W115 Ute Project starts ...

Post by **Honey500** » Sat 10 Feb, 2018 8:23 pm

Drive it lots in the first 12 months!!!!!

Post by **CraigB** » Sun 11 Feb, 2018 1:12 am

I'm glad you have them verified Thomas. At first when i read I was worried for your safety, picturing cash deals with big guys in dark sunglasses, meeting in dark alleys etc etc!

Post by **T-Modell** » Sun 11 Feb, 2018 2:01 am

CraigB wrote: ↑Sun 11 Feb, 2018 1:12 am I'm glad you have them verified Thomas. At first when i read I was worried for your safety, picturing cash deals with big guys in dark sunglasses, meeting in dark alleys etc etc!

Thanks Craig

the guy's in the R107 business for 30 years, so I hope, I return alive ... otherwise all you guys have to help my wife to complete the project

Thomas

Post by **AMG** » Mon 12 Feb, 2018 10:15 pm

He always travels with his HK "protection"

einzweipolizei.jpg

Post by **Honey500** » Tue 13 Feb, 2018 9:50 am

Is that a factory option?

Post by **AMG** » Tue 13 Feb, 2018 2:09 pm

Honey500 wrote: ↑Tue 13 Feb, 2018 9:50 am Is that a factory option?

Yep. This green version for Bundespolizei. w126. pic's been around for decades, I just dug it up again for giggles

You have to put it into 1980's context - There was an East Germany and a West Germany and a very chilly 'war' still going on in Europe.

Mp5's were (still are) a good weapon of choice.

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 13 Feb, 2018 6:44 pm

AMG wrote: ↑Tue 13 Feb, 2018 2:09 pm
Honey500 wrote: ↑Tue 13 Feb, 2018 9:50 am Is that a factory option?
Yep. This green version for Bundespolizei. w126. pic's been around for decades, I just dug it up again for giggles

You have to put it into 1980's context - There was an East Germany and a West Germany and a very chilly 'war' still going on in Europe.

Mp5's were (still are) a good weapon of choice.

Hi,
in the 80s we still had serious problems with the RAF terrorists; that's when those cars were in use. Between East and West it was more money (towards the East) and critical people (towards the West) exchange ...
Thomas

Post by **T-Modell** » Thu 15 Feb, 2018 1:51 am

:occasion5: :occasion5: :occasion5: I GOT IT ... a brandnew M117 with all new parts attached :occasion5: :occasion5: :occasion5:

It will be delivered Monday in a week acc. to my specs, i. e. it will be "downgraded" to a 1980 version without motor control and electronic idle control ... so more simple. Part of the deal were all my ordered spare parts for the motor revision; so he will take them for the next motor.

Apart from that, I could also source the ultra-rare 15" hubcaps, so the pickup will be original!!!

Good day, although expensive

Thomas

P. S.: The guy is so interested in this project, that he will deliver the motor himself ("wanna have a look")

...300kms drive one-way ...

Post by **CraigB** » Thu 15 Feb, 2018 8:37 am

if he is really interested you could suggest if he puts the motor in he could take it for a drive!

Post by **AMG** » Thu 15 Feb, 2018 8:41 am

CraigB wrote: ↑Thu 15 Feb, 2018 8:37 am if he is really interested you could suggest if he puts the motor in he could take it for a drive!

Post by **T-Modell** » Thu 15 Feb, 2018 5:37 pm

I'll suggest that

Post by **Honey500** » Fri 16 Feb, 2018 11:27 am

Great news!
Good that the parts you had for the old motor will not go to waste. So was the old motor so bad that it is basically scrap value?

Post by **T-Modell** » Fri 16 Feb, 2018 6:17 pm

Honey500 wrote: ↑Fri 16 Feb, 2018 11:27 am ...So was the old motor so bad that it is basically scrap value?

Yep,
even Stefan's contact in Finnland is - if at all - interested in the heads. So I keep things like the starter, servo pump etc. as spare parts and I already have ideas to make a glass table out of the block

(my wife's already happy, as it would be the second "car glass table" ... I have an 18" AMG wheel converted to a glass table).

Most important will be the test, if wine bottles fit into the cylindres, that might convince SWMBO

Regards
Thomas

Post by **Honey500** » Fri 16 Feb, 2018 9:33 pm

the idea and that your wife also loves the idea. Makes a unique wine bottle holder. I do not see Mrs allowing that into to mine.

Good mate of mine has a similar plan, contact he had was wrecking a BMW M5 V10 that was fire damaged so he brought the block cheap for a coffee table project.

Post by **T-Modell** » Fri 16 Feb, 2018 10:06 pm

Honey500 wrote: ↑Fri 16 Feb, 2018 9:33 pm ... and that your wife also loves the idea. ...

Let's put it that way: it was more a sarcastic remark

... I definitely have to get rid of the AMG glass table, two tables aren't allowed. However I am extremely blessed with my wife (in many ways); but especially in this project she puts up with all my sleepless nights, the time I spend on constructing pieces in 3D and doing my internship at Mercedes etc etc ... including more than one room in the house looking like a Mercedes spare parts storage ... I really do thank her for that ...

Regards
Thomas

Post by **Honey500** » Fri 16 Feb, 2018 10:29 pm

Have certainly pick up that your Wife is quite supportive of your endeavors. Very much a blessing. My darling wife is not such a fan of my Sadey!

Post by **T-Modell** » Fri 23 Feb, 2018 6:08 pm

Hi guys,
finally some good news: the gearbox is in a good condition! :occasion5: ... no metal parts or other damages visible. Yesterday we replaced all sealings ... a really nice guy, the transmission specialist at Mercedes, did the work ... I was the intern, as usual

Monday, the new motor should come!
Best regards
Thomas

Post by **AMG** » Fri 23 Feb, 2018 11:15 pm

Thomas, did you get him to change the K1 spring and valvebody piston rings? (3-4 shift slowness) would have been a doddle with the valvebody so accessible... not that it matters
I was only thinking for longevity of clutch packs...
Oh, now I think of it, it matters not - massive bonus for you - your guys will have the factory tools & gauges to set the control pressure / modulator pressure and check the operating pressures with the trans in the car.... on their dyno. :occasion5:
if ever there was a time to be a teeny bit jealous, it would be now, with your access to in-house MB trans specialists.

Post by **T-Modell** » Sat 24 Feb, 2018 6:02 pm

Look Joe,
here you ask four people what to do with a gearbox and you get five opinions. I trusted my mechanic at MB and Stefan 6.9. They both told me - as the gearbox was fine when I drove the car - to replace the sealings (as described) and do NOT invest huge money in a complete overhaul. Even if the gearbox turns out to be defective once we drive the car, it's relatively easy to get out.

Regards
Thomas

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 3:27 am

Hi guys,

today the new motor was delivered :occasion5:

Looks reaaaaaly good, today we adapted some parts to it and next week the gearbox, compressor etc. will be fitted and the motor will go in.

Best regards
Thomas

Post by **eddie** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 8:26 am

That is very sweet Thomas, looking forward to it all being mashed together!

Post by **Bartman4800** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 10:54 am

OMG it is so nice to restore a car by taking the clingwrap off large objects.

While most of us scrape rust and try to drill out seized bolts

Awesome progress Thomas, thanks for keeping us informed.

Post by **Honey500** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 12:45 pm

Thomas that is a beautiful thing!!
Everything clean and polished!

Post by **TheMadRacoon** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 6:52 pm

Honey500 wrote: ↑Tue 27 Feb, 2018 12:45 pm Thomas that is a beautiful thing!!
Everything clean and polished!

+1,000,000

Actually makes me wonder what direction this project would have taken if you'd started with that beautiful engine first.

Post by **CraigB** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 6:56 pm

That's pretty cool - a blank casting with no engine number, just the type ie. 117960....... will you need to stamp it to get rego? It is the number that is on it and no doubt no other cars with that number. I guess the idea would be if a dealer fitted it they would restamp with the number of broken motor they throw away.

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 27 Feb, 2018 7:49 pm

Hi guys,
thanks for the comments! A new block has no number at all; so the 117 960 was stamped by the guy who sold the motor to me; I need that for registration. A refurbished motor would have a special plate attached, indicating this.

Regards
Thomas

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 06 Mar, 2018 6:48 pm

Hi down under,
yesterday we completed the motor, attached the gearbox, found a way for the fuel lines and put it in (not yet finally fixed, but it's in):

Regards
Thomas

Post by **AMG** » Wed 07 Mar, 2018 9:24 am

Awesome.

Post by **eddie** » Wed 07 Mar, 2018 1:39 pm

Great work Thomas, just plumb in the fuel from a petrol can and a length of hose and head out to the streets!!!!!!

Post by **T-Modell** » Wed 07 Mar, 2018 5:44 pm

Thanks for the compliments guys,
today's another day of my apprenticeship

... the radiator, condensator, dryer and fan comes in, so we can find a way for the aircon lines. I will sacrifice my old garden hose, so we can make a sample for each line ... to be produced afterwards.

Regards
Thomas

Post by **T-Modell** » Thu 08 Mar, 2018 7:07 pm

Hi,
yesterday we designed the aircon hoses ... an old garden hose is now a bit shorter

... the new fuel lines are in (nearly) and we fitted radiator, condensator and fan. Now there's a bit of a halt in the project as I'm busy with work and we're waiting for the aircon hoses to be manufactured ...

Regards
Thomas

Post by **Bartman4800** » Thu 08 Mar, 2018 7:29 pm

I love the way you took the original Mercedes bracket in front of the radiator, and restyled them to suit.

Well done! And yes - stainless hydraulic tubing is the material of choice :dance:

Bart

Post by **T-Modell** » Thu 08 Mar, 2018 8:37 pm

Bartman4800 wrote: ↑Thu 08 Mar, 2018 7:29 pm I love the way you took the original Mercedes bracket in front of the radiator, and restyled them to suit.

Well done! And yes - stainless hydraulic tubing is the material of choice :dance:

Bart

Bart,
you won't believe it: those brackets I got from a German version of Bunnings, just round steel. Those are HANDMADE!!! We used a tyre balancing machine, put a 16" steel rim on it, etc. etc.
But your statement proves our ambition to make it look like MB had designed it! :occasion5:
Thomas

Post by **thirstymerc** » Wed 28 Mar, 2018 4:29 pm

Haven't checked into this thread for a while, but wow!

Looking awesome Thomas :dance:

Can't wait to see the grand reveal!

Cheers

Post by **Honey500** » Mon 09 Apr, 2018 9:10 am

Ditto! Just been catching up on some OzBenz and love the progress you have made :dance:

Post by **AMG** » Wed 11 Apr, 2018 10:15 am

Thomas,

I think your wife will love this 'anniversary present'

Post by **T-Modell** » Wed 11 Apr, 2018 12:44 pm

Thanks for your encouraging words ... and yes, I do this all for my wife, of course ... wouldn't you guys do it if she asks nicely?

Thomas

Post by **Ivanerrol** » Tue 17 Apr, 2018 11:04 am

Thomas, you could have bought this one for all of AU$5000.00 a couple of years back.
Comes with free sand in the back and strained rear springs.

Ute-03.jpg

Ute-02.jpg

Post by **T-Modell** » Fri 18 May, 2018 1:42 am

Hi guys,

some progress again; being four weeks down under and since then drowned with work ... makes the project a bit slow.

Good news: All the custom-made aircon hoses fitted (5 pcs); ends and length. We installed heater and aircon hoses, dryer and a lot of other little bits and pieces. Motor gets fuel now (lines connected), but some stuff is still to be done ... here's some pics:

Best regards
Thomas

Post by **AMG** » Sat 19 May, 2018 1:05 pm

Yep, that engine bay is starting to look tight... not unlike a 107

Post by **T-Modell** » Sat 19 May, 2018 4:27 pm

AMG wrote: ↑Sat 19 May, 2018 1:05 pm Yep, that engine bay is starting to look tight... not unlike a 107

The water container is from the R107

... but yes, it's getting tight. It's amazing (and expensive) how long all those "little" works take, a hose here a special something there etc etc ... Lot of special handmade solutions. It was very handy, that I went to a "Bunnings" here last year and got 3 and 1 mm steel bars, straight and 90° ... we used them a lot.

Aircon/heater unit with hoses and my "outside-air-adapter" ... above the hoses, behind the gloves compartment I will install a box with all electrics, two screws and you can fold it down (similar to the G-Class):

Thomas

Post by **eddie** » Tue 22 May, 2018 8:31 am

Wow, this is looking really good Thomas. Bit better than your average 'ute muster' ute - something you should attend in OZ one day!!!

Post by **AMG** » Tue 22 May, 2018 9:22 am

HAHA, this will be more like the HSV Maloo with an LSA engine 'muster ute', i.e. the one without the huge bullbar, 500 spotties plastered all over and Kenworth mudflaps across the entire tailgate..

The real question is when it's finished, will the tray fit a double swag, or will Thomas be flying solo? :whistle:

:occasion5:

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 22 May, 2018 3:47 pm

custom-made triple-swag as I'm not playing golf yet

... black leather with orange stitching ...
Thomas

Post by **eddie** » Mon 28 May, 2018 10:13 am

Thomas,

Here's some inspiration. This looks more like your Deni Ute Muster type of gear.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/madding ... 1183068836

Post by **T-Modell** » Mon 28 May, 2018 3:27 pm

Yep, seen in in another thread ... they get so common these days

... but all fake, MINE is the original one

Thomas

Post by **T-Modell** » Tue 29 May, 2018 4:23 pm

Hi down under,

worked another full day, again only the little bits and pieces. It just takes an awful lot of time. At the end of the day you stand in front of the car and think "have we achieved anything today?" :Doh:
Well we drilled some holes, e. g. for the ABS sensors and more ...

And the front lights are mounted

Regards
Thomas

Post by **Tony From West Oz** » Wed 30 May, 2018 12:54 am

T-Modell wrote: ↑Tue 29 May, 2018 4:23 pm Hi down under,

worked another full day, again only the little bits and pieces. It just takes an awful lot of time. At the end of the day you stand in front of the car and think "have we achieved anything today?" :Doh:
Well we drilled some holes, e. g. for the ABS sensors and more ...

And the front lights are mounted

Regards
Thomas

Thomas, I think you should discard those headlights, I like to originals better.
Tony

Post by **AMG** » Wed 30 May, 2018 9:03 am

The more I look at the ute, the more it seems to have really good bones. It must have been relatively well cared for, considering the environment it lived in.

Post by **T-Modell** » Wed 30 May, 2018 2:33 pm

AMG wrote: ↑Wed 30 May, 2018 9:03 am The more I look at the ute, the more it seems to have really good bones. It must have been relatively well cared for, considering the environment it lived in.

This is not the ute; it's the body-donor car, coming from California ... the ute is crap.
Thomas