Topic: 1978 300sd restoration

[Beastie]

Wow! It's looking great in the photos. Looks like the car will look brand new once it's finished, at least from a few feet away.
 But yikes, I whine at the thought of replacing that fuel filler door - be careful not to scratch the bodywork!  Whoever devised that contraption was laughing mechanically as they did it. 

I think I'm right in saying that you hoped to fit Euro style bumpers and lights once you were done? With those and some refurbed wheels, and the new paint there, the car will look schmick as. I like the white on black.

[78w116300sd]

Did some work under the hood and installed door latches.
 
 
 
 

[78w116300sd]

Worked on the grill today. Mocked things up.
 
 

[Squiggle Dog]

Nice placement of the TURBO DIESEL emblem!

[djenka018]

I wonder...

would this turbo bolt onto 280 engine, twin or single cam?

[78w116300sd]

Finally got the windows done, took me some time and help from friends and family.
 
 
 
 

[78w116300sd]

I haven't removed the junk yard writing on replacement windshield . But at some point this car could have had this on her for real.
 
 

[Squiggle Dog]

It's coming along nicely! One thing I should point out is that the trim around the front windshield is actually supposed to be installed in the rubber before the windshield is put on the car. I don't think you can get the trim in once the windshield is installed.

[polymathman]

Very interested in your procedure for installing the rear, and once the trim is in, the front.

[78w116300sd]

Thanks for the advice on the window trim but its a cheap seal and would not keep the trim in. Starting to put back the front end.
 
 
 
 

[78w116300sd]

 
 

[78w116300sd]

[Squiggle Dog]

Looking great! Are you going badge-delete on the trunk lid?

Thanks for the advice on the window trim but its a cheap seal and would not keep the trim in. Starting to put back the front end.

Yeah, aftermarket windshield seals tend to do that. I tried a ÜRO brand seal in a W111, and couldn't get it to fit in the car without the trim popping out. Then I tried a Febi. It was a little better, but had the same problem. The notch in the seal doesn't have the lip to grab the trim like the factory seals. Then I got a genuine Mercedes seal, and it went in on the first try, and actually sucked in the trim instead of popping it out.

[78w116300sd]

Thanks Squiggle. I'm going badgeless for now. I do have some ideas as to what I want to put back there but it's gonna have to wait.
 

[78w116300sd]

Finally got to drive the w116 to school. It's barely street legal but I had to get it going to save fuel (I had to drive my diesel truck while working on 300sd)