Re: 88 is spitting fire today!

I needed something to take my mind off the project car. We fired it up last week after filling the crankcase with Rotella diesel oil and transmission with fresh FEBI oil specced by Mercedes. I started it again yesterday, engauged the transmission and turned the steering wheel to refit the body for better access to begin the final stages of making it a show car.

The steering gearbox I rebuilt spit a valve out on the ground and drained 15 dollars worth of FEBI PS fluid in the drive. I shut down the engine and pushed it to where I wanted it to be. One freaking snap ring shot out of a valve access hole and ruined my weekend. I must have left a bit of grit in the groove or something. A freaking snap ring that isn't 3/4" in diameter ruined my weekend and I ain't doing chit today but complaining about my good life.

ClemsonTiger1988®

Oculus Spirit [93650]

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Posts: 95406

Joined: 12/25/09

Jun 21, 2020, 12:09 PM

I was dating a nice lady who lived in Concord, NC. While visiting her one weekend there was a car show in Char. She wanted to go so we rode over in my 85 380SE w126 MB. Not knowing where I was actually going or where to park I ran right into the gate setup on a side street to the show.

They had blocked off a couple blocks of downtown somewhere for a public free show. The guy waved me through and I we laughed as I drove on and parked between a split window Vette and a brand new Viper.

After getting out of the car we walked a short piece and turn to watch the people. My car got as much attention as the Viper but people lingered a bit longer while hovering over the Corvette.

Now that 380SE has morphed into a 300SD and has a nice diesel engine with all the wiring and vacuum accommodations needed to function as it would had the Germans installed it. I have removed the interior, refinished it with SEM paint and SEM dye for the leather and stripped, stained and shot Dupont 2K clear on the interior wood trim. I only screwed up two pieces.

I've rebuilt or restored everything about this car except the engine and transmission which work fine and should last another half a million miles.

I've already stripped the anodization off the aluminum on the exterior and buffed it to chrome shine. I even removed the '380SE,' on the trunk lid and buffed out the '300SD,' and 'Turbo Diesel,' to install in place after buffing the body. I have removed the bumpers and fluted trim on the doors, quarter panels and fenders and sanding, repainting and 2K dupont clear coated them.

All that's left is the black body and putting all the panels, bumpers and such back on the car. No estimate to finish date because I'm tired of lying about when I'll finish it.