Grille Modification

[Strife]

I've seen this type of perforated grille inside the stars on newer MB's and I liked it. So, I got some perforated aluminum (this is good stuff, not chicken wire) and made a few. I would have preferred stainless but we will see how this goes. The part fits behind the star, and is held in place with a rubber stopper inside the star, which compresses with the turn of a bolt and holds against the inside of the star. So far, good to 100MPH (tested in a wind tunnel, heh heh), and doesn't seem to affect cooling (not surprising, because it's more than 50% open and the center of the grille is stopped up with the aux fan anyway). No holes are drilled in anything and it's completely installable/removeable without any mods. This was done with some stuff I found at a very good nearby hardware store.

I forgot to mention two things:

1. You can still lift the hood through the LH side of the grill slats.
2. I didn't have to remove the grille to install it.

I did both of my cars; I have enough stuff left to make two more.

[Roncallo]

Strife

I cant really say I like it. But if it were a flat black grill on a white car. Well maybe.

John Roncallo

[David Langsam]

Like always, your workmanship is very good. But I also don't like the effect. This car was designed in the late 60's and giving it modern updates doesn't look good in my opinion. I like every line on the car, no need to mess with any of them. Just my opinion.

David

[GSMITH]

I have to say that this is not your best mod. Maybe it is the picture. It stands out too much. If the grill inserts were painted to match it might soften the effect.

I do like the fog light covers. Where did you find them?

Gary

[al76slc]

Originally Posted by GSMITH

If the grill inserts were painted to match it might soften the effect. Gary

Me too. I'm thinking how on the earlier MLs (not the new ones), there were three versions of the grill. 1) All black inserts, 2) leading edge chrome, 3) all chrome. I've been thinking now that the all chrome looks best on the ML.

I wonder how the SL would look like that, with your new star, and the same perforated metal you just worked with behind the bars.

However, unlike the ML, the SL is a classic design, and it may just look weird.

[Strife]

Hmmm...well, I might tone it down a little bit with black. I painted the grille and star wrought iron black some time ago, because I thought the silver looked "old", even after I refinished it by wetordri sanding the weathered layer of plastic off.

[Strife]

Originally Posted by GSMITH

I do like the fog light covers. Where did you find them?
Gary

They were made for 107's by Palco or Patco (?) in the 80's; I got them new in the wrapper cheap about a year ago because they were miscalssified on eBay. Wonder what happened to the tooling...

[nobby]

Nice job, Strife, however I am not fussy on the look. There is not much "*****ing up" you can do to the front end look of a 107 without changing its character.

[GSMITH]

Remember we are only offering our opinions based on a picture. If you like it leave it as is.

I have to ask if it looks any different on the 83?

I think if you paint it black it would disappear.

I remember seeing on this site where someone put chrome door edge molding on the grill slats and it looked pretty good. It might have been on a SEL though.

[Strife]

Originally Posted by GSMITH

Remember we are only offering our opinions based on a picture. If you like it leave it as is.

I have to ask if it looks any different on the 83?

I think if you paint it black it would disappear.

I remember seeing on this site where someone put chrome door edge molding on the grill slats and it looked pretty good. It might have been on a SEL though.

1. Well, I do think other opinions are important; I think that I tried to emphasize it in the picture - it may not look that obvious normally.

2. No, it looks the same; but on the '85, I'm putting on an AMG clone front spoiler that is of high quality and cost about 1/2 of an 86 spoiler - I like the spoiler on the 86 but I couldn't see paying $400 for it.

3. I looked into putting on chrome edging, but the problem is that the slats themselves aren't really that straight to begin with (they are by design wider at the center, and they also seem to get warped pretty quickly - I've seen a brand new out of the box warped 107 grille slat piece. It isn't very obvious when they are matte silver or black.

A billet grille would be interesting.

[drm261]

Anytime you stray from all original, you will always get a little kick from the purests. Unless its a rare model, I say go for it as long as you keep it classy. I go to car shows all the time looking for these kinds of ideas to use on some of my projects so I salute your creativity. These kinds of mods helps to make yours unique and not like all the others. I`ve got a 78 450SL and I would have no problem putting this mod. on mine. Your lucky, you only got a few polite no`s on your mod. If they could see mine, I`d incur the fire and wrath of all the MB purests. Nice job.

[GSMITH]

drm261 I would like to see what mods you are talking about.
Got any pictures to share with us non purests???

[drm261]

I`ve been a car guy all my life. For me, I look for classics that are not original or ones that would end up at the wreaking yard. Those are fair game for custom rework. The way I see it, the Mercedes are the king of the hill when it comes to class, but they suck on reliabllity so why not take a classic and make it better as far as drivability. When I found my 450 SL, it was headed down hill fast. Had I not saved it, it would be off the road soon. I`ve seen terrible conversions and those who cut corners on builds but I decided that if I had a classic, I should treat it with respect. My 450 SL will be rebuilt to new condition on the outside but the running gear will be all Chevy. The best of BOTH worlds. I will now have a Mercedes that really hauls butt like the new AMG`s but without the new price tag. If you want to take a look, go to ( www.photobucket.com ). At the main page, type in drm184 in the search box to go to all the pics. As I finish the build, I will post more pics and will offer a build manual after it done.

[al76slc]

DRM

I am seriously awed by what you are doing. Would you consider starting this mod as a separate thread and keeping us posted as you move along? I'll never remember to go to the grill mod thread to look for it.

That having been said, I wonder about the cost and time involved in what you have done. My first reaction was the climbing mountains analogy...

'Why do you climb mountains?'

George Mallory, contrary to popular myth ("Because its there"), replied poetically and insightfully: "And my answer must at once be: It is no use. There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever. Oh, we may learn a little about the behavior of the human body at high altitudes, and possibly some medical men may turn our observation to some account for the purposes of aviation. But otherwise nothing will come of it. We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself, upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."

Sorry to get all teary eyed. Please keep us abreast, and the purists won't have to look.

[drm261]

So far, every major install problem that others have had, I`ve solved. I am documenting everything as I go and will have a how-to manual available after its on the street. I`ve done V-8 conversations on Vegas, Nissan 280Z`s, and Jags. I love the challange, but more so, I always try to prove that it doesn`t have to be hard or cost a fortune. The MB has always been the king of the hill for class and style but repair costs really suck. With this conversion, anytime you have mechanical problems, just drive to Pep Boys for a few bucks. A nicely restored 450SL impresses the MB purests but a ChevyBenz can impress all the rest. I live in the Palm Beach area and I can only guess what the local bluebloods will say but hey! isn`t that what its all about. I`m going to rework all my build pics and will create a new build thread soon. Hopefully, the purests will see that the finished product still shows respect for the great MB heritage.