Well, while I am considering therapy after seeing Ptashek's tin-dipped chassis, things on my end seem to spell more doom than strides forward.
Three weeks ago, I was promised a temporarily drivable W116, ready in 2 weeks. Considering there's a storage room full of new parts available at the garage, no need for further delays, I thought.
I thought wrong. Yesterday I went to have a look, expecting the last hand to be laid on the car, but was shocked to see that only rear driveshaft and brake disks and calipers had been done.
Yes, the calipers were sand-blasted, primed and painted, internals refurbished, brake disks honed. They looked great, but that was all the news. At this speed, I am 2-3 months away from having my first day on the road. Not good, coz I need wheels fast, lest having to buy another car.
Moreover, I used the occasion to inspect all 2 cars for audio-options. One of the cars has top-dash speakers, ovals, 3.x4" There is literally nothing that can fit there except shallow 4" tweeters
The other 2 cars have low-mount dash speakers, again, no more room than 4", but unlimited depth. Allows for 4" 2-way Focals, 100W, but that's it. No further mods possible without hacking into the dash. Not an option.
I carefully measured all space under the seats, hoping for room for head unit, amp, and 2 ovals in custom-made boxes. There isn't.
I can fit an amp of good size, and one oval. That's it.
Checked the rear seat, hoping for space underneath for a custom-built woofer box. Never know the rear seat floor is absolutely flat. Can barely slip a magazine between the floor and the seat. Another no-go area.
As much as I love this car, this is some p-poor design. German businessmen must have really had a dislike for music. I was told it was an audio-unfriendly car, but this is impossible.
Naturally, hacking into the doors is a no-no, so we move to the hat shelf. None of my 3 cars have DIY holes there, which I thought was great, coz I don't like such mods.
But, this means I am properly out of options.
All that can be fitted there is a carefully designed woofer box, in the First aid compartment, removing the plastic casing, and lowering a box in there that can be fitted without damaging the structure. At least, that way, there is always the alternative to remove it, and place the first aid unit back in it's position. Could build a Zebrano speaker cover over it, as to hide the modern unit.
Guess that I will have to live with 2 tweeters visible in the corners of the hat shelf.
This gives me mid/high in the front, bass and tweeter in the back, a head unit hidden deep inside, behind the dash panel, and an amp under the seat..
Need to be lucky to be able to fit an oval under each chair, pointing rear-wards, whilst leaving room for an amp. My guess is the amp will have to find another location, maybe under the glove box, well-out of sight.
Then, I need to hope that rear-wards pointed ovals will sound good to the driver.
It needs to be tried, at risk of cost. One can't cruise a W116 without proper tunes!
If that fails as well, only then will Ibuild a new hat-shelf and place ovals in it, again leaving the option to return to original at any given time. I DO dislike the look of speakers in the hat shelf. That won't stop bothering me.
Anyways, while I was checking the cars, I bumped into more worrisome issues.
I had asked the mechanic to remove the Zebrano in one of the cars for me to do a restoration.
So he did, handing me the longest piece broken in half, and the smallest piece with only the veneer, and the main wood still in the car. Not good at all, for a first move towards restoration, but since I am supposed to learn how to restore wood, I did not make a big point out of it.
Second, the gaping dash hole had wires coming out of it in all directions, non-labeled. How was anyone going to remember where everything goes, 1 year from now?
Third, screws, washers, bolts, nuts, locks, bushings and rubbers were scattered over the floor and mid-console. Nothing was bagged, or marked.
I could foresee a restored car with all the wrong screws in the wrong places, missing washers, rivets and what not. Very worrisome.
Fourth, the mid console was removed, but apparently the mechanic dod not find the right way to remove it. Force was used, ripping one screw out of the dash, and breaking the connector on the mid console on the other side.
Vinyl was ripped.
This means I need to re-wrap a donor console. Very bad.
Fifth, the Italian-imported battery I bought brand new had not been on the trickle for 6 months. It was dead, and was going to remain dead.
Sixth, the white interior -the reason for importing this complete car from Holland, was covered in oil from oily mechanics hands.
At this point in time, I am properly worried, and p-off above all.
I am ready to get a trailer, load all 3 cars, and bring them elsewhere.
But where?
Today I will meet with the boss, and put down my foot.
They need to learn how to do these things, and not at my expense.
I will tell him that they need to take the donor car apart until the very last screw, in a professional matter, bagging screws, taking photos, categorizing and listing all parts. -At their own expense.
Only after that, I will pay them to commence work, completely dismantling the other 2 cars, meant for restoration.
If they refuse, I will walk. Any other option would be unwise.
With all the new, correct parts already sourced and imported by myself, this restoration job is no longer that difficult for a garage, I would think. 1. Finding parts, done. 2 Chassis-work, 10000 companies available. Leaves only, 3. Taking apart/putting back together. If I had the space, and time, I would do that myself. Alas, not an option.
We will see what happens today.
One thing is for sure.. I will not be driving a W116 any time soon.
