Structural support on unibody car

[Tostal]

How did you get a structure drawing from them? What did you ask them about? They wouldn’t give the time of day...

If you can't find a data sheet of body datum points in your shop manual, you could try a body-shop (preferably one which works on 1970's cars), they might have alternative trade sources of body data points. Afaik, body alignment equipment suppliers used to provide data manuals (back when everything was in paper form) to users of their equipment - a bit like Autodata (and others) supply subscription based in-depth technical info to 'shops nowadays.

Maybe a member on one of the Mercedes-Benz owners forums might be able to provide a datasheet of body datum points?

~T.

 

[MBfreak]

MB had a very good parts and technical support in Stuttgart in the eighties. Just a letter or phone call, in German, and they would help out.
Never had a problem later either. Like when I needed to know the tolerances on the flywheel for the starter ring-gear. Got it and also the method how to shrink it on.

Old age has resulted in that I sold my cars and also gave up driving 3 years ago. Miss the wrenching but not the driving.


Ola

 

[MBfreak]

The main thing is to buy the spare parts book , original MB. Several hundred pages, will set you back a bundle. But has it all with perfect exploded drawings and all numbers, split per car type and chassis number. Also perfect as a technical manual.
Then join the SL Pagode Club in Germany or/and any german MB club. They will welcome you and help.
About the only part non available is the propshaft tunnel for W111/2 cabriolet. They were so hefty that if damaged the car was non restoreable.
Niemöller, a Hamburg SL specialist( forgotten the name, old age zukkz), several bespoke MB shops ( like Klus Kienzle in Stuttgart) will help you out.
BUT, always start with the MB Old Timer Center in Stuttgart.

Ola

 

[mercifiknow]

You're welcome. I, too, perused various Mercedes forums. It seems people have been seeking replacement rockers and pans for the 250c going back 10 years or so without success. Adsitco was the only site that seemed to have rockers but I also noticed the adverse comments. The general work-around seems, at least for some people, to be to modify W114 sedan rockers and pans to fit the Coupe. I realise it's a lot of extra work but it has to be easier than trying to fabricate complete panels from scratch?

I also tried the classic Mercedes parts website but they require 3 digits from the VIN to enable a search. Also tried various Merc. classic parts suppliers in Europe. No luck, except https://www.niemoeller.de/en/catalog-f/w114c where I went down through the menu and found
https://www.niemoeller.de/en/w114c/w114c/B023/37 which showed Rocker as item 3 M-B part no. 115 637 03 35 (L) and 115 637 04 35 (R)
and https://www.niemoeller.de/en/w114c/w114c/B023/33 which showed Pans as item 1 M-B par no. 115 616 01 67 (L) and 115 616 02 67 (R)
I inputted these no's into the above classic Mercedes parts website, but these showed 'No Result', so presumably are no longer available.

~T.

Niemoller is one of companies that I contacted in Germany. They don’t have any available and don’t when they’ll get them.

Interestingly enough, I contacted Car Parts.com yesterday and they have the parts but the rockers are only 18 ga and should be 16. They have the pans and are correct. I’m thinking I may go ahead and purchase them . I’m heading to a fab shop this morning to see if they can take my project on.

 

[mercifiknow]

MB had a very good parts and technical support in Stuttgart in the eighties. Just a letter or phone call, in German, and they would help out.
Never had a problem later either. Like when I needed to know the tolerances on the flywheel for the starter ring-gear. Got it and also the method how to shrink it on.

Old age has resulted in that I sold my cars and also gave up driving 3 years ago. Miss the wrenching but not the driving.


Ola

Thanks Ola! I’ll give it try!

 

[mercifiknow]

Well the search continues for a body shop.

I went to a place yesterday which was an autobody fab shop and was told it would take 40 hrs to put bracing in the car…walked away.

 

[iagsxr]

Well the search continues for a body shop.

I went to a place yesterday which was an autobody fab shop and was told it would take 40 hrs to put bracing in the car…walked away.

Was that you taking them a gutted shell or just dropping the car off? Sounds a little light if they have to start with a complete car.

 

[MBfreak]

Her you can find a lot of MB parts suppliers:

Cheap parts suppliers in Germany

Cheap parts suppliers in Germany

www.sl113.org

And the one i mentioned but could not remember is SLS , Hamburg.
VERY good supplier. All body parts for my 230 SL rebuild bought there.
They only had NOS parts, no garbage reproductions.

Ola

 

[MBfreak]

Tostal; Presumably the panel gauge thickness for the rockers and floorpans is greater for the Coupe as it's a pillar-less body?
The lack of the b-pillar is not a big issue wrt . The real issue is the cabriolet body. MB W111/2 Cabriolets as well as the W113 SL´s has a propshaft tunnel in 3,5 mm steel which is also closed all the way. Rockers identical to the Coupes.

Ola

 

[mercifiknow]

Was that you taking them a gutted shell or just dropping the car off? Sounds a little light if they have to start with a complete car.

Gutted.

 

[mercifiknow]

Her you can find a lot of MB parts suppliers:

Cheap parts suppliers in Germany

Cheap parts suppliers in Germany

www.sl113.org

And the one i mentioned but could not remember is SLS , Hamburg.
VERY good supplier. All body parts for my 230 SL rebuild bought there.
They only had NOS parts, no garbage reproductions.

Ola

I looked at the SL website. They are real nice parts there. Some will go on the mine.

I did find a chassis manual. Question is whether the “crazyaboutmercedes.com” is a good place to get it and not get scammed?

Anyone know?

 

[545_days]

I'm doing similar repairs on an old Fiat. It is also a southern car which rusted from the inside out after the roof failed. I am doing the repairs myself because I want to become a better fabricator and welder. Even doing all the work myself, it is not cost effective. If all I wanted was a restored car I would start with a less rusty shell. I'm in it for the education and experience.

I have spent way more than 40 hours so far; but I also am fabricating most of the repair panels from scratch. I am a much better fabricator and welder today than I was when I started. So there is that.

On the other hand. The desire to grind out my first repairs and do them over intensifies as my skills grow, so the project may never end...

 

[mercifiknow]

I'm doing similar repairs on an old Fiat. It is also a southern car which rusted from the inside out after the roof failed. I am doing the repairs myself because I want to become a better fabricator and welder. Even doing all the work myself, it is not cost effective. If all I wanted was a restored car I would start with a less rusty shell. I'm in it for the education and experience.

I have spent way more than 40 hours so far; but I also am fabricating most of the repair panels from scratch. I am a much better fabricator and welder today than I was when I started. So there is that.

On the other hand. The desire to grind out my first repairs and do them over intensifies as my skills grow, so the project may never end...

My didn’t start out that way. I made them put it on a lift and a poked that son-of-gun pretty good in the typical places for rust and found none. Fast forward about several years and here I am.

I did find some body / chassis manuals yesterday and I hope they have the information in them. I’m going to get some 16 ga steel and see if I can bend it hopefully by end of next week. Bought a contour gauge to if I can get a profile somewhere.

 

[545_days]

My didn’t start out that way. I made them put it on a lift and a poked that son-of-gun pretty good in the typical places for rust and found none. Fast forward about several years and here I am.

I did find some body / chassis manuals yesterday and I hope they have the information in them. I’m going to get some 16 ga steel and see if I can bend it hopefully by end of next week. Bought a contour gauge to if I can get a profile somewhere.

The inner rocker panels in the FIAT 124 Spider were 14 gauge for what it is worth. Thankfully the required patches there were in flat areas.

The rear crossmember was gone and I fabbed a new one; but it was 20 gauge and easier to bend up.

I have found the weird contours of the floor that make clearance for the cat, and the transition to the firewall to be the most challenging so far.

 

[mercifiknow]

I was talking to a restoration guy yesterday hoping he would tackle the job (super high end quality work). He isn’t—health issues and retired.

Anyway, he was saying that the steel used on those sections came from Ukrainian steel mills at that time and was notorious for rusting really fast once it started getting rusty. He then asked if I had rust in my quarter panels, trunk, and doors. He said, “I bet you don’t because they came from Europe mills and were properly made in those mills.”

He was correct. I’ve got surface rust in very few areas.

Stated that the 18 ga rockers will be adequate for replacement for those 16 ga even coming from China.

Never knew that about those mills. Anyone else? Seems kinda strange…

Veered off course there, sorry about that. Lol