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  #1  
Old 06-02-2008, 04:07 PM
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Bought a 1980 280SL - $1,200. Link to before pictures added!

Here are the before pictures: http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll4/pwogaman/1980%20Mercedes%20280SL/

All I have to do is replace the rusted frame and body. Seriously though it does need new front fenders, the first of which I just bought off eBay for $125. If I slammed on the brakes with the existing fenders I figure the headlights would come flying out - one of them is held on with 1 screw. Just the same, the prior owner gave me the euro headlights.

It looks as if the rust is pretty much limited to the fenders and quarter panels. Since I have my own mig welder changing that out should not be too difficult. The rest of the body looks sound and straight: no rust in the pans or the structurals. I figure the massive fender rust came from prior owner filling rust holes with fiberglass and bondo - without cutting out or sealing the existing rust.

I got the 280 because it is a Euro, and I figured I start my first MB gaser with a smaller engine that is easier to work on with room in the engine bay, much like my 300SD with the 5 cylinder 617.95. The engine sounds good and strong (and loud with an exhaust leak. The prior owner's records reflect about 150 compression.

While the mileage reads 217K, I know that is off significantly. The car lived its first 50-60K kilometers in Germany as indicated in the service stamp books. It then came to the U.S. and a used replacement speedo-cluster was put in (even has the U.S. O2 sensor light). Looking back through the records the lowest mile mileage I could find is 192K. So, best case the lowest mileage would be about 25K on the replacement speedo and 50-60K kilometers on the original for a total of approximately 75K miles. In any event, it probably is not above 100K.

This will be an extensive restoration. I already took 98 pictures in the as received condition and will post them once I size them down to shop forum limitations. I will also take many as I go.

Picking up the car was a bit of an adventure. Powerpig gave me a ride to get it and drive it home. Unfortunately the alternator was not charging and the battery was totally dead (unlike the one that was in it when I bought it). Piggy and I decided to leave the car and I would come back later with a tow dolly, but before we left a caravan of about 40 exotic cars came racing down this little curvy road: Porsches (loads of them), BMWs, Lotus', Ferraris, a couple of Mercedes, etc . . .

U-haul didn't have any tow dollys, so they gave me a full trailer for the same price. I brought another battery and jumpers and returned to the car. Wouldn't you know it! My other battery was dead too. And because I was in the mini-van for the tow I didn't have tools to take its battery out for the load. Being at least an hour from home I really didn't feel like driving the full trailer back to get more tools or another battery. What I ended up doing, however, was putting the mini-van with the trailer at the bottom of a slight hill and set up the trailer ramps. I nexted pushed the 280 back, about 4 inches at a time, until itl was lined up with the trailer. I then pushed down the hill and up on the trailer. I had one shot and I got it about 90% of the way loaded: the rear wheels were just barely hanging on the ramps. I used the minivan jack to raise the rear wheels and slipped flat fence posts underneath and then leveraging up the rest of the way. What a way to spend an hour!

Once I got home I used another battery, which I knew worked, to get it off the trailer and into the driveway. The damn thing didn't work again! After about two minutes I figured we had the terminal leads mixed up.

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Last edited by pwogaman; 06-06-2008 at 01:12 PM.
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  #2  
Old 06-02-2008, 04:32 PM
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Congratulations, Paul, and good luck with your restoration. I know it has found a good home at your house. Can't wait to see the pictures.
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Old 06-02-2008, 05:25 PM
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Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?
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Old 06-02-2008, 05:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mistress View Post
Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?
Rust?
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Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
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Old 06-02-2008, 07:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mistress View Post
Way to go McGuiver! O.k. what color is it?
It's sort of an olive green like my Euro wagon. Strong engine. Can't wait to see the progress pics.
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  #6  
Old 06-03-2008, 09:42 AM
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great find, looking forward to the (your ) adventure
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Old 06-04-2008, 02:45 PM
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Interesting project. I look forward to seeing the pic's as well as I'm contemplating the possibility of something similar.

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Old 06-04-2008, 03:47 PM
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The project got off to a really bad start this morning. I went to DMV to title the car and get Antique tags. The title still has a lien on it without a release! I contacted the seller and he is now looking around for the second half of the title with the release on it, or alternatively, he will go to the credit union tomorrow to get something else establishing the release. In the mean time I am not going to spend another dime on it.
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Old 06-04-2008, 04:32 PM
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yup and then if like here in Kentucky , will tax you for more than it is worth!
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2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond
Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING !
99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD
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72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD
16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR
19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels
14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green
84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD
71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD
73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace
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Old 06-06-2008, 01:30 PM
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I added a link to the before pictures in the first post of the thread. Enjoy.
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Old 06-06-2008, 03:08 PM
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daaammn. . .you can see right through that there trunk. . .thats unfortunate for that car. . .interesting rims, never seen any like them, are 14's right?
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Old 06-06-2008, 04:15 PM
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I just looked at the pictures. OMG!!!

Are you seriously going to attempt to "restore" this car?
This is a parts car at best.

Please take very close look at the firewall and the inner front fenders, especially along the top of the inner fenders and verify that the structural member is sound. Any rust in these areas is terminal.

I've got parts SLs that don't look this bad....

R107 SLs are relatively cheap right now, you will be much better off to find a better example, with minimal rust.

Jim
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  #13  
Old 06-06-2008, 04:17 PM
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Yep - they're 14"s I doubt they'll pull through.

I did the trunk deal once before, so I guess that makes me an expert at it: Rust Never Sleeps

I kind of love a challenge. I prefer to think of this as a Lego building project.
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Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

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  #14  
Old 06-06-2008, 04:18 PM
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Boy, that looks ambitious, Paul. If anybody can restore that, I'm sure it's you. It'll be fun watching your progress. how soon before we'll see that at a GTG?
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1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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  #15  
Old 06-06-2008, 04:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee8go View Post
Boy, that looks ambitious, Paul. If anybody can restore that, I'm sure it's you. It'll be fun watching your progress. how soon before we'll see that at a GTG?
Which part do you want me to bring?

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92 300TE 4Matic
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