I bought another one! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pwogaman · #1 09-05-2008, 01:37 PM

Bought a 1976 450SL for $600.

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll4/pwogaman/1976%20Mercedes%20450SL/

I will be carving it up for parts. It has many of the parts I need for my 1980 280SL restoration, but some parts even seem better. It has a brand new leather driver's seat skin, bundts with tread (to replace the aftermarket crap on the 280SL, and a rust free trunk and spare tire well. As a bonus I'll probably take the power windows, cruise control, and air conditioning and retrofit them into the 280SL as well.

I finally have something I can work on with my two boys where I don't need to fear them breaking something I'll really miss. I see a few solid days disassembly coming up soon! I'll take what is left of it to the metal scrap yard.

The interior is actually in pretty good condition.

Here are the option codes:

467 - central locking system and instruments with english lettering (from 01.04.1970 up to 31.10.1993)
491 - USA version (from 01.01.1963)
513 - Becker radio Europa (stereo - USA) (from 01.06.1969 up to 31.07.1981)
531 - automatic antenna (from 01.01.1963)
585 - Behr air conditioner and electric window lifters (front doors) (from 01.04.1970)
592 - green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (from 01.01.1972)
636 - elimination of warning triangle (from 01.03.1973)
931 - magnetite blue metallic (from 01.01.1975 up to 31.12.1979, from 1994)

Dee8go · #2 09-05-2008, 02:00 PM

Are there a lot of interchangeable parts between those two? It seems like there should be, but I have no personal experience with them. I hope you're able to get a lot out of that parts car. Good luck, Paul.

pwogaman · #3 09-05-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

Are there a lot of interchangeable parts between those two? It seems like there should be, but I have no personal experience with them. I hope you're able to get a lot out of that parts car. Good luck, Paul.

Sure are! I expect to pull everything down to wires, plugs, vacuum hoses, diaphrams, switches, sensors, lights, windows, everything! What I don't use I'll save for a rainy day.

By the way, despite how it looks, that is a Time-Valve stainless steel exhaust system that I should be able to readily weld into the shape needed for my 280SL.

Mistress · #4 09-05-2008, 02:33 PM

Woooohooooooo! These things do get addicting you know. Congrats on the aquisition and good luck with the project for you and boys.

Dee8go · #5 09-05-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwogaman

Sure are! I expect to pull everything down to wires, plugs, vacuum hoses, diaphrams, switches, sensors, lights, windows, everything! What I don't use I'll save for a rainy day.

By the way, despite how it looks, that is a Time-Valve stainless steel exhaust system that I should be able to readily weld into the shape needed for my 280SL.

You da man, Paul! You did a great job on the other exhaust system you made for your SD. That one was from scratch, if I remember correctly.

pwogaman · #6 09-05-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

You da man, Paul! You did a great job on the other exhaust system you made for your SD. That one was from scratch, if I remember correctly.

You do.

hanno · #7 09-05-2008, 07:23 PM

I'd appreciate if you keep us informed about the A/C retrofit. I am gathering parts to do "factory air" in my 83. PO had no use for it as car came from Bismark, ND. It does have seat heaters though

pwogaman · #8 09-06-2008, 07:41 PM

I brought the new car home today - right in the middle of tropical storm Hannah. As I was getting ready to pull out of the seller's driveway with the car loaded up on the U-Haul auto-transporter he asks me if I want to buy the other new leather seat cover and new horse hair padding - still in the box -b to go with the rebuilt driver's seat! Another $60.00 and they were mine. So now I have the makings of two rebuilt seats to go with the host of other parts. Now I am seriously looking at this recent acquisition and thinking restoring it would not be too hard; just I do not have any interest in mucking with a 450 engine when I have a 280 sitting in the garage. I also bought a MB 107 service manual for $50.00. The binding was not even creased! I will try starting it tomorrow and take it from there.

Mistress · #9 09-10-2008, 04:28 PM

Pictures please and something tells me your keeping the second one as well.

pwogaman · #10 09-29-2008, 01:09 AM

I've decided to make it a donor. I started disassembling it from the rear going towards the front.

So far it has nice solid floors which should transfer over to the 280SL nicely.

There is a little bit of surface rust that should come off easily. Don't let the glue fool you into thinking it is rust - it just looks kind of like it.

pwogaman · #11 10-18-2008, 07:00 PM

I pulled the drive shaft, fuel tank, and rear sub-frame today. I've pretty much already gutted the interior, only the climate control exchanger and steering shaft remaining.

I want to take off the front bumper support, which got me thinking. It might just be easier to pull the engine and transmission by, after removing the front bumper support, simply cutting out the top radiator support revealing the front of the engine and then sliding the engine, transmission, and front sub-frame forward altogether on a floor jack. I've already removed the exhaust and transmission support (only the engine is holding it up now). I think that all I would have to do is drop the sub-frame to frame mounts, the shocks, and then pull it all forward - of course I'll need to separating the various cables and and hoses. Seems like this would be easier than pulling the engine the traditional way by using a hoist.

Mistress · #12 10-21-2008, 03:04 PM

How's the "Green Hornet" coming along?

pwogaman · #13 10-26-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

How's the "Green Hornet" coming along?

I'm not going to Mess with the Green Hornet until I get the 450SL broken down, cut up, and out of the way - although storage of the donor parts is quickly becoming an issue.

Today on 450SL I carefully removed the radiator, condenser, auxiliary fan with mounting bracket, cruise control actuator (vacuum type), coolant reserve, power steering pump and cooling coil, alternator, smog pump, radiator fan, and air filter housing. Best part about it, I got my 12 year old to help with the wrenching! Some of you may remember him from one of Hef's GTGs. He was really getting into it for about an hour, but it wasn't to last too long - the call of the electronics were too strong and overpowered me.

I'll start up with the pictures again just as soon as I get another memory card for the camera. The last one fell off the computer desk into my shoe and I did not notice it until after about 5 hours of walking on it.

irshmerc · #14 10-26-2008, 10:06 PM

thats a nice looking Becker mexico

pwogaman · #15 10-27-2008, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irshmerc

thats a nice looking Becker mexico

Thanks. Here is another shot of it with less glare: