Mercedes 450SLC Body Restoration

jimbobjones40

Here's a few pictures of the 450SLC that I'm currently in the process of restoration. It needed a lot of work.
Also If you look close all the repairs are finished flush with the old (good) metal ... so no filler.

Drivers side rear sill and arch before:








Drivers side rear sill and arch after:





Drivers side inner sill and front arch before:







Drivers side inner sill and front arch after:







Passenger side was just as bad as the drivers side so I'll just show one before picture to give you an idea of the work needed:

Passenger side inner sill before:



Passenger side repairs:

8~)

Pretty extensive rust there. I'm very familiar with those areas after doing my own SLC. Happily it had a lot less rust than that but all in the same areas. Check for rust around the front of the chassis rails in the engine bay too!

Looks a tidy repair around the rear end.

I'd be interested to see the repair progress to the rear arches, inner and outer, and 1/4 panel. I found them difficult to do. I guess you're getting repair sections. Are you going to put in the jacking tubes?

jimbobjones40

8~) wrote: »

Pretty extensive rust there. I'm very familiar with those areas after doing my own SLC. Happily it had a lot less rust than that but all in the same areas. Check for rust around the front of the chassis rails in the engine bay too!

Looks a tidy repair around the rear end.

I'd be interested to see the repair progress to the rear arches, inner and outer, and 1/4 panel. I found them difficult to do. I guess you're getting repair sections. Are you going to put in the jacking tubes?

The jacking tubes will be going back on at the end ... that'll be the last job before the new sills go on.

Speaking of front chassis rails:



It had half a tube of silicone (what I'm point at in the picture below) to hold a piece of metal in place to pass the MOT I presume.

Alfasudcrazy

That's impressive work - thanks for posting.

2yung2adm

You are a brave man. Did you have a look at the bulkhead. These cars simply crumble away there along a line at a height where the steering column goes through the bulkhead.
This is an engine out job unless you are prepared to use fibreglass. Some bad ones are also rusty where the chassis leg meets the bulkhead. This is certainly an engine out repair as in an accident the chassis leg will come straight into the footwell with alarming consequences.

gn3dr

2yung2adm wrote: »

You are a brave man. Did you have a look at the bulkhead. These cars simply crumble away there along a line at a height where the steering column goes through the bulkhead.
This is an engine out job unless you are prepared to use fibreglass. Some bad ones are also rusty where the chassis leg meets the bulkhead. This is certainly an engine out repair as in an accident the chassis leg will come straight into the footwell with alarming consequences.

I'd say given the extent of the rot here, "engine out" would be a small job in comparison. Having said that though a lot of people don't seem to think like this .

EwedaMaan

Hi
Great pics, nice to see. I had an impulse buy on ebay and bought 2 450SLC, one to restore and one as a parts donor. I was surprised by how much rust there is.

One concern of mine is the jacking points, how do you get at these to check/replace them.

Also let me know if you need some parts, like I said I have a donor car.

Thanks

2yung2adm

From my experience the jacking points are the easiest to locate and repair. Its the hidden rust that causes the problems such as on the bulkhead and the other areas shown on the photos. The jacking points can easily be located. If they are rusted through you will be able to access them from the inside from the floor. This link gives an idea of what they look like. http://www.kkmfg.com/catalog.php

frans crash repairs

Looks like a nice winter challenge, make sure and invest in a good heater and a kettle for the shed!! Good luck with it.