EDZ649
MB Enthusiast
Well having owned the car for a couple of weeks and following on from this thread:
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/84741-my-latest-aquisition.html
I thought I'd get this project thread started so I can share all my forthcoming joys and troubles with you guys!
I'm fortunate enough to have a garage right opposite my works unit and I have become very good friends with the owner Darren, so I now have access to the ramp at the weekends which is a real bonus!
I managed to get some time over last weekend to give it a good going over and this is what I found:
First up was a general once over of the mechanical status:
1). All five tyres are perished. New set will be needed before the MOT.
2). Bad fuel leak from both the steel pipes near the fuel pump.
3). N/S/R SLS shock leaking badly and Hydraulic oil reservoir empty.
4). Large holes in the exhaust system.
5). Poor running i.e. engine cuts out when the accelerator is pressed.
6). Starter motor doesn't always engage.
7). Ignition barrel is worn and tempremental.
8). Leak from ATF sump and transmission cooling pipe banjo connections.
9). Rear brake pads low.
10). Corrosion to brake pipes.
11). Brake flexi hoses slight cracking.
12). Brake fluid is black.
13). Engine oil is clean as a whistle
14). Melted wiring in engine bay on near side.
Second up was a good check over the structure and bodywork:
1). N/S/F wing badly corroded. O/S/F wing missing!
2). Front valance badly corroded.
3). Bad corrosion around the bottom of the offside 'A' pillar where the windscreen meets the scuttle panel.
4). Both outer sills corroded and poorly repaired in the past.
5). Minor corrosion to the bottom of the nearside doors.
6). Minor corrosion around the N/S/R light cluster.
7). Sunroof has been sealed up.
8). Chassis is very solid including all suspension mounts, cross members and floor pans.
9). Front cross member badly corroded.
10). Front bumper brackets corroded.
11). N/S inner wing corroded.
12). O/S inner wing slight corrosion.
13). Door seals are perished.
All in all not too bad I guess considering she is 30 years old!
Here is the rear box in a sorry state!
And the centre box...
Bottom of leaking SLS rear shock....
Poor repair to N/S outer sill...
A very poorly front cross member....
Corrosion to the bottom of the O/S 'A' Pillar/Scuttle. Windscreen out to repair this!
Rusty door...
Rusty headlight bowls...
Solid chassis...
O/S front wing removed...
Melted wiring...
This is what she looks like at the moment...
Having taken a deep breath after finding that lot I realised that the majority is fairly minor stuff although not necessarily cheap to rectify. Years ago I would have run a mile from corrosion like this but it looks far worse than it really is.
So the hunt begins for good secondhand body parts. I have already bought an excellent pair of used wings and front valance. The wings that came with the car as spares were no where near good enough to grace this beauty, only the best will do!
The mechanical stuff will start shortly. I have sourced a secondhand starter motor, complete lock set and purchased new brake flexi hoses, pads, ATF filter & gasket, oil filter etc...
New copper brake pipes will be fitted all round too as the underside of the car has been sprayed in Shultz so any possible corrosion is hidden and I do not have the time or inclination to scrape it off every pipe!
I hope you guys will find this thread interesting and informative as it progresses. I will update as soon as the mechanical work has started.
Leigh.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/84741-my-latest-aquisition.html
I thought I'd get this project thread started so I can share all my forthcoming joys and troubles with you guys!

I'm fortunate enough to have a garage right opposite my works unit and I have become very good friends with the owner Darren, so I now have access to the ramp at the weekends which is a real bonus!
I managed to get some time over last weekend to give it a good going over and this is what I found:
First up was a general once over of the mechanical status:
1). All five tyres are perished. New set will be needed before the MOT.
2). Bad fuel leak from both the steel pipes near the fuel pump.
3). N/S/R SLS shock leaking badly and Hydraulic oil reservoir empty.
4). Large holes in the exhaust system.
5). Poor running i.e. engine cuts out when the accelerator is pressed.
6). Starter motor doesn't always engage.
7). Ignition barrel is worn and tempremental.
8). Leak from ATF sump and transmission cooling pipe banjo connections.
9). Rear brake pads low.
10). Corrosion to brake pipes.
11). Brake flexi hoses slight cracking.
12). Brake fluid is black.
13). Engine oil is clean as a whistle

14). Melted wiring in engine bay on near side.
Second up was a good check over the structure and bodywork:
1). N/S/F wing badly corroded. O/S/F wing missing!
2). Front valance badly corroded.
3). Bad corrosion around the bottom of the offside 'A' pillar where the windscreen meets the scuttle panel.
4). Both outer sills corroded and poorly repaired in the past.
5). Minor corrosion to the bottom of the nearside doors.
6). Minor corrosion around the N/S/R light cluster.
7). Sunroof has been sealed up.
8). Chassis is very solid including all suspension mounts, cross members and floor pans.
9). Front cross member badly corroded.
10). Front bumper brackets corroded.
11). N/S inner wing corroded.
12). O/S inner wing slight corrosion.
13). Door seals are perished.
All in all not too bad I guess considering she is 30 years old!
Here is the rear box in a sorry state!

And the centre box...

Bottom of leaking SLS rear shock....

Poor repair to N/S outer sill...

A very poorly front cross member....

Corrosion to the bottom of the O/S 'A' Pillar/Scuttle. Windscreen out to repair this!

Rusty door...

Rusty headlight bowls...

Solid chassis...

O/S front wing removed...

Melted wiring...

This is what she looks like at the moment...

Having taken a deep breath after finding that lot I realised that the majority is fairly minor stuff although not necessarily cheap to rectify. Years ago I would have run a mile from corrosion like this but it looks far worse than it really is.
So the hunt begins for good secondhand body parts. I have already bought an excellent pair of used wings and front valance. The wings that came with the car as spares were no where near good enough to grace this beauty, only the best will do!

The mechanical stuff will start shortly. I have sourced a secondhand starter motor, complete lock set and purchased new brake flexi hoses, pads, ATF filter & gasket, oil filter etc...
New copper brake pipes will be fitted all round too as the underside of the car has been sprayed in Shultz so any possible corrosion is hidden and I do not have the time or inclination to scrape it off every pipe!
I hope you guys will find this thread interesting and informative as it progresses. I will update as soon as the mechanical work has started.
Leigh.
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