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The "Goldilocks" restoration thread

Started by ptashek, 28 March 2014, 07:56 AM

polymathman

As impractical/impossible as it might be, I would love to have all those spinning, whirling, tapping, rotating, sliding machined-to-perfection parts shown in glass like a fancy watch. I have done the most beautiful work on a cylinder head, and hidden it with a valve cover.
So it goes.
Nice work!
190sl 1957 rusting away
250S 1968 long gone
280SE 1976 got hit, parts
280SE 1979 running fine
C320 4Matic 2005 for wife -Mercedes after MIT

ptashek

I think my parts buying bonanza is nearing the finish line. Except for new window regulators, and a few items I can safely skip, I've got everything on my "to replace" list.
Current total stands at 205 unique part numbers... phew!
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

floyd111

That pretty much sums me up as well. Regulators and a couple of rear lights.
Look into having regulators refurbished. I hear it's very much possible, and affordable.

205 part numbers.. You are clearly more disciplined than I am. ;D

I am SO looking forward to seeing your car put back together!

ptashek

I am holding off on buying the regulators because, frankly, they're just not worth the price by any standard. It's a terrible design, and just bound to break quickly.

What I plan on doing is using a spare door from my 350 to experiment with an alternative design, more close to proven parts of modern cars. Maybe even adopt something off-shelf.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

floyd111


ptashek

Another small update... (progress has been rather slow recently).
All panels are finished, primed and ready for final coat of paint. The chassis will be primed and painted starting next week, and when everything is nicely baked and hardened, it'll be time to re-assemble this beauty. With some luck, she might be ready by end of January.

Ready for epoxy primer


Epoxy primed


Base coat primed


So the main layers will go something like this: KTL epoxy coat, epoxy primer, base coat primer, icon gold metallic, top coat
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

ptashek

Quote from: gavin116 on 11 October 2015, 03:27 PM
Whilst I've not done 9000 miles miles in Mrs W, I'm not scared to use her (during the summer at least).  I think I've done about 4500 since getting her.  My daily does less than 2000 miles a year, don't drive much living in London.  Come to think of it, I last drove Mrs White down to Goring-by-Sea in July to get started.  It's looking more like it will be trailered back to storage when the job is complete, as we'll be in the thick of winter, with salty roads...

I probably won't drive as much once she's done. First and foremost because my aim is to get an agreed valuation insurance for her, and those policies always come with strict mileage rules down here.
And, funnily enough, my car is likely to go straight into storage as soon as she's done, if it's still winter - I'll be driving her back across Europe (why wouldn't I, right?), so it needs to be nice and warm, with no salt on the roads.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

marku

Looking really good. I think I would want to ship it back in a container after all the work you have done.
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

gf

Cant wait to see when the gold paint goes on :)

ptashek

A couple more pics from the paint shop. Chassis is all primed, getting ready for base coat.



1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

gavin116

Hi Lucas


You've reached a milestone!   ;)


Congratulations
1979 450SE "Mrs White"
2022 Touareg-R 3.0TSi Hybrid
[url="http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/"]http://forum.w116.org/test-drive/my-first-w116-here-at-last/[/url]
[url="http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613"]http://forum.w116.org/the-org/british-near-london-meet/msg97613/#msg97613[/url]

ptashek

It's a milestone alright :)

But I've also hit the limits of my patience with the upholsterer. Suffice to say his delays cost me the chance of restoring my interior to factory spec, as the moss green velours became NLA between me giving the go-ahead and him finally telling me how much fabric is needed, several months later. He's not learned his lesson. Some trades people are just broken like that...

Meanwhile, a few more pics fresh off the press. At least the restorer is not sitting on his hands.

One step closer to being Goldilocks-proper again. That's the cleanest W116 underside I have ever seen - 100% rust-free for once! :)


Engine covers after glass bead blasting. They've cleaned up rather nice, and should look well with all the re-plated nuts and bolts.
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

s class

Very nice, wish my car was at that stage. 


[color=blue]'76 6.9 Euro[/color], [color=red]'78 6.9 AMG[/color], '80 280SE, [color=brown]'74 350SE[/color], [color=black]'82 500SEL euro full hydro, '83 500SEL euro full hydro [/color], '81 500SL

floyd111

..Or mine. I'm gonna be clean out of a mechanic 4 weeks from now, and no replacement in sight.. :-\

ptashek

I've managed to buy a "brand new" front grille assembly for my final stash recently, with the frame, plastic insert, chrome garnish, seal and bolts. All it needs is a new star and emblem.

I'm saying "brand new" as I'm not 100% convinced. It may be fresh replated for all I know. But for €250 with shipping, it's not a bad deal either way. One less thing to worry about :)
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE