Refresh?

[doodah]

I am getting my Dad's 450 SLC soon. He was going to give it to charity but I talked him into giving it to me. He has had the car for several years and fixed many things on the car. The only thing I know for sure that doesn't work is the A/C but I don't have the car yet so I don't know the symptoms with that. My question is what should I check before making the car a weekend cruiser? It has been sitting for a year without being started, it's kept in a garage under cover so the elements haven't gotten to it. My dad said he went to drive the car and it kept quitting on him, I am assuming fuel filter and old gas for that one. Anyway it's at the shop to be fixed for that. So, what are some things to look for after sitting up for a year? Sorry so long. Thanks for in advance for responses.

[kip Foss]

I assume that your car is 25 to 30 years old. It probably cound use a new set of plugs and wires, a new distributor cap and rotor, and a new igniton coil. A bottle of Trechron fuel injector cleaner for the first few tank fulls of gas. New brake fluid probably wouldn't hurt if it has been sitting for a long time. Certainly a radiator flush and check all the hoses to make sure they aren't hard and cracked. New V-belts wouldn't hurt. Charge the battery on a slow charge overnight and then check it with a hydrometer to see that all cells are charging correctly. Check the oil lever in the rear end. No one ever checks that. The ac could probably use a recharge. A new air cleaner, check all fluid levels, check all electrical fuses,

All the above can by done at home and probably for less than $300. Check out your local parts store for the igniton parts. I got mine there and saved a bundle. The plug wires are exact copies of the MB ones and are about $40 cheaper.

Depending on the miles you might be needing a timing chain and upper guides. If you DYI you can get by for a couple of hundred in parts. The dealer will charge a thousand and a local foreign car repair shop might do it for $500.

Good luck.

[doodah]

Sorry I forgot the year. It's a 79 that my dad bought in 85 I think. It was in bad shape when he got it and I know they redid the whole interior, repaired the rust and painted it. I don't know if he has done anything more than fix what has broken mechanically. I think he spent so much getting it back into shape he was afraid to drive it. I'll treat it like any other car sitting for a year I guess. Thanks for the input, lot's of good info. BTW I will be a DIY with this car, only weekend cruiser so it can sit up while I do repairs. Cheers!

[doodah]

Well I found out it's a 75 not a 79. My dad took it to a mechanic down the road from him who has done a good job getting it road ready so far. He was honest with my dad and told him he would do what he could but would not attempt anything he wasn't qualified for. He got the fuel system cleaned out and also replaced some bushing in the suspension along with repairing the exhaust. Hey Kipp, I notice you are in S. Texas. Where abouts? I am in S.A. near Helotes, any clubs in town for owners of 107s or older MBs?