gonna get a new chassis for the sd - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kmaysob · #1 12-19-2004, 02:04 AM

well i have been doing alot of body work on the car since i got it and i have just decided to get a new chassis. pretty much take everything off and transfer it. has anyone ever done this. i think i can get one for cheap since i can get a wrecked on complete for like 5-600. + the local parts yard sells the left over metal to companies for $60 a ton. so does anyone have any advice. the old one is just too rusty and made up of bondo(found out after i started stripping the paint)

while i have the engine out i plan to do seals and the timing chain. maybe i can get it to look like some of the others engines on this forum

i wonder how long this will take and how may bolts i will break off due to being rusted.(done it many times) can anyone offer any advice other than "your crazy" ? any info/advice would be greatly appreciated.

whunter · #2 12-19-2004, 03:15 AM

Get a bare body from south or south west.
Paint and Undercoat it, then transfer parts.
Plan 3 - 7K and 280 - 450 hours = a ten year nice car.
More hours = less cash money.

I can do a straight transfer of glass, interior, wiring, power train and steering/suspension/brakes, in a full service garage by myself in roughly 160 hours = general cost $16,000.00 labor only...

A good Arizona or north Texas body with a bad engine would be cheaper.

kmaysob · #3 12-19-2004, 03:42 AM

well i allready planned on redoing the undercoating and all the labor is gonna be done by ME not anyone else but the glass people that i will higher to r&r the glass. ill probly spray my own paint too. i have had really good results spraying my own primer and i do all of my own body work so i can take care of that. so are you calling me crazy yet?

MS Fowler · #4 12-19-2004, 06:30 AM

Not crazy-----certainly, " ambitious"
Not meant to discourage you, but the ability to shoot primer does not equate to the ability to shoot topcoat. They are very different animals. Primer is very forgiving; glossy finishes are not. While you are transferring parts, gain some experience in shooting topcoat on the old body. Don't waste a lot of time on prep. Just scuff it up and shoot. Vary the gun pressure and the viscosity of the paint in small stages and observe the finished product. I find usung a basecoat/ clear coat process easier for garage painters like me. You can lay down the color in with a fast drying Base and only have to watch the coverage and the metallic (if used) pattern. The gloss comes in a seperate step, so all you do at that time is watch for the gloss. Its real tough for anyone but painters who shoot several times a week ( day?), to develop the ability to balance paint coverage, mettalic pattern, and gloss without getting runs and sags.
Painting is probably about 90% prep and only 10% painting, but the prep determines the results.
Spend some time reading the posts over at autobodystore.com
Most of all---Good luck, and keep us posted!

grimgaunt · #5 12-19-2004, 08:11 AM

this is exactly what I am planning to do this winter. I am getting a rust free 300SD (116 body) and plan to use alll the parts from my (previously VERY nice) 300SD that was hit by an idiot.

Hatterasguy · #6 12-19-2004, 10:15 AM

Sounds like a big but very do able project. Your in AZ so finding a shot but straight and rust free body shouldn't be hard or expensive either. The interiors come out pretty easy, engines and drive trains don't look to hard either. By doing this it would give you a good chance to replace a lot of rubber parts, like mounts, seals, and flex discs. Not to mention all of the old body seals.