1990 300CE respray bodywork where to start?

[captainb]

Hi,
I'm looking for some advice.
I have some rust to repair or rmay replace panels.
Its just bubbling paint at the moment.
I'm planning to facelift to the S600 grille and change the car colour.
I also want to shave the door handles and side indicators, frenching the number plate.
I'm also planning an engine conversion. So quite a bit of fabrication and wiring needs to be done as well.
Quite big project and lots of pieces.

I'm trying to get some sort of plan together at the moment.
Should I strip back the rust sections, strip the paint off and then do my bodywork.
Or is strippping the paint unnecessary and just concentrate on bodywork and paint prep.

Has anybody had expericnce of this type of thing ?

Thanks

[Pete Geither]

Had lots of experience. What you are looking forward to is a LOT of work and money. To really comment I would like to see detailed pics of the rust areas to decide whether to replace or repair. Changing the color on a Benz is a monumental task in itself as underhood is the same color as the rest of the car. Do you propose to do this all yourself or pay someone else ?

[captainb]

Thanks,
I plan to do as much of the work as possible. I'd ratherdo the donkey work myself and let a specialist do the finishing.
I've attached some pictures. The rest of the car has only little bits of corrosion that will sand off.
I was thinking that If I put a thin layer of bodyfiller over the wholecar I should be able to sand smooth and will protect the car from corrosion. What do you think ? Is there a preventative treatment to apply ?
Thanks

[Pete Geither]

Those fenders are looking pretty bad and would probably be best to replace them. The door rust should be manageable. Detrim the whole car including windows, sand the whole car with 320 grit taking care of the rust as needed. No reason to strip the whole car if the paint is original, as another coat won't give you too much build up. The rusted areas need to be taken to bare shiny metal and treated with a good 2 part primer/surfacer. When you get that far, let me know and will tell you what needs done next.

[captainb]

Thanks,
Do you think Its better to buy Mercedes fender or is there a good replica part ?
When you say take care of the rust do you mean sand down rust and the surrounding area tobaremetal and then use 2 part primer/surfacer (any brand recommendations?)
Or do I bodyfill the area whereethe rust was to be level with surrounding area then prime and then sand with 320 ?
The rust itself I will sand off using a rougher paper.
How much should I sand with the 320. Just to dull the paint or remove laquer
what about usingelectric sander, I may buy one.
Sorry if I seem a bit dim.

[Pete Geither]

Personally I would go with Mercedes fenders, but that is my opinion. If there is pitting where the rust was you will need to fill it before you prime, any good body filler will work. You just want to dull the paint real good,,, no shiny spots. Body shops use DA [dual action] air sanders for most of their sanding. Need a good compressor for that.