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280SE Outer Sill replacement underway!

Started by littlefin, 16 February 2012, 02:59 PM

TJ 450

Great job,

Echoing MT's comments, with that under sealant it should be well protected.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

littlefin

OK, so another week on and some more progress to report
Both sills have now been properly welded into place, and the jacking points welded to the outer sills.

Cavity wax was injected into the sill cavity after the jacking points were welded in order to avoid the wax being chased off by the welding.
Then the sill closing plates were fixed at both ends of the sills in the wheel tubs



Note also the newly repaired bottom corner of the right hand front wing.


Work has also started on repairing the right rear wheel arch.
The old outer wheel arch has been cut away to reveal the extent of the damage to the inner wheel arch panel

Fortunately the damage here is not too extensive to be repairable. There is one small-ish hole where the rust has perforated the metal, but the entire edge is 'lacey' where water has penetrated into the joint between the inner & outer arch panels and blown the joint apart. The outer arch will now be cut back further to incorporate a repair panel (approx size of panel shown with marker pen line)

After the wheel arch repair is complete, it'll be off to the paintshop! Virtually all the new metal will be treated with stonechip like the underside before being painted in the appropriate colour [Note: The new black coating underneath is stonechip not 'underseal', as stonechip sets hard and therefore doesn't get road crud sticking to it. Stonechip is also over-paintable, whereas underseal isn't]
110011 1967 230
108057 1972 280SE3.5
116024 1979 280SE
126037 1983 500SEL
124030 1989 300E

mirafioriman

Looking good. Must be nice to have a W116 with a good pair of sills :)
I'm called Dave! I currently own: Mercedes W116 450 SEL 6.9, Mercedes W109 300 SEL 6.3, Mercedes W126 420 SEL, Fiat 130 Berlina, Fiat 131 Supermirafiori, Fiat 131 Panorama, Fiat 132 2000, Fiat Argenta and a Citroen Xantia.

adamb

It's interesting that W116s deteriorate in the same way. Mine had very similar repairs and sills have been replaced some time in the 90s. Are you repainting it the same colour (can't tell if it's Signal Red or not) or going for a new coat?


WGB

Looking really great.

Thanks for posting teh photos.

Bill

arman

#20
What a dream job. This is gonna look fantastic! I want this too!

MB has originally a very heavy thick undercoat, which is good for the first 15 years (normal live time of a car) but at some point it starts to crack because of the heaviness, thickness and ageing effects. And then it closes in water/moisture that is coming in through these cracks. Has the car been driving wintertime with salty roads, it will rot away unseen until it is sometimes too late to solve things economically justified. But ones heart is a strong persuader... Nice work!
1974 W116 450 SEL 340.000km
Black exterior (040), olive green velours interior (966)
[url="http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/"]http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/[/url]

Squiggle Dog

I love write-ups like this. It's one thing to hear how things are done, but having pictures really helps illustrate the process.
Stop paying for animal cruelty and slaughter. Go vegan! [url="https://challenge22.com/"]https://challenge22.com/[/url]

1967 W110 Universal Wagon, Euro, Turbo Diesel, Tail Fins, 4 Speed Manual Column Shift, A/C
1980 W116 300SD Turbo Diesel, DB479 Walnut Brown, Sunroof, Heated Seats, 350,000+

littlefin

#22
Quote from: adamb on 08 March 2012, 05:29 PM
Are you repainting it the same colour (can't tell if it's Signal Red or not) or going for a new coat?

Hi Adam

The colour is actually Mittel Rot #516, although this panel has been (poorly) repainted is the past, and the colour match isn't great.  We're only repainting the repaired sections at this time.

I hope to repaint the whole car at a later date - funds permitting of course  ;)

Phil
110011 1967 230
108057 1972 280SE3.5
116024 1979 280SE
126037 1983 500SEL
124030 1989 300E

littlefin

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. I can't believe it's been nearly two weeks since my last offering here!
I visited the car last week, but was running late & forgot to take any pictures of the car in the spray booth  ::)

I am pleased to report that there has been some progress... you will recall my right rear wheel arch looked like this:


then like this:


well, it now looks like this!



The sills and rear wheel arches were painted with stonechip and left in the oven to harden overnight, then they were overpainted with the topcoat: Medium Red 516. The lower sills still need to be overpainted with black.




The doors have been refitted to assist with mopping/polishing process. As you can see, the polishing process has not been completed yet. So the car's beginning to come back together (still no interior though!) Note: the car has also been fitted with the new (old) alloy wheels I bought recently off ebay. I'm not sure yet if I'll keep these on the W116, I am in two minds whether to fit them to my W108 and keep the W116 on steel wheels. Opinions anyone?

The mechanical work to the braking system has now also been done while the paint was hardening:
new (recon) calipers front & rear, new discs (rotors) and pads front & rear, new handbrake shoes, and all four new flexible brake hoses. If the car doesn't stop now...

110011 1967 230
108057 1972 280SE3.5
116024 1979 280SE
126037 1983 500SEL
124030 1989 300E

Mforcer

It is looking great! Thanks for the inspiration!
Michael
1977 450SE [Brilliant Red]
2006 B200

adamb

Great pics. I like the alloys - they suit the colour of the car.

mirafioriman

Looks great. Personally I would keep the alloys on, they look great on a W116. Although red doesn't seem to be a well liked W116 colour by some I think a W116 looks really good in red ;)
I'm called Dave! I currently own: Mercedes W116 450 SEL 6.9, Mercedes W109 300 SEL 6.3, Mercedes W126 420 SEL, Fiat 130 Berlina, Fiat 131 Supermirafiori, Fiat 131 Panorama, Fiat 132 2000, Fiat Argenta and a Citroen Xantia.

ponton

What a beautiful job. I like the alloys myself.  Thanks for sharing!

Ian

arman

Stunning sight! I like the red colour with alloys as well. But this is ofcourse a perfect look and as near new car you can get. I think the red colour for the w116 is quite rare isn't it?
1974 W116 450 SEL 340.000km
Black exterior (040), olive green velours interior (966)
[url="http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/"]http://gallery.w116.org/v/show_room/Armans450sel/[/url]

brettj

Awesome Job! As soon as I finish up some mechanical issues on my 450SE, my car will be undergoing a sill replacement. The scary part is that skins were applied over the original sills so I can't see the outer damage to the originals.

Personally, I like the look of the hubcaps over the alloys. The chrome on the caps along with the matching body color centers really makes the car stand out. I get comments about the hubcaps on my car all the time. They are conversation pieces. Your car will really stand out being red with the chrome of the caps. Keep the steel wheels and caps!