W115 Ute Project starts ...

[Honey500]

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

[CraigB]

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!

[T-Modell]

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

[AMG]

He always travels with his HK "protection"

einzweipolizei.jpg

[Honey500]

Is that a factory option?

[AMG]

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.

[T-Modell]

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

[T-Modell]

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

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 ...

[CraigB]

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

[AMG]

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

[T-Modell]

I'll suggest that

[Honey500]

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?

[T-Modell]

...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

[Honey500]

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.

[T-Modell]

... 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

[Honey500]

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!

[T-Modell]

Hi guys,
finally some good news: the gearbox is in a good condition! ... 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

[AMG]

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.
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.

[T-Modell]

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

[T-Modell]

Hi guys,

today the new motor was delivered




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

[eddie]

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

[Bartman4800]

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.

[Honey500]

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

[TheMadRacoon]

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.

[CraigB]

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.

[T-Modell]

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

[T-Modell]

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

[AMG]

Awesome.

[eddie]

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

[T-Modell]

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

[T-Modell]

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

[Bartman4800]

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

Bart

[T-Modell]

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

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!
Thomas

[thirstymerc]

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

Looking awesome Thomas

Can't wait to see the grand reveal!

Cheers

[Honey500]

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

[AMG]

Thomas,

I think your wife will love this 'anniversary present'

[T-Modell]

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

[Ivanerrol]

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.

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