KARAIR)

[Thierry du Laos]

Here I am ready to turn the car on the side to carry on :
http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=967057IMG2459.jpg

[star63]

Very interesting project, Thierry!

I think it was a good decision from you to remove the engine and the drivetrain.
I should have done the same when I started my project. It would have helped quite a bit.

You'll have a lot of welding ahead. The jig (and possibly some additional bracing) will help to keep the body straight and panel gaps correct.

- Petri

[Thierry du Laos]

Here we are after some worries, but it worked ok.

While turning:


And done:


I was surprised by the rather high bare body weight . I wonder how much she weights?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Re: Weight assuming from all you removed (engine, transmission, interior etc. etc.) my guesstimate from what I see in your last photos would be between 1,700 to 1,900 Lbs. Not including the frame of course.

If someone would ask me what the complete rigging weight would be (if transport would be required to another location) I would say rig for 4,000 Lbs to be on the safe side.

Quite a project you have undertaken there! Wishing you all the best for the remainder, must be fun doing and so rewarding once finished. Do keep posting with lots of photos as you go on.

[Thierry du Laos]

Thanks Rolf,
Yes I think it is around 1 700 lbs. I thought initially it would be less, but lifting to turn it all I changed my thoughts....
Yes, sure I'll post all along the job.
And hopefully it gives a nice new star birth!!

[Thierry du Laos]

The problem coming soon is how to fix the right door.
She has been repaired by some guys I wouldn't give my car to fix, near New York. They cut, roughtly welded and filled with a lot of filler.



New panel or could it still be repaired by a good sheetmetal worker?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Looks pretty bad to me, I would check to see what the cost of a new door would be and compare it to the repair cost. Sometimes spending a few more dollars makes a lot of sense.

Someone once said, "The price one pays for quality is soon forgotten, the quality is never forgotten" or words along those lines

[Thierry du Laos]

I agree with you Rolf,
However, I am in SE ASIA where still the manpower for that kind of work is affordable...
I worked in Aviation for many years, and I will make it properly!
I am investigating for the different possibilities.

[Thierry du Laos]

Making some progress:


Its nice and motivating to find among the rust some good condition left structure.
However if some middle parts are still good, all the ends are in poor condition and reduce dramatically the complete rigidity of the car structure.
I have no regret doing this havy job.

[Thierry du Laos]

Going on smoothly, flipping over to the other side:


Removing the rear panel:


Lots of rust....!

[Thierry du Laos]

Rust:


Clean, cut, make new pieces:


And weld:

[Thierry du Laos]

Carrying on....



I wonder how an owner can do to put a car in that condition?

[Flyair]

Thierry,
our beloved cars were longtime youngtimers and treated like any other "left-overs" in some cases. I spoke with a person whose father used to drive a Pagoda. This may appear incredible, but he told me that as a child he remember being ashamed to ride in such a unsophisticated car, with no plastic dashboard, excessive chromes and general "un-modern" looks. So, some of the cars were just relicts of heydays, but not object of cult like now...

Courage. You will make it. The parts are on their way...