A few moments of temporary insanity, and a 1980 240D becomes mine! - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #46 05-15-2010, 09:37 PM

nope, I saw no foam, just a really top notch job of plastering the rocker panels with bondo. I mean I've pulled off 1/2" thick layers of the stuff. notice the pic I have that shows the entire side of the rocker panel. notice the lack of jack holes? yeah, the entire thing was created from bondo. I really feel for the poor sucker that bought this car thinking it was sound. I'm glad I just need some parts off it. I'd hate to need this for transportation.

JB3 · #47 05-15-2010, 09:46 PM

I was referring to this pic of your 240, back behind the rust. Don't tell me that all bondo!

It amazes me that it takes less time to properly repair the rust on one of these cars than it does to fill an enormous void with bondo! Way more expensive too. And yet body shops just keep doing it again and again.

When I lived in the midwest, I got turned down by several shops who would not work on rust, they just said "it keeps on coming back" Only if you cover it with bondo, if you cut it out and fix it properly, its as good as new.

vstech · #48 05-15-2010, 09:50 PM

hmm, that does look like foam don't it... I've not really dug into the car much, I don't care about it at all... but now I'm curious, I'll let you know tomorrow.

JB3 · #49 05-16-2010, 10:04 PM

another before and after. took care of this rust hole under the battery tray, going to add a drain. Guy over on benzworld put one in that looks like its working well.

It was difficult to cut all this crap out in this complex joinery area, but the new rust free patches made it worth it.

Also, finally stopped screwing around a picked up a nice heavy wire wheel for the ol' angle grinder. Sucker cuts through the undercoating like a hot knife through butter, strips off inches of the stuff in seconds. Amazing difference over the drill mounted stuff I was trying to use.

vstech · #50 05-16-2010, 10:08 PM

I looked and it is indeed foam.
I just got a cherry looking 85D in to detail and service to get ready to sell.
the battery tray area made me cry...
I'll be starting a thread on it soon, the pics are just sad. a perfect car and the PO sold it KNOWING water was coming in on the passenger's footwell... didn't tell the buyer, and it's sat for 2 years (under cover thank god!) WITHOUT REPAIR!!! the new owner wants me to get it ready to sell, and I find this in my tear down...

JB3 · #51 05-19-2010, 08:19 PM

Ok, made some serious rust progress on monday morning. Also received the driveshaft in the mail!

,

Hopefully, I can get that all fitted come the end of the week and do some driving!

Some more before and after rust pics, the support for my radiator was gone down below, thats all fixed on both sides now, and the passenger rocker/footwell area is all sealed in in preparation for the fender being fitted for the final time.

or maybe not.

Getting a little sloppy in my patch panel production because honestly, im getting sick of welding them to this car! fortunately I have turned the corner and only have the passenger floor to do now. Surprisingly little trunk rust, I will have eliminated 95% of the rust on the car by the time the floor is done.

Can't wait for this weekend! maybe I can start driving, assuming everything works as intended

JB3 · #52 05-21-2010, 09:23 PM

custom drivetrain is nearly complete!

I have some clutch hydraulic stuff to do next, but the end on that bit is in sight. 5-speed is bolted in, shaft is in, linkage is modified and in, mount is modified and in, and new ATF has been put into the tranny. Ran it through the gears, and the neutral angle and reverse lockout feels pretty good. We will see what happens when power is put through this!

Still have an enormous rust hole on the passenger side, and a number of wiring issues to resolve as well as buttoning up some final stuff underneath, like the exhaust pipe and speedometer cable.

1. burnt wiring from welding under dash on driver side
2. lost control of the wire wheel and cut the wires for passenger turn signal (whoops)
3. have to find a switch that the 201 chassis cars use for the reverse lights and wire it in
4. Figure out what this sensor is on the passenger side that was in the auto bell housing.

heres a pic of my new transmission all buttoned up!

JB3 · #53 05-23-2010, 05:50 PM

Drivetrain is complete and tweaked, and the car is drivable!

Put about 20 miles on it today so far, and of course, sprung a fuel leak on the third test drive.

So far the transmission appears to be working normally and i have no noise at speed, I will be watching it and listening. (easy with a 4 foot hole on the passenger side)

Time to button everything on the drivers side up and get this thing ready to use!

nickofoxford · #54 05-23-2010, 07:25 PM

Awesome thread man! Can't wait to see the fruit of your real repairs.

What are you using as a reverse light switch? I picked up a shifter assembly for my swap with the switch built right in to it.

JB3 · #55 05-23-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickofoxford

Awesome thread man! Can't wait to see the fruit of your real repairs.

What are you using as a reverse light switch? I picked up a shifter assembly for my swap with the switch built right in to it.

Thanks! I am going to have to go into a yard and look for switches, my handle assembly was missing the switch. I have the extra brake light switch though off the auto pedal assembly, and I might do some tests on that first and see if I can adapt it though before searching for a 190 manual car sensor.

Heres a pic of the car with a the cream fender installed. I may have to paint this, it looks a little odd with three body colors.

Also ripped out my non functioning A/C system today, it was barely bolted in and rattling around! The PO certainly could not catch a break with the hacks working on this car.

funola · #56 05-23-2010, 11:01 PM

Hey you're bringing that car back from the dead. My 83 240D 4 spd had less rust than yours which I thought was not worth repairing so it became a parts car. Just driver's side floor pan rusted through. The manual tranny and all parts for auto to manual conversion are gone but I have most everything else. Let me know if you need anything.

vstech · #57 05-23-2010, 11:02 PM

Hey, steve, don't give that cam away, I am seriously thinking of getting it, or the entire motor from you!

funola · #58 05-23-2010, 11:10 PM

John, the cam's not going anywhere! Too sweet a motor to part out. It shall live and run again in another 123 body.

JB3 · #59 05-23-2010, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Hey you're bringing that car back from the dead. My 83 240D 4 spd had less rust than yours which I thought was not worth repairing so it became a parts car. Just driver's side floor pan rusted through. The manual tranny and all parts for auto to manual conversion are gone but I have most everything else. Let me know if you need anything.

I need some trim and plastic stuff actually, would you be willing to sell me the driver side front fender middle trim strip, and the passenger front fender lower trim strip? Is that piece of plastic that goes behind the front bumper to cover the gap still intact? If so id like that as well, mine is shattered. Whats the condition of the grill insert and little chrome thingies? I also need a grill.

fixed the electrical damage caused by my setting the car on fire, turns out I only torched the parking brake sensor wiring. Took care of that, and no more emergency dash lights!

Im sure there are a thousand and one little things I need to grab off your car!

cirrusman · #60 05-24-2010, 01:47 AM

Your story goes to show that virtually ANYTHING is fixable, given the proper time and dedication

I love this thread you've been working on by the way-what a labor of love...