[MBZ] need help re-installing W123 wagon drip rail end piece
Hi all, Long story short - my '84 Euro wagon finally got a respray. Yeah! All trim removed and replaced successfully EXCEPT the curved rear section of the roof drip rail on the D-pillar. I can get close but one end or the other pops off the car when I try to tap it home. The long straight drip rail run from the windshield back is no problem. I'm planning to visit the bone yards to find some W123s to practice RRing this piece (sedans and wagons since the end section is similar) but am looking for hints or tips from anyone who has been here and done this. Is it best to start at the top next to the long section of rail or at the base of the rear side window? The curved piece seems to have an odd bend to create a friction fit but it's just not happening for me. So frustrating! Thanks, Dave '82 240D (3 pedal), '84 300TD (Euro), '85 300TD (Cali) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] need help re-installing W123 wagon drip rail end piece
Dave, As we discussed earlier, I did this on my 79 wagon and I believe I started at the top where the piece meets the long drip rail piece so everything matched up. I don't recall much about putting this piece on, but I do recall putting the drip rail piece on and it was a real PITA. If you haven't already, find some pieces of oak to fashion a tool to drive these on. I'll look in my W123 CD to see if they have a diagram for the tool. I know I had a diagram from a manual to fashion the tool. Dan Sent from my iPad On Aug 15, 2013, at 1:40 PM, Dave Cavner w123wa...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all, Long story short - my '84 Euro wagon finally got a respray. Yeah! All trim removed and replaced successfully EXCEPT the curved rear section of the roof drip rail on the D-pillar. I can get close but one end or the other pops off the car when I try to tap it home. The long straight drip rail run from the windshield back is no problem. I'm planning to visit the bone yards to find some W123s to practice RRing this piece (sedans and wagons since the end section is similar) but am looking for hints or tips from anyone who has been here and done this. Is it best to start at the top next to the long section of rail or at the base of the rear side window? The curved piece seems to have an odd bend to create a friction fit but it's just not happening for me. So frustrating! Thanks, Dave '82 240D (3 pedal), '84 300TD (Euro), '85 300TD (Cali) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] need help re-installing W123 wagon drip rail end piece
Thanks for the on list reply, Dan. Good to know you started at the roof line. I had wondered if the paint build-up from the respray had a negative effect on reattaching the piece but that doesn't seem to be the case. I have no problem seating the long rails with a rubber mallet. I used painters tape and towels to protect the new paint. The trim removal tools from harbor freight work very well. (see someone else's drip rail attachment pictures at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/3467789-post422.html) I've been messing with this so long I can now repeatedly remove and replace the long rail without damaging the paint. Similarly, I am able to seat half the curved piece but after ruining one rear piece buy forcing the aluminum channel too much, I am now cautious with the applied force. Almost immediately after posting here I had a light bulb moment and called the Classic Center which is local to me. They are all at Pebble Beach right now but my trusty sales guy said the restoration crews should be back next week and may be able to assist or give pointers. Fingers crossed. Dave '82 240D (3 pedal), '84 300TD (Euro), '85 300TD (Cali) On Aug 15, 2013, at 11:06 AM, Dan Penoff wrote: Dave, As we discussed earlier, I did this on my 79 wagon and I believe I started at the top where the piece meets the long drip rail piece so everything matched up. I don't recall much about putting this piece on, but I do recall putting the drip rail piece on and it was a real PITA. If you haven't already, find some pieces of oak to fashion a tool to drive these on. I'll look in my W123 CD to see if they have a diagram for the tool. I know I had a diagram from a manual to fashion the tool. Dan Sent from my iPad On Aug 15, 2013, at 1:40 PM, Dave Cavner w123wa...@gmail.com wrote: Hi all, Long story short - my '84 Euro wagon finally got a respray. Yeah! All trim removed and replaced successfully EXCEPT the curved rear section of the roof drip rail on the D-pillar. I can get close but one end or the other pops off the car when I try to tap it home. The long straight drip rail run from the windshield back is no problem. I'm planning to visit the bone yards to find some W123s to practice RRing this piece (sedans and wagons since the end section is similar) but am looking for hints or tips from anyone who has been here and done this. Is it best to start at the top next to the long section of rail or at the base of the rear side window? The curved piece seems to have an odd bend to create a friction fit but it's just not happening for me. So frustrating! Thanks, Dave '82 240D (3 pedal), '84 300TD (Euro), '85 300TD (Cali) ___ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
