1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL Minor Restoration - Auto-Trend Repairs and Service Information Forums

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

1990 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL Minor Restoration

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Well after a long day of plugging everything in and routing all of the wires she now starts and runs well. I dont have the exhaust system hooked up yet as I am fitting some parts from various other vehicles that I have collected over the years.

While the actual time to pull an engine out, and slide one in isnt too bad, it sure does take a lot out of me every time I do one. Getting everything back in order is like a process, but I have done so many now it almost seems easy... Now if I could only convince my body of that.

I am thinking of taking a short video this morning of it running with open manifolds. The kids say it sounds like a race car and want me to leave the exhaust off; I have to explain to them Mercedes are luxury cars and should be quiet and well mannered just like kids. Of course my inner kid couldnt help but to mention the Silver Dragon and how one day soon their dreams of a loud "Race Car" Mercedes will come true.

So there you have it... Another one saved by SELLC and co.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Well I took a video bright and early this morning of her first official start since the engine was installed late last night. Kind of bummed it didnt fire on the first crank, then again it has no exhaust system, 02 Sensor and there is about 2 gallons worth of gasoline in the tank that has basically turned into turpentine after sitting for almost 3-4 years. I did put about 4 gallons of premium in her yesterday but my plans are to burn this tank dry before putting in anymore fuel.

Enjoy the video! I doubt I will do much more with this car for the next week as that Camaro in the background and many engines like it are a priority from here on out. I think Saturday or Sunday I might have everything in order to install the exhaust and take her for the first test drive on Monday when I purchase a temporary plate. It's times like these that I miss my old transit repair plates, but saving $200 a month for the past year and a half has been quite helpful. They only charge $60 for a 60 day temporary plate here in Michigan which will be more than enough time for me to work out any bugs before her new owner steps up to take her home.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Finally got all that bad gas out of there and installed an exhaust system. Fires on the first crank with loads of power. Drove it around for a few hours tonight and I was happy with the results. As of tomorrow it will be put in comission as our new daily driver.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Finally got everything in order! Some bastard stole a bunch of converters out of a vehicle I was storing them in. Three Mercedes converters and one for a GM Camaro GONE! Had to pull the exhaust off my old Mercedes because I didnt have any front converters! Not very happy about that!

Decided to swap my rims onto this vehicle and it already had a killer stereo system installed. Adding my Kenwood USB Reciver and Subs took all of an hour as all the power lines had been run and a fancy street wires distribution block sat ready to deliver more power to the extra amp mounted to the new subs.

There really is something about driving a black on black car. Even though I have only been driving it for two days it seems the black Mercedes gets WAY more looks than the smoke silver. The black W126 560 SEL just looks mafioso.

Still working out some bugs though. I have a few small body issues that will be addressed when my painter squirts a customers Z28. I have a few interior panels I am going to swap out and maybe a good cleaning and conditioning of the leather and I think everything will be good.

Now that the rims and stereo are installed I think I may just keep it. Depends. Anymore fixing them is most of the fun. Something about bringing a car back to life with your bare hands.

Here are the most recent photos.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Here is what it looked like before the rims and new tail light.

Ill shoot one last round of photos when the interior has been cleaned and the body work finished.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Strange thing happend, apparently some of the old fuel must have caused the converter to melt. I was driving down the road and all of a sudden sparks started shooting out of the exhaust tail pipe! Looked like someone lit one of them fountain fireworks from the rear view mirror!

Pulled over and looked under the vehicle and the converter was glowing red! To make things worse one of the fuel pumps shit the bed. Just got done replacing the converter with a POS aftermarket unit but the pumps still need to be changed out. I have several units on the self but very little time.

The best thing about Mercedes is how they are built to keep you on the road rather than broke down on the side of the road (like a Ford).

Dispite the fact that I have a fuel pump out Mercedes used TWO pumps to ensure that your not stranded. In my case this was a life saver considering I had court the next day and no time to replace one of the pumps! It got me to court and back dispite having one bad fuel pump! Once again the Mercedes saved my biscuts!

I tip my hat to the people that designed these cars. Now if only they would have come up with a bullet proof nylon for the timing chain guide rails, as really thats the only weak link that I can see when it comes to these V8 W126's. Then again changing them out every 100,000 miles will ensure everything keeps on ticking.

Enjoy the photo!

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

You know what you get when you polish a turd Rex???

A shiny turd.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

That shiny turd cost more than your house when it sold new in 1990 PowerStroker.

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

Do you mean my house value when I bought it in 02, or It's value now after the Bush housing bubble and Bush Depression?

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

When you purchased your home was it new construction? I guess it doesnt matter, only Clinton could have inflated the value of a 1 bedroom bungalo to twice its value.

It's called a correction PowerStroker. You can only cook books so long before something gets BURNT.... In this case it was homeowners that took out too much money on their homes. Thank your boy Slick Willy for that, not Bush!

-- Edited by SELLC on Saturday 3rd of July 2010 01:12:11 PM

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Well I spent 3 hours replacing the entire fuel pump assy. tonight and it runs like a raped ape! Starts on the first crank, smooth as silk!

What a pain in the ass them fuel pumps are after they have rusted up. Glad I had the whole unit otherwise it may not have gotten done in time. Took a bath in Gasoline when I knocked the vice grips loose by accedent, the gas was pouring out of there like a garden hose! Luckly I didnt catch any in the face.

So there you have it. All I have to do now is have my body guy clean up a few spots and she's 100%!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Well it didn't even make it to the body guy before someone bought it!

I will miss her, she had a nice interior and a pretty tight body. Thing is I wasn't expecting to sell her, I thought someone was coming to look at my truck, but when they got there they just kept on walking past the truck. LOL Totally caught me off guard, I mean I did have it listed, but I just wasn't expecting someone to fork over the cold hard cash in this economy.

I tip my hat to the ole' girl. She did right by me and the family for bringing her back from the dead. Her new owner looked to be a pretty good kid. Hell who knows, I might pick up some future repairs!

Now it's time to get the smoke silver 560 back on the road. Got some good photos of all the work I am doing on that one, however this one is not for sale, been part of the family for too long.