johnhef

Some before and after pics of progress on my C36, I bought it fairly damaged and with a blown headgasket and radiator and have been nursing it back to health so I can abuse the hell out of it in the upcoming track season.

Front end




Back end




Engine




New Suspension




Interior







I'm going to pick up tags for it today- the bodyshop is aiming to be finished with it by monday or tuesday next week, cant wait to get it back!

appatula

Ohh la la! I am so jealous about those seats its not even funny! It's goin to be a beast on the track, I bet you cant wait. Nice body work, as well as a nice job on the headgasket. How difficult was the job? Any special tips/tools involved? I know for the M103's you need to fabricate a threaded puller to get the timing chain rail pin thingy off, did you have to battle with anything like this on the AMG M104?

Keep them pictures rolling in!!!!!

trinitony

Looks good - who is doing the work for you?

John-in-Dallas

John - looks great! Like Richard Petty said in the old Armorall commercial , "Man what a difference". Nice work bringing one in to a loving home....sort of like a W202 AMG rescue....

Trini - check out John's signature - MB tech

johnhef

I do the work but the bodywork is done by ACC in the gaithersburg airpark.

johnhef

got the car back today, let the fun begin!

PJmak

Good work man, I love seeing these being brought back to life


Ive seen 2 C43s resurrected from total damage and its always a good feeling


I have the same suspension setup btw, how do you like it??

trinitony

Tks, it's the body work I was interested in. And I'm right right up the street from ACC, and always looking for options in the area.

Tks, and maybe one day I'll run across your C36.

trinitony

Was interested in the body work since we're in the same general area. Should of made myself clear,
.

johnhef

So far so good. Its holding the turns quite well.

if you come to any mb club track events in the area, you can run with it

BenzMaster19

Beutifull!!! Anymore pics of the finished product??

johnhef

just close ups of the previously damaged areas. I am in need of a bumper still.

ppmz

That front grill doesn't look original, I like it though, is it from a C43?

How much did your new springs lower it?

jumph4x

Awesome! Very good stuff.

trinitony

Looking good; I finally broke down and put a front plate on this week. A $100 ticket in DC persuaded me.

And I'll have to come check out some the MB events..

johnhef

I think it was a full 2" front and back. The grille is from a E320.

I wonder about that sometimes, I have a euro tag on my wagon with the MD tag in the window and so far, so good.

Hope to see you at some events this year.

appatula

John, I just noticed the excellent job you did on the bumpers! The rear apron looks flawless, what type of filler did you use to fill in/re create the contours?

johnhef

I believe its the same kind of two part sealer used on windshields

PJmak

What are you doing to your wheel in that pic? Are you sanding the lip?


Can you post pictures of how that turned out?

BenzMaster19

Yuup that's how you do it! I even think he posted a video of him doing it?.. lol

johnhef

had a bit of a fuel leak the other night when trying to force it to fill up all the way, the pump kept wanting to shut off at 1/2 tank and I soon found out why. went in to pay and came back out to a growing puddle of gas forming under the car.

the split in the hose:


my quick repair with the only thing I had on hand that fit- M112 breather cover hose:


new hose in place, I also replaced the other one pictured to the left since it had some cracks as well:


redyed steering wheel:


shift knob, center part needs some more attention still:


new oil cap


screenshot of front O2 sensor actual values, had the check engine light on for the front O2 sensor, it was reading 25% or 0% randomly, 16-26mv, a fluctuating idle and would put out black smoke at stoplights while idling. Swapped it with a used one I had from a ML or 210 or something and voila! perfect readings now



and a short clip of my friend driving it for the first time, took him a second to find that kickdown button
97_C36 :: newc36stuff011.flv video by johnhef - Photobucket

BenzMaster19

OMG loveee the sound the C36 (AMG'ed Inline 6 engine) makes at full throttle!! Sounds like a dam F1 Race car... Music to my ears.

mbsickness

What did you use to redye the steering wheel? Great job BTW.

johnhef

dunno what dye my friend used, he matched a color swatch to the seats, mixed it up and sprayed it.

The car has one event under its belt now, it did triple duty as three different drivers used it today at autocross.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY1Fk-0uFB8

BenzMaster19

She's alive, beautiful, and sounding great John!!! Love it. Keep em vids a comin!