I rolled my pagoda last night...

[Benz Dr.]

There are three different MC for our vintage of cars with hydraulic clutch. They have different inlet and outlet thread sizes which can make matching up what you have a bit of a challenge. If you order like for like you should be OK. I found the unit without a bleeder to be the wrong one and the brake fluid pipes wouldn't fit on both ends, or maybe it was just one end but I ended up having to get the right one to make it all work.   

[johnk]

Good points Dan thank you. I will try it this weekend if the fittings don't line up I will consider the 250 version or changing the fittings.

John

[lreppond]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this particular thread.  First of all, I’m in total awe.  This is a big project yet the results are absolutely breath taking and highly informative to boot.  Your color choice is my favorite of all the colors offered by MB back in the day.  It’s showy yet elegant and reserved and shows off the cars bright work perfectly.  I’ll be interested in seeing what interior colors you end up going with. 

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with this restoration with all of us. 

[johnk]

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this particular thread.  First of all, I’m in total awe.  This is a big project yet the results are absolutely breath taking and highly informative to boot.  Your color choice is my favorite of all the colors offered by MB back in the day.  It’s showy yet elegant and reserved and shows off the cars bright work perfectly.  I’ll be interested in seeing what interior colors you end up going with. 

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with this restoration with all of us.

Irrepond, You just made my month thank you! i will make sure I post more pics as I go forward.

Below are pics of Fernando Castanfeira's car that is the model for my colors. Fernando has been super helpful in helping me get my colors right, and sent me these pics just yesterday helping to make sure I order the right leather color.

[johnk]

So my wiper linkage has been my hold up the last two weeks. It was rusted so when I pulled it apart I had to strip and soak the rust off - no problem. I then set up an electroplating system to replate the previously rusted areas. It plated great but for some reason the plastic grommets melted a bit in the process and now the linkage turns harder than I would expect. As soon as my wiper motor gets back from Classic Wiper for a rebuild I will install the linkage and motor and make sure it works before I finish the dash.

[JamesL]

Thats a lovely colour combo - that would be on my list were i starting from scratch
Looks like it's on bigger wheels though that may be the effect of the witewalls

[lreppond]

Oh man, you’re definitely on the right track. I’ve seen a 3.5 convertible in this same paint with parchment interior.  It’s pure Hollywood!   Although it’s very eye catching, there’s also something really restrained too.  It’s the perfect choices IMHO. 

[johnk]

So I learned  new trick from Shvegel recently. I needed to replace my gas line grommets and I could only find 2 online. There is actually about ten of these in the car for different uses. He told me to by a solid rubber line online cut it to length and drill a hole in the center.

Works great and cost less than ten bucks  for the rubber!

John

[kampala]

The 728 color you have chosen is also the original color of my 280.  Mine is in epoxy primer at the moment after stripping to bare metal waiting to get its 728 back. A Previous owner had the car painted ivory.   

As far as I know, there are now at least 6 pagodas within our group with this color. I have seen 5 of them (including mine) first hand:

Drewtee (UK] - seen at our European events
Kemal (UK) - seen at our European events
Donati (California) - drove to Arroyo Grande  (from Los Angles) to meet Donati.
Hauser (Florida) - saw this car at our Virginia Event when Gernold brought it. 

Kampala - me - (car lives in California)
Johnk - you - (Ohio)

Any others?

[mclewis]

I also have a 728 car, with brown interior and soft top.

[johnk]

The 728 color you have chosen is also the original color of my 280.  Mine is in epoxy primer at the moment after stripping to bare metal waiting to get its 728 back. A Previous owner had the car painted ivory.   

As far as I know, there are now at least 6 pagodas within our group with this color. I have seen 5 of them (including mine) first hand:

Drewtee (UK] - seen at our European events
Kemal (UK) - seen at our European events
Donati (California) - drove to Arroyo Grande  (from Los Angles) to meet Donati.
Hauser (Florida) - saw this car at our Virginia Event when Gernold brought it. 

Kampala - me - (car lives in California)
Johnk - you - (Ohio)

Any others?

Not that I am aware of. Houser’s is the one I posted above and he is the one helping me on it. I first saw it at the Virginia event.

[johnk]

After reading Dr Benz’s helpful email above I priced the clutch master sleeve for a 250 rather than a 280. The only price I could find from our normal supplier was $250, which convinced me to try my old one again first (it had a slight leak).

For the hell of it I jut googled the part and found Rockauto has it for $106 or a close out version by American Remanufacturers for $7.99!

I ordered the 7.99 version feeling lucky. We will see.

[mbzse]

.../...clutch master sleeve for a 250 rather than a 280.../...

The clutch hydraulic system is different on a 250SL compared to a 280SL.
This is due to the change over to a diaphragm type clutch mechanism on the M130 engine.
The dia for the master and the slave cylinders should be a match to each other, as follows:
230/250 SL clutch master cylinders share the same bore (Ø23.81mm) but come with different part numbers. The slave cylinder is the same for both (Ø25.4mm).
280SL master cylinder is Ø19.05mm bore and slave cylinder Ø23.81mm.

It is not trivial, and as DanC mentions, complicated by use of M12 or M14 fine pitch thread pipe connections.  The SLS website has a useful table; see Section 29.i

[johnk]

The clutch hydraulic system is different on a 250SL compared to a 280SL.
This is due to the change over to a diaphragm type clutch mechanism on the M130 engine.
The dia for the master and the slave cylinders should be a match to each other, as follows:
230/250 SL clutch master cylinders share the same bore (Ø23.81mm) but come with different part numbers. The slave cylinder is the same for both (Ø25.4mm).
280SL master cylinder is Ø19.05mm bore and slave cylinder Ø23.81mm.

It is not trivial, and as DanC mentions, complicated by use of M12 or M14 fine pitch thread pipe connections.  The SLS website has a useful table; see Section 29.i

That's good to learn thank you. My fittings won't work with the 280 Master cylinder so I have to go with the 250. I am afraid now that the slave cylinder I ordered a couple years ago but didn't install yet wont work with the 250 master. I better dig up my old one and see if it works.

Gentlemen you saved me a lot of work and frustration again thank you!

[johnk]

I decided to start installing the sound and heat barrier while waiting to get my wiper linkage fixed.  Although it seems to me that I should not be covering the transmission tunnel.  The tunnel already has the original fiber matting on it that the new material does not stick to well and I believe the carpeting on the tunnel gets glued on tight. I may pull that off and use it under the kinder seat.

[pj]

How come you decided not to remove the fibre matting over the transmission tunnel?

[Pawel66]

"original fibre matting" - I did not know there was one there...

[johnk]

"original fibre matting" - I did not know there was one there...

I will post pictures on the matting this weekend when I am back at the barn

[johnk]

How come you decided not to remove the fibre matting over the transmission tunnel?

I guess I could remove it. I wasn’t removing any of the original materials but I guess the new solid material should be better than the original matting on the tunnel.

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi John.
My reply post #39 refers.
I am very much in awe of the excellent job you are doing.
I have owned 2 190Sl’s and restored 6, I have also owned 4 Pagodas and a pair of 111’s (a 61 Cabrio and a 63 Coupe) as well as a few modern sedans, station wagons and a few modern SLs.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[johnk]

Hi John.
My reply post #39 refers.
I am very much in awe of the excellent job you are doing.
I have owned 2 190Sl’s and restored 6, I have also owned 4 Pagodas and a pair of 111’s (a 61 Cabrio and a 63 Coupe) as well as a few modern sedans, station wagons and a few modern SLs.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

A thank you Chris! I am in awe of what you have owned and own!  My favorite realistic dream car has always been an E-type since my brother had one in the 60’s. I often wondered if someone offered me a decent price for my 280 when I am done would I seriously consider selling it to get an e-type. I know my son would be heart broken.

If you had to choose which of the two would you select to be your only classic?

[johnk]

Hi John.
My reply post #39 refers.
I am very much in awe of the excellent job you are doing.
I have owned 2 190Sl’s and restored 6, I have also owned 4 Pagodas and a pair of 111’s (a 61 Cabrio and a 63 Coupe) as well as a few modern sedans, station wagons and a few modern SLs.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

A thank you Chris! I am in awe of what you have owned and own!  My favorite realistic dream car has always been an E-type since my brother had one in the 60’s. I often wondered if someone offered me a decent price for my 280 when I am done would I seriously consider selling it to get an e-type. I know my son would be heart broken.

If you had to choose which of the two would you select to be your only classic?

[cfm65@me.com]

Hi John,
It would be very difficult for me to decide between the E and the Pagoda.
My E Type is in better condition than the Pagoda, however, now that I have the fuel injection sorted and changed auto box with a 5 speed Getrag, SL is much more user friendly than before.
To tell the truth, the 29 Chevy is my daily driver and my favourite.
Regards
Chris

[johnk]

"original fibre matting" - I did not know there was one there...

Pawel
Below is a picture of the original matting on the transmission tunnel. It is pretty thick and completely so I Am going to leave it in place and focus is putting the new material behind the seats to help silence the rear axle and road noise.

[johnk]

So I have done all I can under the dash and it was time to take it off the rotisserie and start the drive train yea!  Removing the rotisserie was kind old like taking off your ski boots after a great day skiing -ahhhhh!

This weekend I will be installing the rear end - any tips on the compensating spring are greatly appreciated. I had the privilege of having Joe Alexander rebuild my differential and the transmission.

The really nice trolley supporting the unit on wheels and keeping the axles
Horizontal is courtesy is Shvegel who luckily also lives relatively close by.