That "CHOPTOP" - MB W115 / 1975

[JuusoEt]

I say paint it. Nothing shows off good bodywork better than a good paint job, as its what's underneath that matters

Agreed to this. Hard to get good looking paint job if messed up with the bodywork.

[Robitussin]

I say paint it. Nothing shows off good bodywork better than a good paint job, as its what's underneath that matters

[sdistc]

Yes, i have been doin planishing when i welded the roof. The picture shows that roof a bit different than it really is. Also i have a a oxyacetylene rig but havent used it that much i dare to touch the roof with it...
I have some plans with the roof how do it better but thats need some more thinking.
I've been doing those right side doors now so not so much with the roof but when the doors/pilars are done i will get it with the roof!

BTW, thanks for the huge feedback! Always good to hear guys who knows how to do something better. Advices are always welcome.

Ps. Käyttäjätilin perusteella täällä forumilla siis on suomalaisiakin?

En ole suomalainen mutta puoliso on, sen takia me muutimme tänne suomeen joulukuussa 2013 ja asumme nyt tässä Espoossa. Ole hyvä ehdotuksista - en sanoisi että tiedän kaikesta paremmin (en ole itse mestari!) vaan on hyvä avoimesti keskustella olen just valmistunut autopeltisepäksi ammattivaihtona tänä kesänä sekä käyn hitsarin ammattikoulussa tällä hetkellä että olen lukenut paljon peltihommasta siksi minulla olisi monta vaihtoehtoja ja eri tapoja päässäni jotka ehkä sinulla ei ole.

[LoweredSilverado]

You are doing a great job Bub. Keep up the good work.

[JuusoEt]

It's awesome, I wish I was half this good at bodywork
Have you thouht of leaving it bare metal with just some clearcoat? It would show all of your crazy work and be super cool

Thanks. It's not so hard, just be patient and accurate when welding and cutting things.
The bare metal look has been on my mind! It depends how accurate i can/will do the rest bodywork but i would love the metal look with clearcoat. Cannot say yet, so much work to do.

[JuusoEt]

This is super rad. Can't wait to see more updates

Thanks! Updates will come in the weekend, some more has happened than the driver-side doors. More to come.

[Fruttolo]

It's awesome, I wish I was half this good at bodywork
Have you thouht of leaving it bare metal with just some clearcoat? It would show all of your crazy work and be super cool

[06RawRsx]

This is super rad. Can't wait to see more updates

[Fila]

G.o.a.l.s.

[JuusoEt]

Did the right-side doors today so thats now done, tomorrow to the other side of the car. Also all pilars in this side is now full welded with TIG so everythings ready.
Pretty happy with the results, when i got the rear door full welded and little bit of shaving with my air grinder godddamn that looks good. Even with no paint in it!

Here's couple pictures of the process
So first I placed the door in its place and removed everything from it. Glass, chromes etcetc...
image24.jpg

Then little measuring where and how much needs to be cutted and with air grinder, grinded all paint from those spots and little more.
Ended up like this.
image25.jpg

When i have measurements ok, cutted three times and spot welded with TIG.
The picture in here shows how sometimes need to be little creative to get all in line at one time....
image26.jpg

In this picture you should see three welds. Pretty happy how it came!
image28.jpg

image29.jpg

So this is how it looks like now! Everything went like i thought, good caps with the panels and everything in place.
Updates as soon as the left-side is in this shape.

[JuusoEt]

Roof looks pretty good - are you hammer welding/ "planishing" the seams/ tacks to stress relieve the metal? I know you're using MIG but it still works if you hit it while it's hot.
The centre of the roof does look like the crown of the curve is missing, and I'm thinking maybe the shape will improve with some planishing? It would be even easier if you have an oxyactylene rig or a propane torch, but the heat from just flattening the top of the weld bead (not all the way flat, though) with an angle grinder should also work.

Other than that, love what you're doing. I've had an old school Merc on the project planning for a while now

Yes, i have been doin planishing when i welded the roof. The picture shows that roof a bit different than it really is. Also i have a a oxyacetylene rig but havent used it that much i dare to touch the roof with it...
I have some plans with the roof how do it better but thats need some more thinking.
I've been doing those right side doors now so not so much with the roof but when the doors/pilars are done i will get it with the roof!

BTW, thanks for the huge feedback! Always good to hear guys who knows how to do something better. Advices are always welcome.

Ps. Käyttäjätilin perusteella täällä forumilla siis on suomalaisiakin?

[Eenurm]

#etenee

[sdistc]

The roof is fully spot-welded and now in place, pretty happy with the results. Shape is ok as I wanted, little bit (1-2mm) too low from the center of the roof but I think I will do some supports for the roof inside the car because there wasn't any and the roof was bit slack ordinary in the middle. But that is only in my mind, nothing hasn't been done, YET.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]17804[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]17805[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]17806[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]17807[/ATTACH]

Roof looks pretty good - are you hammer welding/ "planishing" the seams/ tacks to stress relieve the metal? I know you're using MIG but it still works if you hit it while it's hot.
The centre of the roof does look like the crown of the curve is missing, and I'm thinking maybe the shape will improve with some planishing? It would be even easier if you have an oxyactylene rig or a propane torch, but the heat from just flattening the top of the weld bead (not all the way flat, though) with an angle grinder should also work.

Other than that, love what you're doing. I've had an old school Merc on the project planning for a while now

[JuusoEt]

Updates again,
Got the steering column from the UK and the first door is now cutted to the right measure and welded together. Pretty happy how it turned out.
It's TIG welded because I run out off gas with the MIG, not much about good looking weld because I haven't welded sheet metal much, only stainless with the TIG (it's easier to me to weld SS).
Here's couple of pictures about the door, what it looks now.

Like the pictures 2 and 3, repeated that method to every cut ( three cuts were made to the window frame in the door )
I think those back doors is going to be little bit easier because those are straight lines, not like front doors shape because of the A-pilar shape. I think I can manage when their time comes.
Just sitting right where it needs to be.

image18.jpg image19.jpg image22.jpg image21.jpg

So this is the part what I've been waiting for, right-hand-drive steering column with shifter.

image23.jpg

It's from UK and from 1971 Mercedes W108. Only part what I dont have is the joint from downside of the steering column to the gearbox.
In my dads W110 is shifter on the column also but it's left-hand-drive,but I think I need to check it, if it is any help. Maybe need to fabricate those joints on my own. Not just the time to worry about that because yet I don't even know what gearbox and engine I will be using in this car.
But for the oldschool and nostalgy of this car, I wanna get that shifter working with the column.

So that's updates about now, more to come when I get more pictures and progress with the doors!

[JuusoEt]

I love that the top chop is subtle. I think too many people take too much out and the car ends up looking squashed.

I agree. I didn`t wanna ruin the body line also so i just take little bit off. If you know that has been done you see it, neither you dont.
Also got the RHD parts today so more updates about that tomorrow! Thanks for the feedback