Sick 6.9 - My Gleaming Beauty

[Styria]

There have been a number of mechanical and body ills that have afflicted my Gleaming Beauty for some time now, and I have been able to turn a shut eye to most issues as none of them created real problems as far as driving ability is concerned. However, I will soon ship her to Michel's premises to have some bodywork attended to, and it was deemed advisable on my part to rectify and attend to some of the mechanicals as part of an overall overhaul. Generally speaking, I firmly believe to carry out as many tasks as possible in one fell swoop - that way, you're not forever tinkering with a car that may render it unroadworthy on a constant basis.

Firstly, since my previous disaster with a totally destroyed radiator core and water pump, possibly as a result of some tool getting wedged between fan and core, the radiator had not been sitting properly in the car, and also the cowling was an extremely poor fit. Id did not affect driving the car, but I just knew that something was not right, and I knew that I would want to correct the issue in due course.

Next, windscreen and headlamp washers that have not worked since I acquired Gleaming Beauty - just over fifteen years. Also, there was a leaking heater tap on the firewall, and also the front suspension valve had developed a slight leak - again, an item that I have not had to attend to since purchase in August of 1995. There was also the matter of engine bay colour - Gleaming Beauty was delivered to Kenya sporting Taxi White in colour, and a previous owner changed the colour scheme to a very nice dark blue/purplish, but I changed that to MB877 Petrol about ten years ago. Although I had previously carried out some colour changes under the bonnet, I really wanted to take the job a bit further.

Then there was also the matter of somewhat tired Air Cells, and I particularly wanted to change the master unit and also the one located under the battery and battery tray. I also have/had an engine oil leak that's been annoying me even though I had some little while ago replaced both rocker cover gaskets, and I really was at a loss as to why it should have been leaking. Furthermore, I had re-sealed the Steering Box, and in the process that should have involved adjusting the tie rods to straighten the wheels with the box in the centre position. My steering specialist instead however repositioned the steering wheel - at the time I thought it was close enough, but in the end it affected the cancelling functions of the indicators.

What else ? Dismantling of various body fittings with a respray in mind (very soon !), possibly in two tone - yes, I have not forgotten about that, and I also want to replace various bushes and ball joints in the front suspension, and there is also a leaking strut at the left rear that is now becoming a bit of a nuisance. Thus I will keep members posted of the various jobs that I will attend to.
Regards Styria

 

[Styria]

Another item that needed to be seen to was a perforated or punctured Air Conditioning hose - with summer coming on, I decided to have the system re-gassed - well, it didn't take long to find out that there was a substantial leak right near the bottom of the radiator - attending to that of course encouraged me to fix the radiator issue as well. Regards Styria

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Styria it will be interesting to see how it comes out fortune favours the brave

 

[SEL_69L]

At least, you seem to be aware of all of the problems that are annoying you.

From what I know of Gleaming Beauty and discussions with you over the years, I would strongly feel that in this case, there are not going to be any further nasty unexpected problems that will arise in the course of the work.

There seems that in the end, you are going to be satisfied with the result, and will still have an emotional reason for calling your car 'Gleaming Beauty'.

I think that if you are going to two tone, the best colour for the lower part of your car should be in a slightly grey / green coulor.

Does anyone esle have an idea on what Styria should do if he is going to go two tone?

By the way, I understand that the MB 877 Petrol is a W126 colour. Can any other of us Topklassers post a pic of a W126 in this colour? I have not seen an example of such a W126.

 

[Styria]

I certainly know that MB877 Petrol Green was indeed a W126 colour. However, to expand on this matter, it was also used on the W107 and W123 models. In fact, painting Gleaming Beauty in that colour was probably influenced by a W107 I saw at a Canberra Concours about ten years ago - at that time, I convinced myself to one day paint GB in that colour - I was absolutely blown away by it and I was true to my word after someone had taken to the rear window with a shortened No.2 Golf Iron. The a...holes were kind enough to leave the weapon in the bushes next door - you know, we are always looking for a motif and/or the weapon used in the course of the crime to just settle our minds. It's like this - if we know why, and how, it softens the anger and frustration.

Two tone ! Well, decision time will come up soon - I must admit that I am worried as perhaps one day I may wish to sell Gleaming Beauty. All the conservative, and level headed bods, are telling me not to do it ! We'll see. Regards Styria

 

[motec 6.9]

Hi Styria if you are going to go two tone might i suggest silver or dark grey on the bottom with a dark blue on top like cls colour or if you are after something different ask Michel if he has any photos of a 55 chev called smooth operator as its two tone looked great

 

[Michel]

I will soon ship her to Michel's premises to have some bodywork attended to...
Styria

Nice way of putting it Godfather.

For the record, GB is to have a full respray, thus necessitating repairs where required first.

It will have both screens out, all doors off as well as the bonnet and bootlid.

At this stage there are no plans to disassemble the front guards.

Obviously, all jewellery will be taken off prior to repair and repaint.

With the Godfather's permission, I could have a series of photographs published under a new thread.

 

[Styria]

Hi Styria if you are going to go two tone might i suggest silver or dark grey on the bottom with a dark blue on top like cls colour or if you are after something different ask Michel if he has any photos of a 55 chev called smooth operator as its two tone looked great

Hi Motec69, I do like the colours that you suggest, but I am in the situation where I would like to retain the MB877 Petrol Blue - they call it that, but it is really Green. I must admit that the Petrol colour is just such a discreet, but also very elegant colour that is set off beautifully by the chrome and bright parts of the various ancillaries, such as grille, bars etc. The second colour I have in mind is a Ford Ghia colour called Mystic - now I know that you own a 2006 Territory so you may be familiar with that colour, although I believe it's only just been added to the colour range in 2009. What I like about it is that, depending on light and shade conditions, it can be a deep blue, a deep green, sometimes purple (!) according to my partner, and also Black. Now, if that is not a potpourri of colour ranges, I don't know what is.

My aim is to have a discreet two tone combination, and having regard to the fact that the colour of upholstery in GB is blue. Ideally speaking, I tend to think that the "Mystic" should be the upper colour and to reach down to the first body crease just below the door handles and connecting the front and rear light clusters. What do you think of that ? I'm interested to get others' input. Regards Styria