Flåklypa Grand Prix 2010

This weekend we participated in Norways largest vintage car event. Flåklypa Grand Prix This year about 350 cars was at the start line. The cars should be from before 1970 to be allowed to start. This was a fantastic experience!! Hundreds of people was standing along the roads with flags and cheering when we passed. And the scenery and atmosphere was breathtaking. We already look forward to next years event!

Of course we took some pictures.

On our way to Lom.

Lomseggen

The hotel we stayed at. A hotel with long traditions, and known for good cuisine.

Hmm. Looks like the guests have good taste in cars too.....

Silkesvarten ready to start.

What a beauty! Maybe if I get rich, and don't have to go to work....

Oh yeah!

100% perfect. Respect man!

A view from Bøverdalen:

Going home.......



400 kilometers this weekend without any problems. Cruising in normal (norweginan) highway speed is no problem for this car. The sound from the engine is like music. But there is one thing I am wondering about. Why does a 54 years old car with two carburettors and a inline six use less fuel than a car from 2010 with twohundred and fifty sensors and electronic fuel injection? Something must have gone wrong somewhere!! (and the new car is boring to drive too.....)

A big event for Silkesvarten

Last weekend I had the honor of giving a friend from the youth help with transportation at their wedding. Events like this is what Silkesvarten is made for, and the car behaved like it should. The wedding couple had engaged one of the words most famous snowboarding photographer to take pictures. And I am allowed to publish some photos from the big event. When I look at photos taken by a professional I have no problems to see the difference in quality by an amateur.

A beautiful couple in the (beautiful) car!

I love this photo!!

Maybe there will be more pictures to share with you.

Welcome to Lillehammer

 

I am waiting for the summer. Its been a long and cold spring this year. Instead of showing pictures of the car on the towing car, I went out to take some photos of Silkesvarten and my hometown. These pictures are for you Rolf!

Ooooops!!

Silkesvarten came home on a towing truck a few days ago. I lost the brakes! Luckily it happened in low speed driving, and nothing is broken besides my pride. A leak from the front end of the slave cylinder on the brake booster. I do not really understand why. Now the problem is solved, and I had a really nice ride this afternoon.

This week I will spend a lot of time polishing the car.

This seasons first cruising.

Today my wife and I took Silkesvarten out for a drive. Nice weather and good and dry roadconditions. It is good to be back behind the steering wheel. I just have to get familiar with the effective brakes! I look forward to a new season driving the car. The first event is already 23. of april. Joseph Lucas Memorial. Starts 10. pm and is a honest to the man who “invented the darkness…..”

Restoration is officially completed!

Today I mounted the air ducts to the car, and connected it to the fan/heater assembly with the large rubber tube. This was the last parts missing on the car. So I now declare the restoration completed!!

I am not so stupid that I don’t think there will be more work on the car, but from now on I will call it maintenance and upgrades.

This has been an challenging process, and I have learned a lot! I have also learned that for me one complete Mercedes Benz restoration is enough in a lifetime…. Now I look forward to keep the car in perfect condition, and to run with it at appropriate times.

As soon as the weather becomes better (no rain and snow…) I will take the car out of the garage for a photoshoot.

But I do have some photos of the air ducts mounted on the car.

Happy easter everyone!!

Air duct and windshield washer

I never had time to finish the air ducts for the ventilation last year, so I used the car without them. That caused the problem that the air from the ventilation system always was warm, added with a smell of warm engine....

This had to be fixed before this years season. To buy the air ducts new was out of the question!

This is how last years work ended.

Welded and grinded.

Almost ready for paint. Maybe tomorrow?

And then I had to install the windshield washer. First I had to make a mounting bracket. I had the VDO bag and a foot pump.

The bracket to the upper left.

Installed. Works great.

A close up of my rebuild brake booster.

I think the engine compartment starts to look ok. The only thing missing are the air ducts for the ventilation. Will be finished very soon…..

The next picture shows the same engine, brake booster and many other parts,installed in the donor car.

Testdrive

The brakes works great!! Actually I am surprised of the effect from a correct working booster. Many modern cars don't match this.

Brake booster part III

Today I finished the reassembly. I am very proud of the result. If it works I will be even more proud!!

Electroplated parts

The power piston is mounted. It has been dipped in alcohol for a couple of days, (what a waste….) for cleaning. I used white grease with teflon to lubricate it before installing in the vacum cylinder.

And the vacum cylinder and fittings are in place.

And the characteristic blue slave cylinder mounted.

It is now mounted in the car, but I still have to bleed the brake lines. I need a helping hand, or foot, for that job..

I really hope I put it together right!!

This has been really fun work, but it needs a lot of precision and patience. I love the design of the booster!! Almost like a sculpture.

Brake booster part II

 

First of all. The starter is back in place and works perfect.

Today I started to reassembly the booster. I got the front plate back from glass beading yesterday, so I could reassembly the parts mounted on the front plate. Air cleaner, valve cover, diaphragm and the sealings for the power piston axle. I am still waiting for some parts I sendt for electroplating. Right now the slave cylinder is being primed, and will get a layer or two of blue paint later today. Multona #0800. I found this information on this restoration page. A page I will recommend for enthusiasts. Great work!

Painted in ATE blue. Nice!

Starter overhaul

I had a few problems with my starter last summer. Sometimes the solenoid didn’t push the bendix drive ahead. So I had to fix this. A solenoid for an over 50 years old starter motor is not longer in stock at the local Bosch dealer… Hmmmm. But I found one (!) on ebay! This was in new condition and I bought it. $ 60 including shipping. I picked it up last friday. Today I reassemblyed it, an I guess its running perfect. I just have to get under the car to install it. Any volunteers?

Parts cleaned.

A “new” solenoid from 1956.

Ready to install.

The “to do list” is getting shorter. And the spring is getting closer.

Brake booster part 1

Why didn’t they put more parts in there???

The numbers match the ATE T-50 manual. For my own and others use.

Updates will follow!

Time for brake booster rebuild

In June I discovered a leak in the brake booster. White smoke came out of the exhaust. After some googling I came in contact with Will Samples who runs S&S Imports. He is an real expert on these ATE T-50 brake boosters. I decided to remove the vacum hose, and run the rest of the season without the booster. I just had to push a little harder on the brake pedal.

I ordered a rebuild kit from Will, and have now started the work. It is a lot of parts in this can, and a lot messy old brake fluid..

And here are the parts, hardly worth $240…… :-)

This will keep me busy for a period!

I will strongly recommend Will Samples for other who needs to do this job. He can also do the job with factory precision and finish.

S&S Imports

And a gallery of rebuilding different types of boosters

Happy New Year

When we are getting closer to the spring, I will come back with some minor projects. Brake booster rebuild is one of them. Enjoy the winter, or the summer you guys down under!

2009, a good year for me and Silkesvarten.

A short resume

I managed to complete the car..
We took the first price in Lillehammerløpet. My first race ever.
Won the price for best original car in "Strandheimtreffet 2009"
Finally came to Frognerseteren with my wife for applecake... :)
And last but definitively not least, I received the restoration price from my hometown classic car club. This means a lot to me, because this price is the highest achivement you can get for your restoration.

Who knows what 2010 will bring?

Christmas eve/ Julaften

Today, I just had to!!! It is christmas eve with cold dry weather and snow. A good opportunity to drive the Mercedes.

Merry christmas to all of you, and a happy new year!!

Best regards

Dag.

End of summer.