Author Topic: New member introductions (Read 910517 times)

EarlypagodaMX · « **Reply #1025 on:** June 15, 2017, 20:34:24 »

Hello everybody, after more than a decade chasing a pagoda, and after starting to Asume that they were probably out of my reach, I finally bought mine, an early 1963 in need of TLC.

I'm new to my car but willing to learn and to contribute to the pagoda

Regards

Eduardo

neelyrc · « **Reply #1026 on:** June 15, 2017, 20:48:14 »

Welcome to the Forum Eduardo!! You will find it to be a welcoming group. Be sure to take advantage of the knowledge and experience available here as you get to know your car and as questions come up.

Jonny B · « **Reply #1027 on:** June 16, 2017, 14:40:52 »

Eduardo,

Indeed, welcome to the group! You will find this site to be a treasure trove of information about the car.

Get acquainted with the main "Search" function, the one in the string starting with "Home". The search function at the top of the page (under the group logo) will only search on the section you are currently reading (General Discussion, Events, etc.).

John Ragan · « **Reply #1028 on:** June 20, 2017, 22:18:29 »

Hey everyone! John here from Calgary, Canada. I'm a MB tech at a dealership here and am currently working on a '69 280 SL. On here for some good insight and some input on different issues I may experience along the way.

Jonny B · « **Reply #1029 on:** June 21, 2017, 01:49:42 »

John,

Welcome! I am sure you will find quite a trove of information here. There is a lot of information to sift through. I would highly recommend you become familiar with the main search function - this is the one in the line of items beginning with "Home" on the left. It searches the entire forum.

The search item under the SL group logo will only search the forum section you are looking at.

And if you don't find what you are looking for, people fall all over themselves to provide an answer!

BETTER motorsports · « **Reply #1030 on:** July 19, 2017, 22:05:30 »

Hello, I'll take a moment to introduce myself, my name is Sean and I run a small custom fabrication company just outside Ottawa. I had a 1968 250SL that I bought from my grandfather in 2003, it was an Arizona car, rebuilt the engine, drove it for a few years, the paint was fading and starting to chip in a few places so I took it down to bare metal, fixed all the dings and cleared in with flat laquer, drove it for a couple of more years in essentially bare metal. When I ended up selling it to fund some other projects the guy who bought it thought it was a silver car from the pics, easy way to show no bondo.

In any case I am doing an engine swamp on a customers 1965 230SL and have run into a snag, I will post my question in the technical section.

Yes, sometimes I do miss the SL.

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1031 on:** July 20, 2017, 15:57:31 »

Greetings all!

I have acquired a 1969 280 SL from Karl Middelhauve of Wausua, Wisconsin. Burgundy with Tan interior, hardtop and soft top. 4- Speed.

I picked it up on July 5 and ultimately drove it home to Washington State from the Chicago area after visiting with family first.

A dream of mine since seeing an SL in the showroom in 1968...

Reinhold Schuetz

Iconic · « **Reply #1032 on:** July 20, 2017, 17:48:00 »

RPSchuetz,
Welcome to the group !!
You have a stunning car there. It is still up on Karl's website, so I checked out the other pictures.
Fantastic.
Can you tell us how the drive went?
Mark

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1033 on:** July 20, 2017, 18:14:48 »

Mark - the drive went relatively well, once my brother and I resolved a sticky throttle linkage issue. Also monitored the oil level as there was some leakage going on - hopeful most of that is being resolved today as I'm at my trusted local mechanic's while the oil pan gasket and lower oil cooler hose are being replaced. Also having electronic ignition installed and new plugs and ignition wires, plus new valve cover gasket after the linkage and valve adjustment check.

One of the fun things about the drive was finding out what a conversation starter the car is - I'd say that 75% of my rest stops along the 2000+ mile trip included compliments and conversations!

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1034 on:** July 20, 2017, 18:20:39 »

Also, it took a bit to get used to the high revving sound of the engine - I allowed myself to drive a little faster as far as the top end every day as I got used to the audio effect - by the end of the drive the 4000 rpm's at 70+ felt relatively normal...

Took the attached photo in front of a very interesting military museum in Montana

neelyrc · « **Reply #1035 on:** July 20, 2017, 20:52:19 »

Reinhold,
Welcome to the group. A 2000 plus mile trip in a newly acquired 48 year old car is certainly an adventure! The car looks great. If you took other pictures along the way, please share them here along with any other anecdotes from the trip.

Garry · « **Reply #1036 on:** July 20, 2017, 21:17:08 »

Welcome to the Group Reinhold.

Like you I had a similar long distance to get my current Pagoda home some years ago. Unlike you, it was a nerve wracking disaster as the engine slowly self destructed but finally got it to my mechanic after nearly 20 litres of oil.

Enjoy the Group, have a good read through the Tech Manual and the search function in the ‘Home’ line is your favourite friend. If you cannot find anything then ask plenty of questions, there are many here who will know the answers.

Garry
Membership Administrator

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1037 on:** July 20, 2017, 21:39:34 »

Ralph - my pics are apparently of a size that only one at a time can be loaded, so here goes...

This one is of my first live view of the car - I had asked Karl to have it on a lift for us so that he could point out all the restorative work he had done underneath as far as shocks, engine mounts, brake lines, etc.

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1038 on:** July 20, 2017, 21:44:54 »

A really nice rest stop on I-90 near Chamberlain, SD. Has a very well done Lewis and Clark longboat exhibit plus an impressive statue tribute to the American Indian women.

neelyrc · « **Reply #1039 on:** July 20, 2017, 22:13:38 »

Quote from: RPSchuetz on July 20, 2017, 21:39:34

.... This one is of my first live view of the car -

Great shot Reinhold! I am sure that with this introduction, it was love at first sight.

By the way, do you have the production date and chassis number? I was wondering if it is close to mine (January 1969 and 007749)

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1040 on:** July 20, 2017, 22:45:09 »

The chassis number is 8037 - while the car came with a "computer card", I don't see where it has a production date on it...

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1041 on:** July 20, 2017, 22:47:28 »

While still in Illinois, I was able to give my 97 year old aunt a ride in the car - we went to visit my mom's (her sister's) gravesite...

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1042 on:** July 20, 2017, 22:52:24 »

The rest stop near Anaconda, Montana - the old smokestack from the mining operation is in the distance just to the left of the trees in the middle. Would have loved to have had the time to play a round of golf at the course Jack Nicklaus built nearby, but no time on this trip...

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1043 on:** July 20, 2017, 22:54:12 »

Lastly, if you're ever passing through Wallace, Idaho, I heartily recommend the City Limits Brew Pub.

Iconic · « **Reply #1044 on:** July 20, 2017, 23:43:32 »

RPS,
Thanks for the details.
I've taken a couple of cross country road trips in newly acquired very old cars.
I love that adventure.
Good for you for taking it on and I'm glad it went well !!
Too bad you didn't get together with some Chicago Pagoda owners while you were here. Although I can tell you used your time well. Maybe next time you are "driving through".
Mark

neelyrc · « **Reply #1045 on:** July 21, 2017, 08:01:52 »

Quote from: RPSchuetz on July 20, 2017, 22:45:09

The chassis number is 8037 - while the car came with a "computer card", I don't see where it has a production date on it...

According to the table of production dates in our Technical Manual, your car was produced in February, 1969.

Thanks for sharing your adventure and again welcome to the group.

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1046 on:** July 21, 2017, 08:33:20 »

Thanks!

Zum 230SL · « **Reply #1047 on:** July 30, 2017, 18:21:44 »

I just rejoined after several years away from the group. I have had my 1967 230 SL in tunis beige metallic for about 20 years. It runs pretty well, but there's always things to be done. I live in San Jose in northern California and used to maintain a list of local owners and mechanics/suppliers. I always enjoy meeting other owners, so if you're in my area, let me know.

Pete S.

RPSchuetz · « **Reply #1048 on:** July 30, 2017, 18:52:20 »

Chris_ATL · « **Reply #1049 on:** August 01, 2017, 16:52:26 »

Hi,

I signed up a few weeks ago and have been going over and over the site to get as much information as possible... it's a treasure trove!

I'm in the process of looking at a 68 280SL, that has belonged to my neighbor since new... However it's a contradictory little car with a lot of strange elements (USA version, but no fender riders, no headrests, etc), which this website is really helping me understand.

I've restored a couple of cars (Triumph, lotus) but nothing like this.. Trying to see if i am biting off more than i can handle.

Thanks in advance for all the help

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Author Topic: New member introductions (Read 910517 times)

EarlypagodaMX

John Ragan

BETTER motorsports

Zum 230SL

Chris_ATL