so bought a 1990 350SDL the other day here is the skinny:
car has 420,000 miles on the (still working!) odo

brand new factory long block installed in 2004 has about 50K on it now
rebuilt transmission last year, has 15K on that.

complete brake job 6 months ago new rotors, rebuilt calipers etc..
all electrics windows etc work, AC works etc...

body pretty straight, interior pretty worn, but fair condition.

the PO put in a WVO system and has clogged up most of the fuel system.
I just pulled off the whole WVO system re-plumbed everything back to stock, flushed out all the lines, drained and flushed the tank. Fresh load of fuel.. and presto.. runs like a top.


paid $500 for it...

pics and more info to come..

W126 or W140?

1990=W126

it looks like its going to be a pretty solid daily driver for the wife

w107 300d cool should get a a 300sdl badge lol

bringing car home



inside:



changing lifters, to solve "ticking problem"



turns out its a rod bearing so bought another car to donate the 3.0L engine



pull the 3.5L



both motors:




clean up and paint the engine bay:

new (replacement) 3.0L installed.. first start.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynxlw2fex1M

so, got everything installed put back together mechanically (except for the AC system)
new shocks all around, about a 1 inch drop with ride height, new bushings all around (mostly).. and man.... I gotta say... the LWB W126 with the OM603 is one superb driving automobile. smooth comfortable, but still good road feedback.

just a really great experience! and I thought I loved my W124!

next to finish up the interior swap to black, then on to exterior paint.

what'd you end up doing with the 3.5L?

(02-03-2010 04:57 AM)SurfRodder Wrote:  what'd you end up doing with the 3.5L?

going to replace the con-rods with the latest "good"
ones from MB then its going into my W124
along with my 351 VNT holset in front of a 5 speed gearbox

with the mechanics sorted out..(mostly)
I have started on the paint and body work



spraying on some etch primer




after the filler primer

---

all wet sanded ready to paint




painted...



and color sanded and polished



and after some re-assembly
euro bumpers FTW!

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moving onto the doors



primer



paint

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color sand


and buff...
just the rear end, and some cladding/parts left

(03-03-2010 11:17 PM)oel_brenner Wrote:  with the mechanics sorted out..(mostly)
I have started on the paint and body work
...

Nice job. Looks good in the pictures so far. I've contemplated painting a car in stages like your doing. But I am worried about color matching with possible differences in mixing and spraying technique each time I move on to another area. How's that working for you?




.

(03-04-2010 09:27 AM)DeliveryValve Wrote:  Nice job. Looks good in the pictures so far. I've contemplated painting a car in stages like your doing. But I am worried about color matching with possible differences in mixing and spraying technique each time I move on to another area. How's that working for you?

the modern mixing systems used for paint color formulas are very accurate, however with lighter colors I would have all the paint you think you will need mixed up front, and stir/shake well in between uses.

for all solid colors, and the darker metallic colors, panel to panel color matching will not be a problem. However spray pressure, spray gun setup, technique and other factors, can affect color matching on lighter metallic colors.

I like the working in stages method. smaller chunks of work, and the work/reward cycle is very short

paint complete and exterior assembly complete

Suhweet ride

I wish I had the patience to paint like that. Nice job!

wow that looks like a sheet of glass. I am getting ready to spray my 123 sedan, I have heard 2 things about prep prior to paint

1. final primer coat, wet sand with 400gt and wash with dawn soap and let dry

2. final primer coat, dry sand with 1500gt and wash with water only

What did you do for your final prep?

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Also what kind of paint did you use?

(05-17-2010 10:14 PM)MB TECH Wrote:  1. final primer coat, wet sand with 400gt and wash with dawn soap and let dry

2. final primer coat, dry sand with 1500gt and wash with water only

What did you do for your final prep?

---

Also what kind of paint did you use?

over bodywork:

80 -> 180 -> primer -> 220 dry -> primer -> 400 wet -> 600 wet -> topcoat

over previously painted surfaces (no bodywork):

220 dry -> primer -> 400 wet -> 600 wet -> topcoat

I never use soap in prep stages, only before prep when I wash entire car with a red scuff pad and lots of lye soap and water.


IMO 1500 grit is far to "fine" a scratch depth for topcoats to have enough of a mechanical bond to the underlying substrates

most acrylic urethanes out there do a pretty good job, dont get all caught up with the stupid expensive Glasurit / Speis Hecker / ICI / etc..

I really like the PPG global line.. priced about in the middle, and I have had my W124 done with that stuff baking in the FL sun for nearly two years and still looks great

A good paint job is really about 99% prep work and 1% everything else.

Nice paint job man. Wish I had a garage to do mine in

(05-20-2010 01:32 PM)winmutt Wrote:  Nice paint job man. Wish I had a garage to do mine in

thanks.. next on the list is the 107.. then I will have a fleet of black benz
w00t!