Restoring an 8,000 Mile 2.3-16

[lomtevas]

These are first looks at how new paint connects to old paint.

[Cappadocie]

I think MB use PPG in the USA to keep the costs down from having to import such heavy and fragile items from Germany.
Obviously PPG is MB approved so it should be fine.

When you replace the windshield it might be an idea to also replace the rubber seals that go down either side if your not already doing this...

For some reason the rear door seals always have a tendency to fray at the top corners...Great Idea to replace them...

Just a point to note - They really should have covered the rear seat bench with something or removed it all together whilst doing this!

[Paul E]

There are rubber mounts for each door handle.
These are usually a bit perished on a car this age so before you put the door handles back on, get new rubbers for them too.

Not expensive but worth while.

[lomtevas]

Originally Posted by amg36power

you should really get a new camera before this process ends. your current camera does the car no justice. post # 346,7 and 8 shows the cameras deficiencies clearly. id suggest getting a new canon.

I chose a five year old Sony Mavica for the restoration because its resolution and image rendition is a tight fit for internet blogging. Also, Windows Photo Editor easily handles the images for a reduction to 45% which fits into the image viewing area without scrolling. It is easy to use and it is impervious to dust. For discriminating photography, I have used a 9 megapixel Nkon and can bring in other camera equipment of any make or model.

Originally Posted by ML Precision

What a great restoration. It will be one sweet car when finished. You have a really great find.

Thanks for such a detailed thread !

You're welcome. Thank you for visiting.

Originally Posted by Jippi

looking good.. cant wait ti see everything back on

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Cappadocie

I think MB use PPG in the USA to keep the costs down from having to import such heavy and fragile items from Germany.
Obviously PPG is MB approved so it should be fine.

When you replace the windshield it might be an idea to also replace the rubber seals that go down either side if your not already doing this...

For some reason the rear door seals always have a tendency to fray at the top corners...Great Idea to replace them...

Just a point to note - They really should have covered the rear seat bench with something or removed it all together whilst doing this!

Little messes are a fair trade for huge achievements. I wonder how many 2.3-16's world wide wear such a paint finish. Deen will scrub the interior for a final detailing prior to delivery and as a ceremonial gesture, I'll be called in to affix the badges and the trunk star before driving away: at least that will be for the photo session where all the team will be photographed.

Originally Posted by Paul E

There are rubber mounts for each door handle.
These are usually a bit perished on a car this age so before you put the door handles back on, get new rubbers for them too.

Not expensive but worth while.

Thank you for this advice. Deen and I checked the fit and finish of each and every iota of rubber throughout the entire car. One "no" vote meant the piece goes bye bye. I believe the rubber washers that separate the door pulls from the body metal all passed with a double "yes" because they were flexible, well integrated and attractive. They actually look and feel good so they stayed on. Remember that if anything fails on this car, it gets fixed immediately.

The car rested today as the glassman was unavailable and there was the 300SD that needed to be prepped for the paint booth.

Tomorrow is day minus 4 and work will resume. We're down to door cards, windscreen rubber front and rear, trunk inserts, sunroof metal, window channel and exterior channel strips and bumper fascia with lights front and rear.

Whew.

[lomtevas]

Yesterday and today, the team waited for two things.

The first is for the glass man to come in and replace the windscreens and second was a surprise parts order. It appears that instead of providing door seals for the two rear doors, two front door seals came in. So, rear seals had to be ordered and are inbound.

So, in the photo, the port front door has been reassembled with a new rubber seal and a new trim strip that runs at the base of the door glass along the exterior top ridge of the door.

Meanwhile, the antenna came in and awaits installation.

[Cappadocie]

Looking great!

Rubber seals are so important...but especially on older cars since they rely on them so much...

After the bodywork is done is there anything else left to do?

[lomtevas]

Originally Posted by Cappadocie

Looking great!

Rubber seals are so important...but especially on older cars since they rely on them so much...

After the bodywork is done is there anything else left to do?

The blower and/or the push button tempmatic switch array needs work. The blower stopped working suddenly one rainy day when I had the blower on high. I checked the fuses but found all okay. I'll visit Helms Service for this issue. I'll get the zebrano to look excellent.

The center air vent will be replaced.

The valve cover is in need of a repaint in its original black paint. That will be done. Some stickers will be replaced for authenticity's sake. If the rear carpeting arrives, I will replace the rear footwell carpet. I will replace all the audio speaker drivers with factory originals for better radio sound.

The rest involves just keeping up with errors as I find them.

All photos are warehouse pre-strip. The tempmatic photo is taken within a day of delivery. Motor and interior are taken after initial detailing and rust removal.

[Cappadocie]

I never understood why NAm cars had a different heating control layouts to the Euro's...

Its all coming together real nice :-)

Make sure you don't skimp on detailing products, especially for the leather Interior. I can recommend Wolfgang for the leather.

You could always replace the brackets that hold the Injectors, they are inexpensive...

[chinny4290]

Wow. just read the whole damn thread.

Nice work!

Also, lomtevas, where is this body shop that you took it to for repainting? Do they do rust and body work too?

I'm restoring a W116 280S and need some surface rust taken out and some body panels straightened out.

Looks like they do a good job. How are the prices? Also, did you do some of the prep work yourself or did they all do it?

[lomtevas]

Originally Posted by chinny4290

Wow. just read the whole damn thread.

Nice work!

Also, lomtevas, where is this body shop that you took it to for repainting? Do they do rust and body work too?

I'm restoring a W116 280S and need some surface rust taken out and some body panels straightened out.

Looks like they do a good job. How are the prices? Also, did you do some of the prep work yourself or did they all do it?

S & R Auto Body & Repairs Inc
10016 Atlantic Avenue
Ozone Park, ny 11416-1727
Phone: (718) 323-3570

Deen and his team does anything to service and/or repair an automobile body, even a rusty one. They can paint a car in its original paint code or pimp your ride any way you want. Time equals money and the more time they spend on your car, the ultimate product will reflect the investment.

So he can do a fixed fee, low dollar strip and shoot in PPG paint, or he can go the distance ad infinitum. He can work any W-series you have, from a 1952 four cylinder S car to today's W-221.

I did zero of the auto body prep work. I left it up to the boys 100%. The car will look like a shiny penny costing very, very many shiny pennies.