1969 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL 6.3
Total restoration
 Restoration Log by Dan Mooney

 

 
Specification (briefly) for this project is as follows:

Total restoration with significant performance and reliability upgrades, including an extremely high performance M-100 engine build.

Click here for engine rebuild page

             


 

 
Update report
The following sequence of photographs show the trial fitting of the engine and 5 speed transmission conversion. Jake fabricated and welded sturdy plates either side of the transmission tunnel, with a heavy duty chrome-moly bar to support the weight of the transmission. This week we will begin the process of fabricating a set of custom headers and custom exhaust for the car.










































Update report
All of the sheet metal repairs and panel replacement have now been completed.



















Lots of progress with the big Mercedes in the Team CJ Coachworks.


























New upper side panels required for both
sides of the engine bay
 Front shock support welded in place










Preparing to weld the new panels in place






















Captive nuts welded/bonded to inner wings
 Trial fitting the front panel and both front wings










Trial fitting the radiator
 Trial fitting the grille



Back from being blasted back to bare metal. The news isn't too bad, but a few additional panels will need to be sourced or fabricated.










































The following sequence of photographs show some good progress in the CJ Coachworks this week. We also received the interior wood back from Madera Concepts who did a beautiful job refinishing the macassar ebony veneers.

























































































Time to get the sheet metal repairs underway.




I am pleased to report that we now have this exciting project underway. With the engine and drive train removed, lots of corrosion and some very shoddy previous repairs are on display.


The silver car in the background will be the source
of several parts
 First job is to remove the engine and front and
rear suspension










6.3L V8 is crammed into the engine compartment











With the axle removed, the first signs of significant
rust are exposed










Engine and front subframe removed
as one unit
 Engine and front suspension weigh about the same
as the orange car in the neighboring bay!











Engine bay stripped, will be refinished










A custom wiring harness will be made from scratch
 In the restoration business 25 years and I have never
seen duct tape panel repairs before!










More duct tape hole patching










A lot of bondo beneath lower RH quarter panel
 Bondo was hiding these huge rust holes























Original seat upholstery is in fantastic condition










Scraping away multiple layers of undercoating
 Interior wood being removed for refinishing