Extreme Makeover: Norm Edition
 

I haven't been around the forum very much because I've been slaving away on Ol' Norm. I've had him a little over a week now and couldn't stand looking at the body rust, so.... away it went.

Please bear in mind that I paid $900.00 for this car and probably didn't do everything perfect, and some mistakes were probably made. If it will make you feel better to pick Norm apart, go ahead, but he looks great to me.

I have lots and lots of pictures, so please forgive me if your computer gets overwhelmed.

The first thing I did with Norm is got him some new shoes. They're the real deal 16" AMG Pentas that have been refinished at some point. I got them for $200.00 off a tragically wrecked euro 500SEC with 70,000 original miles. I'm waiting on some AMG center caps from eBay, but otherwise they look great.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01668.jpg

You can probably see the ugly brown spot on the door.:mad: I couldn't stand looking at it any longer, so here's what I did.

1. Sanded, removed what was dead, and treated the rust to hopefully kill it.
2. Body filler (where possible) and sanding.
3. Priming then more sanding
4. Paint then clear coat.

I got most of my supplies at Sherwin Williams and did the entire project in my garage. I'd like to take this moment to apologize to my 500SL for sitting outside in the rain overnight for the first time I can remember during my ownership.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01695.jpg


I put the pictures in groups of 3's of before, during, and after.

Passenger Door:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01659.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01682.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01685.jpg


Driver's Side Fender
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01662.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01678.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01701.jpg

Front End, Below headlights
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01658.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01681.jpg

No the paint is not running in this picture, just rain.:rolleyes:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01702.jpg

and my nice little surprise under the bumper:mad:

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01663.jpg

Quite a hole!:eek: The other side's even bigger
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01684.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01706.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01664.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01683.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01705.jpg

I really wasn't sure what to do with these two gaping holes, so I sanded, treated, and primed both sides. Hopefully it will slow it down, especially since I won't drive it in winters.

Here are some full length after photos. The passenger side paint doesn't look like it matches in one picture, but in reality its just not reflecting the concrete as well. Any polishing suggestions to make it shine up like the rest of the car?

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01707.jpg

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01710.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC01708.jpg

Not bad, eh?

I'll give you $1000 :D

I've got a small rust spot on my 300D, do you need some extra work?
I think it looks great.

Looks great Tyler.

Polishing to match the shine can be accomplished by wet sanding with 1500/2000 grit, then compounding to a gloss. All can be done by hand since a buffer might be too aggressive. Give new paint at least 30 days to cure before waxing.

Whoops... Looked at the pictures and noticed the masking tape I left on the rocker panels. At first, I thought it was paint!:eek:

My only other stupid stupid mistake was testing the paint on a piece of drywall and discovering it it didn't match. I let the car sit for a day, planning to go back to the paint shop on Monday. Then, I realized, I DIDN'T STIR THE PAINT!

dur dee dur...:rolleyes:

Nice wagon- great color. Keep the wagons alive :)

thats a sharp looking wagon

Not any time soon. I'm still sore, from being hunched over and hand sanding for hours.

Thanks, anyway.

The whole "paint and body work" skill has just never been a part of my abilities. I need to get together with a DFW guy that has to do some of this sometime. I would like to see how to do it before I try it. Uh, Dan.......:o:o

Tyler, man your wagon just looks better and better! I really like the wheels, but the whole thing just has a very clean and classic look to it.
Keep snapping those pics!

BTW, a good candidate for "Thead Title of the Year".......

Great attention to detail! Keep it up! ;)

What process did you use to refinish the rest of the paint? Looks like it's been buffed.

Mother's clay bar. It really did wonders.

BTW, for the duller spots, just use some 3M heavy duty Rubbing Compound (usually stocked at auto paint supply stores), then follow with 3M Glaze or something even finer, then wax...should look amazing, all done by hand.

Tyler that looks amazing!!!!!
I had no idea you had such bodyworking skillz!


Can you explain how to use the clips that hold the lower door trim on? They are the ones shaped kike an 'H" or an X-wing fighter, not a raspberry. I bought some and they have a little rod sticking out of them. Do I take that off? Do I put them in the trim, then press into place...

What did you spray with? I need to do some touch up on my new SD. Somebody buffed through the paint in a few spots. :mad:

X-wing fighter
 

Zeke - I believe you push the wings into the hole and then push in the rod. The rod keeps the wings from collapsing and coming back out through the hole. Assuming we're talking about the same type of clip.

BGKast - I bought one of those Harbor Freight touch-up spray guns ($20+-) and they work pretty well. It leaves some orange peel but nothing that can't be sanded/buffed out.