My favorite 280SL tool

[MBdude]

Here is my favorite tool.
It comes out of the trunk every time I open the hood on my 280SL.
It took about five minutes to make out of a 3" x 2" x 6" piece of foam with a slit in the middle.
Procrastinators remember this post every time you whack your head on that pesky hood latch.

[Matt113]

Excellent idea!

[kampala]

What's the part number for that special tool?  Couldn't find it in the BBB or the EPC or at SLS or at Buds, Millers, KKM --- Hey I bet Stan's friend Kristophe makes them.


Here's my pagoda hood/bonnet war-wound selfie --  I hit that latch 18 months ago  -- didn't want stitches, so now I have a scar --- but it's finally tanned to match --- must be the topless driving.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Great Idea, I have to make one ~s~ then I have to come up with a similar tool for my Dodge Caravan Wheelchair Van, each time I go up the rear ramp I bank my head (well not each time several times anyway and it hurts)

Oz, Must have hurd bad for several days glad you are okay!

[Benz Dr.]

That's an odd thing. Maybe it's because I've hit my head a few times on the opened hood of an older sedan so I've becomes used to ducking, or possbily it's because I'm six foot four inches and I have to duck for everything anyway, but I've never been hooked by the hook. 

 Ofcourse, that could change tomorrow...........

[Flyair]

Here's my pagoda hood/bonnet war-wound selfie --  I hit that latch 18 months ago  -- didn't want stitches, so now I have a scar --- but it's finally tanned to match --- must be the topless driving.

Oz,
dont think he makes them, but it wouldn't hurt asking

As for your selfie, one could collie that your addiction to Pagodas marked you for life

[Paul & Dolly]

Oh !
I have never before recognised this as a problem, (good solution though)

I just hope that this is not now to become one of those instances where we all start to suffer  "Attack by The Hook",  now we have been exposed by MBdude and Kampala


Keeping my head down (hopefully)

Paul

[MBdude]

I'll amend my original post to say that possibly everyone doesn't need one of these.
If you only plan on changing the air filter or topping off your radiator surge tank or maybe polishing your intake manifold then no problem since these require access only on the right side.
Now if you plan on changing the spark plugs, replacing points, checking your brake fluid or fiddling with the fuel injection pump then that is another matter.
Either way, I guarantee you will remember this post when you whack your melon.
Left side mechanics beware!!

[Benz Dr.]

You can adjust your hood so it will open all the way by moving the resting block for the prop rod as far forward as it will move. I've seen cases where the hood was only opening about half as far as it could go and if that's the case, yes, you will hit your head on the hood latch.