Evan

Recently picked up one of those generic 220l freestanding blasting cabinets, so I could  set to work blasting/primering/painting the rear suspension/bag mounts etc in several batches. Such a time consuming task but super satisfying seeing once scummy parts come out looking new. Need to replace the window and do an LED light upgrade to the blasting cabinet before I can do anymore (the front suspension bits). Can't see shit in it anymore.

Ended up cutting the wheel bearings off the half shalfs so I could paint the drum brake backing plate. Don't have a press so might try the axle in freezer, bearing in oven trick for fitting the new bearings I have before I go door knocking around the neighbourhood trying to find someone with a press I can borrow. Then I can finally get the diff back together in one piece. The whole diff hangs from a rubber bush that sits in the boot floor, I've got a new one of these bushes on its way from Germany as the original is suitably flogged but it seems the replacement one is on the slow boat so who knows when that will get here, but I need it to refit the diff so bit of a stalemate there.

Also picked up a 722.6 trans out of an early 2000s W203 that suffered a timing chain failure (like most of them do). these don't bolt up to the M180/M130 family of engines so I need to make up an adapter plate, which is my next job will also need a controller for it but that can wait. I've gone the complicated route of gaining a lock up torque convertor and a 5th gear, but a man wants what a man wants.

Until next time.

Have you considered making an extra LWB version?

Howdy, been awhile. Life got in the way there for a bit; moved out of Auckland (subsequently moved house a couple of times with the Merc spending a bit of time in storage), had a baby etc. but Xmas holiday period has allowed me to make some progress.

I wasn’t happy with the tabs I had welded on the upper rear airbag mounts, so ages ago I drew up some flange things and had them laser cut, finally got around to cutting the old tabs off and welding on the new flanges so thats all much tidier.

Drilled some holes in the car so the aforementioned mounts have some way of attaching to the car, front two bolts come through from underneath the rear seat; the rearmost hole had a captive nut welded on the topside as it’s inside an enclosed box section of the car (welding upside down can suck a pineapple) Gave it a prime and a paint to match the rest of the underside

The engine I mentioned is in no hurry to rotate, I spent some time trying to free it up with various liquids and heat but nah, Piston 1 isn’t budging. Was scrolling Facebook marketplace one evening looking for a transmission and stumbled across a guy selling another engine for cheap approx 800m from Sentra Daves place in sunny Onehunga so bought that.

This motor is an M130 out of a W108, the last variation of the M180 engine family. Displaces 2.8 litres (vs 2.2l), make 160ish hp when new with improvements including larger valves in the head and 7 main bearings vs 4 in the smaller displacement versions. This one runs (although the cam has seen better days). An added bonus was that it came with a power steering pump attached and the power steering box from the W108 it came from - which bolts into a W111 as they’re the same chassis, So I need to source a shorter steering column from a W108 to suit and then I’ll gain power steering. (KY if you see this I still want that V8 so don’t panic)

Spent the last couple of months leading up to Xmas buying various supplies to put some paint on things, including a couple of spray guns based on YouTube recommendations. Got a chance to give the boot floor a sand up then smooched some seam sealer around the place and waited for it to stop raining. Got a chance to mask it up, wipe it down and blow over a fresh layer of epoxy primer followed by some 2k satin black

For my first foray into spraying paint it came up not bad.jpeg, couple of rookie balls ups mainly consisting of me dropping the air hose on the boot floor whilst trying to reach under the parcel shelf etc which has left a couple marks but it’ll all end up hidden under a rubber mat/carpet so I’m happy as with it. Rear tail light panel will end up body colour (which isn’t black). I’ll probably need to go back and brush on a couple bits that I couldn’t get the gun too.

Progress feels good though.