1984 Mercedes 380SL RestoMod (1 Viewer)

[NCFJ]

Making some real progress on project Babs. I pulled out the laser and got all my reference marks laid out. Dropped the front cradle and shaved all the brackets out of the engine bay and stripped a fair portion.

I have an almost full wiring harness and front cradle with full suspension FREE, Come get it, I am NOT shipping
Chesnee SC 29323

 

[NCFJ]

I've been working on full body supports for the Merc to the table.

 

[NCFJ]

Just a note on the threaded rod used.
Rod is 1"-8 8 turns per inch 1 turn equals 1/8"

I have already set the body up once with the jack screw set up. They supported the body at the pinch weld.
When I did this I took a first measurement from table to top of support plate. I was shooting for 4.5"
I knew how far I had to got to get it to 4.5" on 4 corners. I counted turns and set the body.
Farthest off was 1/64" !!

No pulling out the tape repeated times while getting "close"

 

[NCFJ]

I am working on the added frame rails to attach the Heidts Mustang II front suspension.
There will be added gussets etc. for strength but will not be even tacking it in until I have the suspension in house and can verify all my geometry.

I can not express how much I am digging this frame table set up. The jack screws make things a whole lot easier and more precise. Many tables I have seen in the past are not a whole lot more than a couple I beams and a few connecting pieces that you weld supports to.
Square D makes a table similar to this one. I am thinking KC designed this one with improving the Square D model in mind.

I have two jack screw under each member, the rear mounts are a cradle 2" wide the 3/8" tapped holes on both sides to lock a member in if I choose. Imagine trying to hold that member in place with just clamps etc. while marking etc. I smile every time I look at it.

 

[NCFJ]

I have been giving serious thought to going this route with the rear fenders. I like the relation between the small window and this wheel well far better than standard. Thoughts? Seen it done?
I figure on getting a couple front fender cuts and grafting flare and all into the rear quarter. Keep the same spacing down from body line at the front fender.

 

[shellb]

Absolutely do that! Iconic.

 

[NCFJ]

I do like it for sure and the small rear deck spoiler.
Already figuring how to cut section out in case I screw up and have to weld it back in

 

[NCFJ]

Front and rear sub frames and suspensions- NO SPRINGS OR SHOCKS
Make me an offer in PMs if interested

 

[NCFJ]

The front suspension arrived this morning

 

[NCFJ]

Making a bit of progress on the Merc front suspension

 

[NCFJ]

Fitting the upper spring perches and upper A arm mounting points. The square stock keeps them aligned together

 

[NCFJ]

We installed all the front suspension components except springs to start checking clearances for more ties between new frame rails and unibody

 

[NCFJ]

Tool from Speedway for checking wheel and tire fitment. I am liking this tool a lot

 

[J Mack]

Love what you are doing!

Have you seen this build? Similar direction to yours.

'78 Benz

Explore this photo album by iskhotrods@yahoo.com on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[NCFJ]

Thanks, I am having a great time building it. I've waited a long time to build this car.
I've not seen that build before, thank you.

I think we will be seeing a lot more Merc builds. They are an iconic car line that have not been considered a "hot rod" by many until recently. There are a great many of them out there similar to the two I purchased and I suspect the sedan in the thread you sent me. They have not been well maintained at the end of their lives and would take $10K or so to bring back to reliable and finished status. Perfect shells for what the guy is doing to the sedan and myself with the roadster.

I know Icon built a sedan using an Art Morrison roller. I do not know if that particular frame and suspension set up is for sale but I can assure you it has sparked interest in quite a few builder's eyes.

 

[J Mack]

I think we will be seeing a lot more Merc builds. They are an iconic car line that have not been considered a "hot rod" by many until recently.

I was hot on the mid 60's Mercedes-Benz S-Class W111/112 and was actively bidding on several to do almost exactly what you are doing on this build when I stumbled on the 53 Chevy I'm finishing now, watching your progress has renewed my interests and has me looking again.

 

[NCFJ]

I've always been a Merc fan. My wife had her eye on a Finny she passed on her way to and from work for a while. She wanted me to build her a sleeper so she could "Smoke those punk ricers good". We went to see if it might be for sale one Saturday and it was gone. Sold that week. Fast forward a couple years and I was looking for a project car. We go to a lot of car shows and auctions and I wanted something that was not already done to death like Camaros, tri fives, Mustangs, Chevelles etc. etc. etc. I cut my teeth with convertibles, rally racing Austin Healys in the late 70s early 80s. So we set our sights on an R107.

The photo above shows exactly why I dumped the rear suspension (front was to get the LS in there with far less hassle and better performance). I can not stand that heavy camber, both look and performance.

Post up when you get the Merc!

 

[NCFJ]

I managed to remove all the sound deadening under coating from all the wheel wells and sprayed they with epoxy primer. Flash rust happens over night this time of year if metal is left bare.

 

[NCFJ]

Rear IRS came in today!

 

[NCFJ]

Working on the IRS. That's the trunk floor the center section is coming up through. Upper mounting member will use mounts welded to the frame rails. Frame rails already plated with 3/8". I am cutting out small sections of sheet metal at a time to avoid over cutting. I have a notch cut into a major cross member just behind the center section and will most likely be cutting more of it to accommodate the coil over shocks. I'll put in a replacement cross member once everything is sorted out along with more bracing at the mounting points. It gets two adjustable braces with a cross member on the front of the axle as well.