There is always something to do

[twinockchef]

I buy this great car, 68 280 SE Coupe, which appears to be in great condition. I drive it, I look in every nook and cranny. There were only a few problems which are a new Center consul, new Muffler, move a Trunk wire, get a spare tire, Install a A/C system.
I get it home and start driving it. After about 200 miles of driving I start to notice little things. By the time the I reach a 1000 miles the list grown.
Transmission linkage - add a screw to hold it in & a new bushing
Rear arm rest adjustment
Rear seat belts - refurbish
Instrument cluster - clean & adjust
Heater core valve o-rings
Rear view mirror -re-silver & re-chrome
Side mirror - replace glass
Window knob - replace
Window tracks - replace
- weather strips - replace
Cigarette lighter - clean & repair
need Fan shroud
Lug wrench - new
Turn signal -adjustment
Pedals- new rubber
Trunk - adjust
Trunk light - need one
Heater fan - replace
Headlights - adjust
Rear license plate - rubber stops & a surround
Shocks - replace
Valve adjustment
and lots of cleaning and polishing
I tend to go overboard on refurbishing things. I put a lot miles on a car so I really want a prefect and reliable car.
Also, I want to let everyone know that no matter how great the car is there is always something to work on.

[alabbasi]

This reminds me of a fellow on the M-100 forum who writes the following in his signature:

"If you aren't constantly impressed with your car, then it needs fixing"

[Tomguy]

I used to be like that with all my cars. My Jeep got to the point where it was impossible to keep up so now it sits until I have the time to do it all.

My MB sits because the list is 10x longer than the Jeep's just to make it roadworthy and safe. It's a sad state that makes me long for the days of finding a nice replacement 108/109 that doesn't need as much and can at least be driven

The other cars I have tend to have very small lists for stuff they need to keep up appearance/function. The 300M needs the headlights re-buffed. Replacement fog lenses. Front bumper & hood repaint, some dings fixed, preferably a new pass door due to the dent in it (probably will not do the body things since they were all there when I bought it). The Charger needs a clay-bar, polish, wax and seal. Needs the interior cleaned including steam-cleaned carpet. I don't care as much about that on the 300M since it's my "Beater". Gotta re-attach the fender liners so they don't rattle.

[D&W]

With all old cars, there will always be something to do, as soon as you fix one thing you find another... just the way it is I think.

When I think my list is getting shorter something else will stop working or I'll hear a new noise that shouldn't be there

I know I could buy a new corolla and not have to worry about it. but no thanks.

[Rahulio1989300E]

It's all part of the hobby, there is good and bad... we try to keep the good stuff coming but there are always speed bumps!

[twinockchef]

I really don't mind the work. I love improving the car. Most of the problems are minor. I just don't have time, at the moment, to do the work. I will only be able to repair one or two things a week. Also I never do any thing half ass. I always make it like new.

[wbain5280]

Welcome to the club, of fixing your old MB that is.

[meltedpanda]

sweet ride, and I am much the same way, something about these cars - makes you want to do it. We are all alike , at least most on this forum. I see pleanty of MB's around in major disrepair, as if no one cares , but they keep right on going down the road. That is until they fail and folks like us adopt them and do what you have done

[daw_two]

Nice car!

Yeah, I pulled the front brake calipers off last night after bleeding\flushing did not fix the STUCK inside piston on both. Decided to just go ahead and replace all the rubber hoses, so I'm hoping to find parts in stock today. Calipers aren't going to happen is my fear.

[Tomguy]

Nice pics you added! Signal red?

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I may have the window knob, and trunk light (I have many in a box). Yours for free. I just need to know what they look like.

I have a few fan shrouds. How would I know if one will fit your car? Yours for free.

I have rear view mirrors and side mirrors. I have to check condition. You may prefer to buy new ones. Whatever I have, consider it available at no cost.

I can help you do the valve adjustment. I have adjusted the valves a dozen times on the new motor. Don will let me borrow his Hazet claw-foot 17mm wrench to adjust the valves. I also have a timing light if you need the timing adjusted.

[twinockchef]

Today I replaced the tracks, for the windows, on both doors. I also polished and cleaned the chrome on the doors.
Finally, I was able to get the engine ignition to behave.
The problem was the installation of upgraded ignition system. The adapter plates would not fit the distributor correctly. The distributor on the 68 is different from the 71 model. I pulled the distributor form the wreaked 280. I had hoped to just switch them but the distributor was badly damaged (bent shaft. cracked housing, broken roter, and smashed vacuum) a real mess. I was able to take it apart and switch a few of the internal parts to make it work. Now the adapter plate is properly installed and the magnetic pick-up is delivering a strong consistent spark.
Now its time to write two history papers for school.

[twinockchef]

I put new tires on the other day. The old ones had extensive dry rot which led to a flat. I also pulled out the instrument cluster and disassemble and cleaned the glass. I also replaced all of the light bulbs. They now look great, almost new. I also pulled out the cigarette lighter and ash tray which both needed a serious cleaning and polishing. Now the lighter works and I can now use it to keep my phone charged. Did a little drimel grinding on the turn signal which was not staying in place.
The big job was the replacement of the timming chain. This striaght forward, two hour, job urned into a four hour mess. As I was feeding the chain the wrench holding the chain in place became jammed against the cam tower. When I rotated the crank backwards everything went to hell in a hand basket. The cam was now out of sync with the crank. I forced to pull all of the rockers to free up the pistons. Just a major pain in the ass. I was hopping that the injection pump would be OK but after running the engine I believe that it is out of sync. Everything runs but there is power lose. I will pull the IP Sunday.
Tomorrow the I am replacing the mufflers and shocks.

[twinockchef]

For the past few months I have been slowly completing my to do list. I cleaned and adjusted instrument cluster. I now looks almost brand new. The rear view mirror was badly pitted and the mirror needed to be re-silvering. It is now finished and installed.
While I was rebuilding the engine (bent valves, blown head gasket, ruined rocker arms, cam shaft, and new valve seals) I replaced the heater core valve o-rings (hey were both old and cracked).
Replaced the shocks and steering damper. Picked up a new lug wrench and left window knob insert. I also did lots of aesthetic improvements (tail pipe cover, license plate surround, refurbished the rear seat belts, cleaned up all of the interior chrome (all of it had many blemishes and crud on the surfaces).
All of the interior leather was fairly new but the seat padding was all original and worn out, so I ordered new seat pads. With the seats out I also pulled out everything else out and installed all new sound and vibration damping materials (doors firewall, floor, roof, and behind rear seat). Also, rebuild the damaged rear deck panel and installed new speakers. I don't care much for the original radio, so a new system is going in which will be installed next week (new head unit, 200 watt amps, 6" round speakers, MP3 player, and blue tooth).
I decided to install the 123igniction distributor. After all of my work on the old distributor it still does not work well. The timing jumps back and forth by as much as 15 degrees. As soon as it is delivered I will be finished with everything, I hope.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Cool! Can we see some new pictures? I can't wait to see more!!