Time for a short update.
Soft top: The hood needs replacing but the job is $$$ and is a way down the list of priorities. It still doesn't like to go into the soft top box without a good deal of pressure. I had cause to visit Chelsea Classics (the largest seller of Pagodas in the UK - they say about 130 or so per year, mostly 280's, they say they find it hard to shift others; they also provided the car for the excellent Pagoda clip on google.video driven by Jeremy Clarkson that someone listed on this site a few weeks ago) and had a go closing the hood on one of their 280's with a new one just fitted. Now I know how a hood should go in - i.e. very easily indeed. I remain some way from that kind of closure.
Engine: My mechanic has looked it over and declared it "OK." The points needed to be replaced and he has serviced the car. He is not an MB specialist, but rather specialises in GB cars, mostly Jags and Healeys. I disucssed using synthetic oils, but he was set against, so we're back with mineral oils - 20W/50 is what he's used, which is pretty thick! He has also put in IGK platinum plugs (he'd already done this and said that they were correct for the car - I should have said stock coppers; I'm going to leave them in as it's my fault for not specifying in detail. I know most will say keep coppers there). The timing chain and tensioners are fine; he's going to set the valves, etc and have a stab at getting the engine running less rich. We'll see how he gets on. Having tightened the fan belt adjuster at the alternator, the fan is now touching the radiator. More work needed there.
Body work: It was good to see the car on a lift for the first time. The underside is pretty good except where gallons of water sat in the drivers side foot well for God knows how long. The front and rear floor pans will be cut out and new ones welded in. This job will cost the most. Otherwise, the body work is surprisingly good. I wish I knew where the car came from in the US, as it seems well cared for by and large. The exhause has been badly fitted and we'll cut that off and re-weld, replacing the missing heat shields.
Suspension: The car failed the TUV on numerous things. (Though they didn't pick up on the kingpins needing repair!) The rear shocks need replacing; I'm going to get Koni's. (Especially after watching the blacklick video on google
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6010922069310307017) I need new engine mounts and sub frame mounts. Most of the other rubbers need to be replaced also, but these will be done in slower time. The car is down on the left (or up on the right; not a TUV test fail, so something I'll broach later). Massive thanks for JeffC280SL for his advice and files. I am thinking about replacing the springs as I met a guy who makes them and offers a good deal from the UK - he'll make a set (4) to any spec you want for a little over 200 pounds plus shipping; progressive, normal, etc anything you specify. I think that's pretty good.
Interior: I DO have to replace the seatbelts - v annoyed about that. My thanks to MDSALEMI for the 'how to fix seatbelts' file. Not looking forward to that job. The seats are better - very grateful to 66andBlue who suggested using a stiff-ish piece of industrial grade carpet between the springs and pads to stiffen things up; that worked really well, thanks Alfred. I also fixed the clock using the excellent clock fixing posts. It really was the little piece of solder and it really was (quite) simple. (The burns on my hands from the soldering iron should be hardly visible in a few months).
I have replaced the tubing that drains water from the firewall into the engine bay, and have re-affixed the ariel to the wing (fender). The only new problem is that the speedo doesn't seem to work.
Anyway, all in all good news. Did the daftest thing and bought the car unseen from the internet (THAT site) and may just about have got away with it to a large degree. It goes to show that it is possible to enter into Pagoda ownership without breaking the bank up front. (That, no doubt, will come later).
Finally, I would have been utterly stuffed and lost without this most excellent site and the amazingly helpful people that populate it.
I will post some pics soon - about a month or so by the time I'm ready to shoot for a re-match against the TUV meisters.
James
