What have you done to your R107, TODAY ...

146581 Views 2275 Replies 203 Participants Last post by rcrmonte3, 18 h ago

cwmoser

Discussion Starter · Apr 8, 2019 (Edited)

Be interesting to know whats being done to all the R107s on here.
Lets post a comment here when you do something each day so we will know what you are up to.

TODAY, I washed, detailed, and vacuum the interior on both Angel (380SL) and Sunshine (560SL) this morning.
Also installed Paracord to use as an emergency pull cord to open the Soft Top cover if it gets stuck.

(Uploaded pictures - all inside garage as it started raining right after I finished)

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2041 - 2060 of 2276 Posts

AbeLinconln

· #2,041 · 7 mo ago

This 1973 R107 (Goldie) actually a silver 450SL, was my barn find. It has been a year of ups and downs, the best thing is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The car had been sitting for 10 years in a garage, luckily the body seems sound, seems like rubber and plastic hoses do not like sitting that long, replacing everything that is essential. Today put the flushed radiator back in, antifreeze had turned to jelly. hooked up the transmission cooler, and engine cooler lines, and reattached a few other hoses. Then I attempted to replace the power steering belts, but damn it has been so long since I took it apart, now I have to figure out how to re-tension the belts back up, nothing really on youtube, so here I am, crying the blues, Giving it a rest and will try another day. Thanks, everyone for listening to my bellyaching, take care now... Abe

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andya

· #2,042 · 7 mo ago

AbeLinconln said:
Then I attempted to replace the power steering belts, but damn it has been so long since I took it apart, now I have to figure out how to re-tension the belts back up, nothing really on youtube, so here I am, crying the blues

See attached. Andy

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nobby

· #2,043 · 7 mo ago

AbeLinconln said:
This 1973 R107 (Goldie) actually a silver 450SL, was my barn find. It has been a year of ups and downs, the best thing is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The car had been sitting for 10 years in a garage, luckily the body seems sound, seems like rubber and plastic hoses do not like sitting that long, replacing everything that is essential. Today put the flushed radiator back in, antifreeze had turned to jelly. hooked up the transmission cooler, and engine cooler lines, and reattached a few other hoses. Then I attempted to replace the power steering belts, but damn it has been so long since I took it apart, now I have to figure out how to re-tension the belts back up, nothing really on youtube, so here I am, crying the blues, Giving it a rest and will try another day. Thanks, everyone for listening to my bellyaching, take care now... Abe

Welcome to the forum!

The good thing about the 107 crowd is that there are WAY more victories than defeats.

You are in good hands, here.

MBGraham

· #2,044 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

Today, I will first take the 107 out for it's final drive of 2022. Plan is to drive to nearby village where the gas station also sells beer. Once back home will back into storage area of garage, disconnect battery and put the cover on.

Too bad, haven't driven her much this year - other projects got in the way.

Got her done

Wood Floor Flooring Tints and shades Hardwood

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chiroracer

· #2,045 · 7 mo ago

Got it running on all cylinders with some new plug leads! HUGE breakthrough. Now focused on the squeaking rear swaybar bushings ,driving me batty.

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freshairfiend

· #2,046 · 7 mo ago

Today I bit the bullet, acknowledged that the weather was no longer in my favour, and put the top up. Perhaps old age has weakened me to the point where what used to be a minor hassle is now a feat of strength for which I can be proud. I am now aware of the fact that if I ever get caught in the rain, I will get extremely wet while struggling to put the damned top up..

1cheesegrater

· #2,047 · 7 mo ago

andya said:
See attached. Andy

After you get the bolts loose, shove a pry bar in the gap between the pump and the engine, force the pump out to where you want it then tighten the bolt in the slotted ear to hold it.

MBGraham

· #2,048 · 7 mo ago

freshairfiend said:
Today I bit the bullet, acknowledged that the weather was no longer in my favour, and put the top up. Perhaps old age has weakened me to the point where what used to be a minor hassle is now a feat of strength for which I can be proud. I am now aware of the fact that if I ever get caught in the rain, I will get extremely wet while struggling to put the damned top up..

I put my top up before I put the car in bed for winter (post 2044 above). The top had been down all summer. It had got COLD here in Ontario! There was no way to get front and back pins in place.

So, with top partially in place, I turned heater on full and let the car idle for an hour or so while I had lunch. When I came back out, I got the front pins in and partially turned the locks. Then pushed down hard at the back and got the rear pin to clip in. Fully tightened the front locks and then the rear using the handle. Very tight, so I have left it like that for now. Eventually, I will release the tension for the winter.

I am also getting old and weaker, but in this case the cold weather was the real problem.

rcrmonte3

· #2,049 · 7 mo ago

freshairfiend said:
Today I bit the bullet, acknowledged that the weather was no longer in my favour, and put the top up. Perhaps old age has weakened me to the point where what used to be a minor hassle is now a feat of strength for which I can be proud. I am now aware of the fact that if I ever get caught in the rain, I will get extremely wet while struggling to put the damned top up..

Good reason to either keep the top up (NAH!) or not drive in the rain!

freshairfiend

· #2,050 · 7 mo ago

rcrmonte3 said:
Good reason to either keep the top up (NAH!) or not drive in the rain!

Not driving in the rain is a golden rule I never break - intentionally. I have been caught out by unexpected weather a couple of times but have never put the girl away wet. Toweling her off is not such a hassle but trying to get those two pins to slot into their top up position can go one of two ways, slick as shit or damned near impossible. I have to admt I envy the button pushers with power tops.. .

rcrmonte3

· #2,051 · 7 mo ago

freshairfiend said:
Not driving in the rain is a golden rule I never break - intentionally. I have been caught out by unexpected weather a couple of times but have never put the girl away wet. Toweling her off is not such a hassle but trying to get those two pins to slot into their top up position can go one of two ways, slick as shit or damned near impossible. I have to admt I envy the button pushers with power tops.. .

The 2 front pins are the worst. But, when you get those 2 fastened, you need 2 people to push the back one down...LOL

nobby

· #2,052 · 7 mo ago

freshairfiend said:
Not driving in the rain is a golden rule I never break - intentionally. I have been caught out by unexpected weather a couple of times but have never put the girl away wet. Toweling her off is not such a hassle but trying to get those two pins to slot into their top up position can go one of two ways, slick as shit or damned near impossible. I have to admt I envy the button pushers with power tops.. .

I'm not gonna lie....but when my top is COLD I have some trouble.

But I do the rear pin first...get it clipped....then I do the front pins all the way....then I crank down the rear.

RRohrbeck

· #2,053 · 7 mo ago

nobby said:
I'm not gonna lie....but when my top is COLD I have some trouble.

But I do the rear pin first...get it clipped....then I do the front pins all the way....then I crank down the rear.

I found that works the best for me as well.

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MBGraham

· #2,054 · 7 mo ago (Edited)

RRohrbeck said:
I found that works the best for me as well.

Most of the time I do it that way. But after being stored down for 6 months and temperatures dropping down to near freezing, it just would not work. With rear pin in catch, there was no way to pull the front pins even just to reach their sockets, never mind in.

Once I ran the car with the heater on and top partly closed, I got the fronts part way in (1/2 turn).
Then pushed down at rear and got it just clipped.
Then tightened the fronts.
Finally used handle to tension the rear.

Snowed in again today. Waiting for snow-plow man to come** We pay him anyway. No plans to go anywhere, so no point in cranking up the snowblower! Shoot - It is only November and I am already tired of winter

** He just came

Snow Tire Car Vehicle Sky

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freshairfiend

· #2,055 · 7 mo ago

nobby said:
I'm not gonna lie....but when my top is COLD I have some trouble.

But I do the rear pin first...get it clipped....then I do the front pins all the way....then I crank down the rear.

That's interesting - I find it impossible to do the front pins if I do the rear first. Doing the front first enables me to put my considerable weight behind the effort to slot the rear pin into place. I have the strong feeling that the designer of the top fastening system was a sadist.

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rcrmonte3

· #2,056 · 7 mo ago

freshairfiend said:
I find it impossible to do the front pins if I do the rear first.
I have the strong feeling that the designer of the top fastening system was a sadist.

I agree. Even if I only 'clip' the rear, the front is impossible to fasten.

CousinMB

· #2,057 · 7 mo ago

I've been lucky, the R107 I bought spent it's first twenty or so years with the hard top on, permanently
So the soft top is original and in very good condition
I find it fairly easy to clip in the two front pins, then push the rear onto its pin, then the handle to lock it down
I think plenty of soft top replacements might be a lot stiffer making things much harder

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andya

· #2,058 · 7 mo ago

Installed a new antenna - URO model from Mercedes Source. Have to figure out a way to hide all of the wiring.... Andy

Automotive tire Bumper Optical fiber cable Electrical wiring Audio equipment

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rcrmonte3

· #2,059 · 7 mo ago

andya said:
Have to figure out a way to hide all of the wiring

Build a lightweight box and get a trunk carpet kit.

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CousinMB

· #2,060 · 7 mo ago

andya said:
Installed a new antenna - URO model from Mercedes Source. Have to figure out a way to hide all of the wiring.... Andy

View attachment 2792716

rcrmonte3 said:
Build a lightweight box and get a trunk carpet kit.

Some info in this thread on boot/trunk carpet and antenna cover. Post #25 in particular gives measurements for the antenna cover
Those measurements aren't from any original specs, just ones I made up that work
Trunk/boot carpet and antenna cover

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