The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380SL

[Firm]

Got the ignition unlocked on the black one (what a nightmare), and then got it running with a makeshift fuel system as the fuel pump is dead. Let the boy idle it around the yard, and then got it positioned back in the woods out of Mrs.Firm's view. Both of these cars are rough, but after spending some time with them, the black one has a better body, and maybe even a better interior, but might be a little worse off mechanically. So, still thinking that the Gold one becomes the engine donor and the black one might eventually get cleaned up and back on the road.

Had a pile of screening left over from the pool project last year, so I made a quick little gravel parking spot for one of them.

Yes, that's a 78 Camaro wheel on the back here...Yes, the bolt pattern is way off, but I got one lug bolt on! Making due...








 

[Gurgie]

^ nice work!!

[Johnnymac]

I'm certainly envious of your skills and willingness to take on big projects and actually follow through in the end (doesn't matter if it takes you a bit longer than you first thought).

We're all excited to see the finished project when it's to a point you have satisfied with.

[RRocket]

Nice work

[Bridgecity]

Yes, that's a 78 Camaro wheel on the back here...Yes, the bolt pattern is way off, but I got one lug bolt on! Making due...

Awesome, love it!

[Seafoam]

Love the plate  Joy 4 2  .

[Blueprint]

Livin' the dream!  Now you need a pole barn on that farm land for proper storage 

[Firm]

Livin' the dream!  Now you need a pole barn on that farm land for proper storage 

Coming soon...hopefully next summer, I just staked it out a couple weeks ago, need to clear some trees, which I'll do this year, to get ready.

[kd]

Living the dream indeed! 

My wife gets irked with my small pile of structural steel sitting at the corner of our lot and out of view at our summer place. 

[Firm]

Well, Microsoft is really limiting my productivity today so I figured I'd revive this....I am hoping to get around to yanking the motor out of the gold one over the Holidays this year, assuming nothing crazy disrupts my schedule or plan. I bought a nice engine crane and stand off a local British Car Club member a few weeks ago, and with Holidays / Vacation I'll have about 2 weeks off around Christmas, so hoping I'll have everything I need to make some good progress on this.

Plan is to pull the motor out of the Gold one, get it on the stand and clean it up, maybe throw a little paint on it, pull the valve covers and replace the cam oilers (very common issue on these, so might as well do it while it's out) and then it should be ready to go into the 'nice' car. Then I'll pull the bad motor outta the nice car, carefully marking and tagging every hookup, and hopefully drop the good motor right in pretty quickly so everything is still fresh in my mind.

Also need to swap the radiator and exhaust from the Gold car into the 'nice' car, but want to have the motor up and running first before getting into those kinda things.

Getting eager to drive one of these and not just look at them in the yard!