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Due to lack of time and/or good weather - only a very short update which is more of a 'thank you'. Last sunday another W123 driver stopped by (with a very nice & tasty 300TD turbodiesel!) for a chat & coffee and to visit the car & give me some advice and point out weak points etc. And he gave me some missing trim bits in exchange for a coffee. Very nice! I you should ever read this: THANK YOU very much again!!!   I hope I can finaly start doing some real work this weekend and finaly try the lead loading. Also got me a new angle grinder with adjustable speed which is very nice for metal work etc. Also got a fresh bottle of welding gas and stripping discs. So everything's there, 'cept time  Cheers, Jan |
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Hi! Wanted to lead-load the passenger's wing today as I finaly had a bit of time... Well - I'll let the pictures do the talking...    [Rusty pieces of rotten metal glued to the wing with filler.....]    Almost no metal left under a thick coat of seam sealer, at places almost a cm of seam sealer... Well - that means... Stripping the suspension and rippin the front end apart. Scheiße! That's a bit worse than expected... Cheers, Jan |
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Got a bit done today, after the shocking discoverys from yesterday... I've redone the wing section the PO tried to repair... Which involved a bit a guessing, since there was none of the original wing left and the PO's repair panel was not precisely done and too smal. Also had a go at lead loading. Lead loading - it's a bit more difficult than filler. But after a few goes I got the idea. The most difficult part is the correct heat. Too much and the lead runs away - not enough and it doesn't stick to the metal. You have to keep it in a paste-like state. Not too hard, not too liquid or it runs away like water. The right heat is, when it just started to get shiny. In this state you can shape it just like filler. Give it a gentle 'stroke' with the blow torch every now and then to keep it pasty. Soactually the hardest bit is to find the right amount of heat - and keep that heat steady. It's no drama if you apply not enough lead - make it warm, put a bit on. Done. And if it ran away - put on a bit more, done. After all it was surprisingly easy. But you have to make sure that the metal is 100% blank. A bit of rust or paint, and the flux doesn't stick to the surface (leaves a a black burned-like spot). And you have to make sure to wipe away all the residue left bythe flux. As that's more or less acid. And acid and metal don't mix...  Procedure: clean the metal. Put on athin coat of the flux. Heat itwith the torch to prime the metal with lead. Wipe away the flux's residue. Heat metal & lead bar and put the led on the metal with a twist of the wrist. If tehre's anough lead on the metal, heat it further till it's shiney. And then shape it with a wooden spatula coated with linseed oil. And keep it in a pasteous consitency with the blow torch. Shape like you would do with filler. And then file it down with a rasp and sanding paper. You can flat it with an angle grinder, but wear a GOOD professional respirator!! Don't inhale lead, it's no healthy stuff ;D Cut & bend into shape...  Weldy weldy...  Roughly dressed up...  Lead applied. Youcansee that I had a bit trouble with the lead runing at my first go. But I soon got the idea and it went better.  Roughly flettened and primered - finish willbe done with filler to make it even for painting.  Waiting for the primer to dry now and then finish it in the evening. Btw: I just bought a new angle grinder with adjustable speed - SO much better for working! Cheers, Jan |
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Nice work Jan! That was nice of the fellow Mercedes owner giving you those trim parts, what a nice thing to do! Looks like this is progressing well, even though it's a little more work than you anticipated - it'll all be worth it! |
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Nice work Jan! That was nice of the fellow Mercedes owner giving you those trim parts, what a nice thing to do! Looks like this is progressing well, even though it's a little more work than you anticipated - it'll all be worth it! Thank you Mr. Benzboy Yes, I hope I can repay him with something else sometime. But I guess that's just the spirit of any enthusiastic community Helping each other out. Well - yes. My panel beating and welding skills still need lots of shaping, but I think I can do it. And with a car like this - it'll be worth it,as you said. Those estates got very rare over here - you almost see more DeLoreans and Ferraris on the roads here ;D Put on some filler and sanded it flat, put on another coat of primer. forgott the cam upstairs - so it's free to your imagination howit looks like now ;D Cheers, Jan |
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Apr 10, 2011 13:09:08 GMT
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There's a job I want to master, the lead loading. I'm just about okay with normal filler but there's always areas where I think using a bit of metal would be healthier for the car.
Like many other people comenting on your thread, these are one of my favourite estates and are another of those cars on my want list. Great to see that she's getting the attention she deserves.
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Apr 13, 2011 14:33:22 GMT
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There's a job I want to master, the lead loading. I'm just about okay with normal filler but there's always areas where I think using a bit of metal would be healthier for the car. Well - I'm not sure if I 'master' it, but it looks like it worked I still need a lot of practicing. Same for beating panels, welding etc. If there's interesst, I might post a bit more details about the process? I'm sure I can find some more panels that need attention... Liek they say in Germany: 'no master ever fell from the skies'. Means: practice makes perfect or something like that ;D Like many other people comenting on your thread, these are one of my favourite estates and are another of those cars on my want list. Great to see that she's getting the attention she deserves. Yes. She's definately worth the effort! And to boost my mojo I just made a deal on some tasty 15" alloys ;D Collecting them this weekend.  Cheers, Jan |
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Apr 14, 2011 12:17:24 GMT
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I like to learn about anything and everything car related, especially cosmetic stuff, so I'd certainly be interested in a progress report on how you go about the lead work. I bet that the German saying sounds better in German.
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Apr 14, 2011 22:15:08 GMT
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I like to learn about anything and everything car related, especially cosmetic stuff, so I'd certainly be interested in a progress report on how you go about the lead work. I bet that the German saying sounds better in German. Probably sounds better ;D "Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen". I'll report as soon as get to it again. Today I had the honour of working on a very immaculate W123 coupe, a 230CE. 130km on the clock - everything looks like new. Except... Well - there was a large dent in the sidewall. I didn't do all the work myself, but I certainly learned a LOT today! It's not mine - but do I wish it was mine! What a nice car...    So work commenced with a sliding hammer (noacces from the rear)    The restwas sorted using a 'spotter'. A mix of spot-welder and sliding hammer. A very, very nice tool!    Impressive, I wouldn't have thought that it can be restored that well. It's not finished yet, unfortunately I don't have time tomorrow to assist/watch the finish. I'm busy with the preparations for our first Mini Parts Jumble this weekened. But well, I guess it's interessting nevertheless. Cheers, Jan |
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Apr 16, 2011 18:20:31 GMT
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Soooo - wheels collected. Well chuffed with them! They'r pretty immaculate. Pictures when I've unloaded my luggage carrier aka. the Mini   But that wont happen untill tomorrow... I'm totaly done for, what a long day and no real sleep last night and no I'm off celebrating again...  Cheers, Jan |
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Apr 16, 2011 18:44:59 GMT
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Oh, just noticed I did take a picture Sneaky preview:  |
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Apr 18, 2011 19:04:54 GMT
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Unloaded...  and here they are. Rare 7x15" Rial 'Cobra's. ET23 means they stick out about 2cm more I've never seen another car with those. They'r fake-splits, yes, I admit it... But at least they'r road legal and have a TÜV certificate. And I don't care, actually. I like them.  came with all the wheel nuts and this funky little tool for tighetening the center caps. For that extra ''I has center lock wheels''-feel ;D  They'r in verygood condition, only one wheel has slight curbing. A bargain at 200 I guess. Cheers, Jan |
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Apr 18, 2011 19:58:11 GMT
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Impressive work on that dent on the coupe! Loving the wheels too. Are you using them as they are or are you going to paint them a different colour?
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,742
Club RR Member Number: 83
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Apr 18, 2011 21:40:18 GMT
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Wheels are going to look sweeeet |
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As much as those new wheels are lovely and are going to look ace on the Merc, I'm loving the wheels on the Mini just as much.
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Apr 19, 2011 16:09:58 GMT
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,409
Club RR Member Number: 84
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Apr 19, 2011 20:24:50 GMT
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love those wheels, would love a set for the CE! If you wanna sell/find another set, let me know!!
Build is looking good too!
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Apr 19, 2011 20:32:33 GMT
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love those wheels, would love a set for the CE! If you wanna sell/find another set, let me know!! Build is looking good too! Thanks! This seller on the german eBay sells some sets of apparently new wheels: cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260766852037He also offers them without PCD (undrilled) and in 8 and 9" width. Maybe there's something for you Postage wont be cheap, though. Cheers, Jan |
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markbognor
South East
 
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Apr 19, 2011 20:34:12 GMT
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Great wheels.
Good work Jan, I'm very jelous of your T.
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good work!
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E36 328 Touring
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