More mechanical progress

New rear axle mounts have been sourced by Will. He has also had the brake drums turned and blasted and new brake linings fitted to the brake shoes.

Blasted

Some of the major mechanocal componets are back from the blasters and ready to go off for power coating.

Mechanical rebuild progress

All the running gear has been removed and major components are going to be blasted and powder coated.

The engine is due to be placed on a stand with a replaced water pump and run to enable compression tests etc to be carried out. Hopefully we can avoid a major engine rebuild as the car has relatively low mileage.

External trim

The front bumper is almost perfect having been factory replaced at some time. Only issue is one missing aluminium spacer between 2 of the sections which Will is sourcing for me.

The main blade parts of the rear bumper are good as well. Rechroming replacement of the rear licence plate light covers and other small parts might be needed though.

Interior retrim progress

The new seat covers, made with Austian sourced leather/kits, are being fitted. Here is what one of the backrests looks like with its newly rechromed frame.

Bodywork strip down

Here are some photos of the bodywork strip down underway. A few extra holes have appeared but nothing dramatic. the rockers/sills had been brazed on and have been removed for replacement. The front end has suffered an impact at some stage, the good news is it has a new front section and factory bumper but the joining up to the front inner panels left a little to be desired and will need attention/

Major work has begun

After returning to work and reviewing how to approach putting the car back on the road we have changed our minds and decided to revert to the original plan of having everything done State side. this decision means that the mechanical work gets done by Will at S & S Imports as intended and the bodywork goes out to a local bodywork specialist who has worked closely on other Mercedes projects with Will.

Contracting out work on cars is something I have never done before and certainly not thousands of miles away, preferring to do the work myself. I am extremely confident in the work that Will produces and his attention to detail and he is now going full steam ahead to make use of the time in the body shop which we have waited for over 2 years for.

Here is a quick picture of the body being stripped, loads more to follow.