Pete removed the rear H-frame from our 1978 Mercedes 350SL and began trimming back to the chassis tail ends in preparation for fitting the new rear crossmember, which will be tied into the replacement boot floor. Despite the location being deep behind the bodywork, corrosion was still present in these areas. Fortunately, the acid dip […]
The spare wheel well and boot floor have been prepped and welded in on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. Spot welding was completed in factory spots and dressed back. Towing eye fabricated and welded in factory position. Preparation for further panel work.
Lots of progress has been made on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. After the sub frame repairs were made and various components were painted in satin black, the restoration of the bodywork can now begin.
Today Pete has brought the body into our workshop and removed it from its transport trolly, it’s been safely put onto our two poster ramp ready for fabrication work to start. In the meantime Pete and our photographer Nick have taken a wealth of photos of all the areas we can access that need repair […]
Our 1978 Mercedes 350SL has now come out of chemical dipping and is looking in much better condition as it prepares to move into the next stage of its restoration. As always, our partners at Prostrip have done a fantastic job and we look forward to the car arriving back at the workshop.
The ashtray on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL was dirty and the front paint was poor so it was dismantled, cleaned, sprayed, and reassembled.
Various parts of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL have been painted in DTM Black.
It has been decided that our 1978 Mercedes 350SL will be chemical dipped. This has been decided over our preferred sandblasting due to the amount of underseal that has been put on the car over the years. New body parts are on order, and the engine is also undergoing a full rebuild.
This shows the some of the processes involved in restoring the engine mount damper system on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL . All parts dismantled, sandblasted and thoroughly cleaned. Metal cups that hold the rubber bushes in place zinc plated and metal brackets spray painted before being reassembled. Some small brackets for engine that have been […]
Here are some reference photos of the rear suspension strip down of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. Along with splitting the diff from the axle, Ben also removed all the subframe mounts so they could be sent off for blasting and powder coating.
Ben and Steve fabricated a new frame for the rotisserie to mount securely to the chassis subframe mounts, as well as the rear bumper and front anti-roll bar mounts of our. This setup was designed to enhance stability and reduce flex during use. With the vehicle now mounted in this way, full access to the […]
Both front hubs had seized bolts that snapped during the removal of the brake disc back plates of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. The broken bolts were drilled out in three stages, after which the threads were cleaned using a thread tap.
Steve has now fully stripped down our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. Bracing will be installed across the door openings and the body to prevent any twisting when the vehicle is removed from the ramp. The old underseal has also been cleaned off the grille components.
The wiring, harness, and heater have now been removed from our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. Lots of work and progress are being made on this car, and it will soon be returned to its former glory and be back out on the road where it belongs.
Ben has begun cleaning and restoring various parts from our 1978 Mercedes 350SL in preparation for reassembly. Some components have been sandblasted and primed, with plans to apply the correct paint colour before storage. These restored parts will be packed away until they are ready to be refitted during the reassembly process
Technician Ben dropped the subframes on our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. The front subframe was secured with four mounting bolts, which were removed to release it. The rear subframe was attached via the rear shock absorbers, four bolts securing the differential, and two brackets at the front of the subframe bolted to the rear section of […]
The engine and gearbox of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL have been removed.
Our 1978 Mercedes 350SL has been in the Bridge Classic Cars paint shop. While it has been in there, it has had the paint stripped off several panels ready for prep work to begin for new paint.
Here is a quick look back at the dash strip down of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL.
The strip down of our 1978 Mercedes 350SL included the removal of various components, ranging from the bumpers to the centre console. The offside door was documented during disassembly, while the nearside door was handled by Steve. Alongside the removal of parts, the window regulator catches, and other door components were thoroughly cleaned. The door […]
Pete has been looking at our 1978 Mercedes 350SL. He noted that it had difficulty starting, excessive engine noise, and issues keeping the engine running. The noise suggests possible tappet or small-end wear, but further investigation is needed, potentially requiring a full engine rebuild. A compression test revealed significant pressure fluctuations, with at least three […]
We’ve welcomed another pair of classics to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop here at our Suffolk HQ in the form of a stunning 1968 Daimler 250 V8 and a 1978 Mercedes 350SL. Both of these classics will be beginning their journey with the team, checking over every square inch before any work takes place.