Finishing Samson the M120 R107 - Page 12 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Roncallo · #**166** 12-24-2020, 02:41 AM

Pics 6, 7, 8. See previous post.

vwnate1 · #**167** 12-24-2020, 07:37 PM

Looking really good there .

I'm keen to learn how you make new under carpet foam pads, I have three W123's and all are kaput even though I have very good carpets .

Roncallo · #**168** 12-24-2020, 11:12 PM

Under carpet pads will be a challenge. Years ago we made custom fit race car seats by having the driver sit in the seat with a bag of expanding foam. I think I will try something like that.

I will cut a piece of plywood in the shape of the flat carpet and lay that on top of the floor to form the top surface. Then I will but a bag or several bags filled with the expanding foam and sit on the plywood while it expands. Got to try something.

Roncallo · #**169** 12-24-2020, 11:14 PM

Completed rough standoffs for the other three sides. I will have to remove some of the interior components again to do fit checks for final wire routing. The left side in the first picture will require additional cutouts for wire routing. The top one will be a may be a real challenge.

Roncallo · #**170** 12-30-2020, 01:14 AM

Because of the clearance issues in getting at the fuses, I decided to cut the top right area that hangs off to the right and install it on a hinge. See picture #2. That will allow me to have adequate clearance to be able to change the fuses. It will be secured when closed with a 1/4 turn fastener, like I did on the fuse box cover. It also had the added bonus of giving me a good place to mount my 36 pin diagnostic port. See the weird mount in the top right of picture #1. Picture #3 shows the plate in place with the diagnostic port installed. Picture #4 shows the diagnostic cable plugged in to the diagnostic port. Still need to work on the hinge. everything has been assembled temporarily using aluminum rivets. Those will be drilled and countersunk riveted using 1/8" thick 6061-T6 Aluminum plate. At this point the entire interior and every thing in the dash can be installed. Tomorrow the car should be running with all systems fully functioning. In the mean time all design for the hinge will be completed and all the plates on the top and sides will be sent to be laser cut out of 1/8" thick AL. When I get the final parts in, that whole assembly comes out with 4 5mm nuts and 2 5mm screws.

Roncallo · #**171** 01-02-2021, 12:18 AM

Samson is ready to go. All systems checked in the garage and working perfectly. AC is good, heat is good all lights work, wipers and washers work. Checked all fluids and tire pressure. Installed new floor mats I got for Christmas, which are already dirty. First thing to do will be to stop and get a bottle of Techron. Then drive until I run low on gas to get rid of all the gas that has been sitting in the tank for the last 5 months. Then refill with Techron and drive 175 miles to Asheville NC. In Asheville, I will have lunch and return. Not sure if the top will be down or not as there is a 10% - 15% chance of rain all day. Temperatures will range between 49° to 62° for the trip. So I will be wearing a hat and gloves.

vwnate1 · #**172** 01-02-2021, 01:51 AM

Most convertibles I have owned were fine in the rain with the top down until you stopped....

Roncallo · #**173** 01-03-2021, 12:22 AM

Well I'm back, Samson performed flawlessly. No issues at all 19.23 MPG at about 80MPH. I think that's good enough for me to keep the 2.82 differential. Although it was pretty cool seeing it get ~23MPG with the 2.47 differential, I have to remember it is a performance car and that test was also performed at lower speeds more like 65 - 70MPH. Nice to have the heat coming out where its supposed to aimed at my feet. I made one mistake today, I forgot to install the wind deflector. The magical 60+° weather was briefly lived but the OAT did reach a high on 68° for one small section about 20 miles east of Asheville. Overcast and fog for most of the trip except near Asheville. Put the top down in Asheville and got about 75 miles before having to raise it. If I had the wind deflector I could have gone the distance. I met a guy this morning when getting gas. At first I thought he was a gay guy trying to hit on me. He say to me "My name is Samson and I have a 67 Vette named Delilah". He just about died when I told him about my other 107 named Delilah.

Pictures.

1) Trip starts out in Greensboro NC
2) No road trip is good without a good breakfast. This picture is at Herbies Place. It is my favorite breakfast place except the coffee really suck. But today was different, their coffee was actually good. Maybe they got the message.
3) Trip started in IMC (Instrument Metrological Conditions) from Herbies parking lot.
4) Samson in Herbies parking lot.
5) Steak for lunch at the Texas Road House in Asheville NC. Steaks have gotten smaller as my wife is on my case about my weight.

Roncallo · #**174** 01-03-2021, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Most convertibles I have owned were fine in the rain with the top down until you stopped....

Absolutely, but very dangerous when you have the famous R129 electronic shifter.

vwnate1 · #**175** 01-03-2021, 10:15 AM

Care to detail this for me ? .

Sounds and looks like a grand day out .

Roncallo · #**176** 01-03-2021, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Care to detail this for me ? .

Sounds and looks like a grand day out .

The electronic shifter in the late 90's was prone to damage when getting wet. Spill coffee on it or leave a convertible out in the rain and you buy a new shifter. It has since been sealed better.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/1292604598MBZ.htm?pn=129-260-45-98-MBZ&bt=Y&fs=0&SVSVSI=4069

vwnate1 · #**177** 01-03-2021, 11:28 PM

OUCH .

Glad I don't have this .

Roncallo · #**178** 01-14-2021, 05:22 PM

Well all these, some trivial (Windshield Washer) and some not so trivial (AC Installation), accessory tasks are now complete. There really is one more and that is cruise control. And a nice to have would be cold air intakes. And Oh yeah I'm still working on completing the emission system but I now have all the parts and that is now down to a simple hose routing and a few brackets.

So now is the time to take on the task of making this car reproducible, which it really already is at this point. But one last thing needs to be built and proven to drawings I have made over the past few years. And that is the front subframe.

A while back I was making a measurement and machining fixture for the R107 front subframe. The subframe fixture has now been fished out of deep storage and getting ready to go onto the milling machine for surgery. So over the next couple months I will be screwing around with cutting up perfectly good R107 front subframes.

The test vehicle I have, will use is the same carcass I used for the AC installation. Hopefully I will be able to borrow a spare M120 V12 engine from someone. Easier said than done because I can only use one with a 129 oil pan. But if required I can pull the subframe off Samson and refit it. If it works it will stay there anyway.

Roncallo · #**179** 01-21-2021, 11:32 AM

Well, I did it now. Point of no return on this subframe. I'm committed now. I sent the new top plate out for quotes today. So that ought to take a month or so.

Roncallo · #**180** 01-22-2021, 01:41 AM

Today I finished milling down the engine mounting plane both sides are now at there final dimensions and milled true to each other. My test engine mount plates also came in. They will be tack welded into position for fit checks prior to welding on the formed plate. Still a lot more hogging out to do.