It all started with a climate control fix... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cirrusman · #1 10-18-2013, 01:27 PM

A few weeks ago I decided to just go ahead and fix the climate control in my '83 300SD instead of switching to a "manual" unit thanks to your guys' input. So out came the dashboard and I did a thorough vacuum line test. Once every single line passed and was made sure to be routed correctly (some weren't and some weren't even plugged in) I tested the unit and Oh Joy! It was so nice to see how the whole thing worked just fine with each temperature change. (I made a video that If I can figure out how to upload I will post...). Then I saw a lot of broken plastic. This car was really manhandled by the P.Os. Center console broken, lots of crud under and in between wires and vacuum lines, I found a dorito dated probably from the 80s... A disgrace. So I cleaned it all up. Then I thought, since the dash is already out, might be a good idea to replace the center console as everything fits kinda loosely around the car; the radio was just slapped in with no way of fastening it to the console. Got a good one at my local PNP, grey in color but I'll just paint it with a good vinyl paint. And since I was doing all that, why not renew the vinyl on the dash? It's all full of cracks and looks ugly. So I went to my local Joanne store and got me some new good quality vinyl. All is set and prepped. My next step will be re-covering the dash with the new black vinyl and I'll use the vinyl from the old B pillar (I replaced them too, the plastic part that goes up and down was broken on both pillars) to re-cover the palomino parts. As for the wood trim, it was all cracked, peeling and falling off, so I got some trim at the PNP and I decided to go faux carbon fiber on all of them, so I'm getting some of that too. Here's some pics of the current state of affairs, and I'll be posting more as the job progresses

cirrusman · #2 10-18-2013, 01:30 PM

Some more pics...

cirrusman · #3 10-18-2013, 01:32 PM

...and the new center console after all the CRUD was washed off with tons of Mr. Clean.

eatont9999 · #4 10-18-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirrusman

...and the new center console after all the CRUD was washed off with tons of Mr. Clean.

That console is grey. Looks like the rest of the interior is palomino. Any particular reason for the color mis-match?

cirrusman · #5 10-18-2013, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatont9999

That console is grey. Looks like the rest of the interior is palomino. Any particular reason for the color mis-match?

I'm re-coating it in palomino, my main interest was that it was not broken like the one it replaces. Check out this thread:
Recoloring Vinyl trim with SEM ColorCoat... anyone done this?
And as long as I'm started on the center console, I think I'll do my doors and pillars too

eatont9999 · #6 10-18-2013, 06:26 PM

Gearhead's dash was painted and he has areas that are showing through. Apparently the original dash color was Palomino and the rest of his car is grey. I'm not sure what product was used to paint his dash but make sure whatever you use will hold up to some wear.

cirrusman · #7 10-18-2013, 08:22 PM

Oh, I sure will!

I've found several people on this forum who had done it and have reported no trouble with it...

eatont9999 · #8 11-04-2013, 12:06 PM

Have you painted the console yet? If not, Ridgerunner has one in Palomino. If you want to skip painting, you could buy the one he has and I'll buy the grey one off you.

cirrusman · #9 11-04-2013, 12:47 PM

Sorry, yeah, I painted it already... I also can tell how much abuse that paint can take, I had to remove the dashboard again and in the process of puling I did it a bit too strong and scratched a bit of paint off... Really a tiny bit for the actual scratch . I'm pleased with the results. Sorry about that though...

thayer · #10 11-06-2013, 01:41 PM

What amazes me is that the entire dash came out and the PBU is still sitting there, bolted in. That is impressive.

Well done on the write up. My Sister is driving my 83, If it were still my DD I would take this on.

cirrusman · #11 11-06-2013, 04:22 PM

I have new pics that I've taken since. I'm still fighting with the climate control vacuum pods which I tried to patch to no avail. (I've got 6 brand new diaphragms coming in the mail from a guy in TN; He actually makes them!

), and when I'm done with that the dash will go back on. I painted a door today and it looks really good too, so I'm doing all 4. Pics to follow as soon as I'm done!

gear-head · #12 11-12-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirrusman

...I'm still fighting with the climate control vacuum pods which I tried to patch to no avail. (I've got 6 brand new diaphragms coming in the mail from a guy in TN; He actually makes them!

)

Would that be George Murphy?

Yeah, you're gonna have fun with those too, be sure to mark the "clocking" position of the arm in relation to the housing before you take 'em apart!

and while you're at it, you might try growin' at least another hand! it's a whole lotta fun puttin' em back together, fightin' that spring!