Author Topic: Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...  (Read 1264 times)

twistedtree

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, VT
  • Posts: 639
Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...
« on: December 07, 2024, 21:25:17 »
Some of you may recall that about 15 years ago I bought 4 Pagodas and 4 rooms of parts.  None of the cars worked and all were in various states of disassembly.  https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=12033.msg81097#msg81097

Since then, I got one car running and into good driver condition, and sold it.  Then a second car I sold as-is without ever touching it.  Then the third I got running and into pretty good driver condition, and have been using it on and off over the past several years.  The last car, a 1970 280SL with manual transmission, is up next.

About 10 years ago I had it running, but it's been sitting since.  I had previously cleaned the fuel tank and fuel system and replaced the fuel pump, had the injectors tested and adjusted, and rebuilt the clutch cylinders.  I also rebuilt one side of the front suspension, but didn't get to the second side.  Now I'm back at it.

The plan is to get it into good driver condition and sell it.  Someone can then drive and enjoy it, fix it up more, or even go for a full restoration.  It will be up to them.  My goal is to get it into solid mechanical shape, cleaned up, and on the road.  I already have a bunch of the parts to finish the front suspension and to replace all the rubber in the rear end.  I had also bought a genuine Mercedes fuel tank since the original was still suspect.  All those parts will finally be going into the car.

Today I dropped out the fuel tank, and also dropped out the rear axle.  I need to replace the rear rubber brake lines, trailing arm bushings, spring pads, shocks, carrier bearing, and lateral support bushings.  I also need to replace the axle boot, and suffered through installing a split boot on my current driver.  I don't want to do that again, so this time I dropped out the axle since I have to disconnect everything anyway, and will replace with a solid boot.
1964 MB 230SL
1970 MB 280SL
2023 BMW x3

Jack the Knife

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, FL, Vero Beach
  • Posts: 384
Re: Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2024, 23:00:33 »
May the wind be in your sails for the last stretch of your project. As an aside, I passed through Shelburne this past summer during a road trip of the whole east side of the Mississippi, and that museum you all have is really a gem. Beautiful country.
1964 230SL "Blue Note"
2015 G550 "Milk Truck"

zoegrlh

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, VA, Williamsburg
  • Posts: 852
  • Beauty from top BCW
Re: Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2024, 15:16:17 »
TT, sounds like you know what you are doing and will do a good job at getting you last Pagoda on the road. If I read correctly, your in VT, so you have lots of winter days and snow to give you plenty of time to get it ready for the spring thaw.
Robert Hyatt
Williamsburg, VA.

W113, 1970 280SL, Red leather 242 on Silver Gray Met. 180, 4-speed stick, Euro spec, restored
R172 2012 SLK350, Black Premium leather 801 on Mars Red 590, 7-speed auto
W211, 2007 E320 Bluetec, Cashmere MB Tex 144 on Arctic White 650, 7 speed auto

twistedtree

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, VT
  • Posts: 639
Re: Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2024, 15:28:12 »
Yes, Vermont, and these snowy days are indeed great for inside projects.  And I'm already suffering the disease of "if I have this out, then I might as well also do...".
1964 MB 230SL
1970 MB 280SL
2023 BMW x3

Pinder

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 1035
Re: Working on the 4th and last Pagoda...
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2024, 16:10:12 »
For resale purposes you should take pictures of the work you are doing or video clips. it makes for great documentation.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.
1997 Corvette C5 Silver. automatic
2015 BMW 320i xdrive
2021 Mercedes GLS450 Silver