1984 Mercedes 380SL RestoMod (5 Viewers)

[NCFJ]

And so it begins. 1984 Mercedes 380SL. Babs II. It'll be a 620SL when done. Rough plans currently, LS3/5 or 6 speed manual, Mustang II based front suspension, IRS, not sure what flavor quite yet. Join sub frame, small hoop roll bar with seat bars, if possible, contoured to seats, bars going back to frame rails. Move seats back if possible, possibly move foot well forward on driver side. European bumpers and skirts, possibly European single headlights. Aftermarket HVAC, rewire entire car. New drop top, new interior, full paint. A laundry list of little things.
Pull out motor and trans free to a good home.

 

[Gumby]

Cool plans. Pretty tough to move the seats back. The top well gets in the way. Firewall is very close to the back of the engine as well, but maybe with the smaller LS engine.

 

[NCFJ]

Drive line is on the floor!

MOTOR AND TRANS FREE TO A GOOD HOME. 1984 Mercedes 380 SL

 

[NCFJ]

Cool plans. Pretty tough to move the seats back. The top well gets in the way. Firewall is very close to the back of the engine as well, but maybe with the smaller LS engine.

Thank you for the information. A whole lot to figure out for sure.

 

[NCFJ]

Babs is mounted on the table. Very stable.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Liking this project!

J

 

[NCFJ]

It's getting lighter!!!!

Currently looking at a Heidts Mustang II Universal front suspension. I might get lucky and they already have a set up that fits.

Similar to this, will most likely go with a power rack

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Heidt's didn't have the IFS front for my Stude. So I used their Universal 56" kit and made mods.

Happy to assist from a distance

Jason

 

[NCFJ]

Very cool, Thanks Jason. The guy I spoke with yesterday was doubtful any would fit off the shelf. A guy can hope

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Very cool, Thanks Jason. The guy I spoke with yesterday was doubtful any would fit off the shelf. A guy can hope

That's what the old dude told me too... I think it is their default if they don't have a direct fit kit......

J

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Give me a call and we can go over WMS measures and frame widths per the Mustang II offerings of Heidt's.

J

 

[NCFJ]

I'm liking the Stud, very cool indeed. Also not your average hot rod! I do believe my cross member is going to be a bit closer to the ground.
I like the wheels, they have an old school vibe to them. Not Crager or Keystone but in that family.

 

[NCFJ]

Give me a call and we can go over WMS measures and frame widths per the Mustang II offerings of Heidt's.

J

Will do. I believe OEM is WMS-WMS is 58.5" Frame is a relative term in my case, all unibody. I am just getting to cutting out everything I do not need and looking at what might require plating etc. prior to getting final frame measurements.

I am excited for sure. It has been a while since I have built something for myself, hopefully for others later.

Heidts also has some interesting IRS set ups as well. I really like the Art Morrison IRS but for the prototype Merc. over $20K for the rear end is getting excessive.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

These are the last run of Boyd Coddinton's aluminum spokes. Had to grab them.

 

[NCFJ]

Very appropriate for the car, good choice.
I have no clue on wheels at this point, so many choices

I have subscribed to several hot rod type magazines, primarily for the adds and new products used in builds. A truck I have here has a stereo head unit the size of a half a pack of smokes. Blue tooth to your phone. It's a marine unit, very cool. Forgive me, I'm old LOL

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Very appropriate for the car, good choice.
I have no clue on wheels at this point, so many choices

LOTS to decide and chose from. I wanted a light to light sleeper to go fetch an ice cream cone or screw with the wanna be ricers and new muscle boys.

536HP, trans brake plus a150HP NO2 shot. Should raise some eyebrows and hard right turns from others... LMAO.

 

[NCFJ]

You and Heather would get along just fine. She is the one that got me looking at Mercedes in the first place. She had her eye on a 67 Merc Finny. Wanted a sleeper as well. "I want to smoke those ricers good"

I think with the 536HP and similar TQ you will not need the N02 often at all. Lots of anti squat in the rear I assume.
Friendly with the local law establishment are you?

 

[NCFJ]

Now sitting 3" lower than stock as measured at the pinch weld under the rocker. Axles are set at 13" center, 26" tire on 17 inch rim. OEM WMS to WMS is roughly 57" (differs front to rea a small amount) I am thinking of going with 56" on the new set up. I might have to do some tubbing.....

 

[NCFJ]

Full harness sans rear harness to tail lights is out and on the floor, including that huge box in the r kick panel.
I am looking into this system. 17,5" Lx 6.5" D x 10" H. I made up a box of those dimensions and I think it'll work well.

Cyclone - S Ultra Compact Custom Air Conditioning Kit by Restomod Air

The Ultra Compact Climate Control System with A/C & Heat with Infinite Blend between Dash, Defrost/Floor. The Cyclone - S A/C System was designed to install on a smooth firewall in the smallest spaces.

restomodair.com

 

[Gumby]

I am very interested in how this goes. I have the big haymaker unit in the Lincoln. M-B HVAC is terrible. I've wondered about what might fir in the R107