Progress Report

It’s official! Small Kansas College Will Show Car at Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance

• Front fenders, hood and valances were installed and polished.
• Wiring was installed and all exterior lights tested.
• All wood trim has been repaired and refinished.
• Interior insulation has been installed on floor and doors.
• Rubber trunk mats have been made.
• Front and rear bumpers have been reshaped and new trim fabricated.
• All weatherstripping has been fitted.
• Chrome trim has been final fitted and shipped for plating.
• Side glass and window mechanisms have been repaired and installed.
• Convertible top frame has been fitted, repaired, and painted.
• Thousands of pieces of hardware have been cleaned, stripped, and replated in house.

• The engine was started in the chassis for the first time. The team performed function tests on the transmission and rear axle assembly and later test drove around campus to ensure mechanical systems were operating correctly.
• The paint was color sanded and polished.
• Body panels were installed.
• Convertible top was disassembled.
• Carpeting and door panels were completed.
• The car was displayed on the field at the 22nd Annual McPherson College Motoring Festival.

• Major milestone: All exterior paint has been completed.
• Initial color sanding has begun.
• Chrome trim and plating has started to arrive back from the shop.
• Brake systems have been installed.
• The chassis lubrication system is back from being plated and currently being installed.
• Door panels and carpet binding were the main emphases over the summer.
• Door panels are complete, just waiting on chrome to finish.
• This semester had been focused on finishing backrests. Continue to carpet bind.

• All body panels are final fitted.
• The interior is painted in final color.
• The underside and chassis have been blocked and are in final paint.
• The front and rear suspension, steering, and braking system are installed.
• The engine, transmission, and propeller shaft are installed.
• With the car sitting on its wheels and tires, panel fitment was confirmed and final body work and blocking of panels is complete.
• Exterior chrome trim is being fitted and repaired.
• Interior chrome and plating for the chassis have been sent for plating.
• All chassis and inner fender sheet metal is painted.
• Body work on the backsides of all exterior body panels is complete and is being painted.
• The seat covers are complete.
• The interior door panels are in process of being recovered.
• Refinishing of interior wood trim to accurately portray the original looks is in process.
• Test panels for the final exterior body color are being evaluated to determine proper color and sheen before the car is painted this summer.

• The engine has been fully rebuilt and run on a test stand.
• The drivetrain, front axle, and rear suspension are completely built and ready to hang on the car.
• Both front seats and rear bench are complete and the carpet and door panels are started.
• All rust repair and damage from a small accident in the past have been repaired and the paint process has begun.

• Two full-time interns, Scott Holmes and Greg Elvin, worked on repairing all of the sheet metal on the main body over the summer. Metal repair to the fenders and doors continues this fall, and Elvin is finishing the trunk area. Recent alumnus, Dalton Whitfield, is helping with leading of body panels.
• Two students, Wyatt Miceli and Matt Nutting, returned this fall to work on the chassis components including suspension, steering, and transmission. A new system to properly plate the hardware is reducing the time it takes to have the proper finishes on the nuts and bolts.
• Miceli and Nutting are also working with Professor Curt Goodwin on assembling the engine and student Nate McLaughlin joined the team to help with painting the parts.
• Two students are also utilizing the Mercedes for their senior capstone projects. Junior Mendez is rebuilding both front fenders and Zack Alexander is repairing rust in a door and continuing to recreate the interior door panel.
• Students Ben Falconer, Luke Borton, and Wally Behrens are working with Professor Mike Dudley and the advance trim class on reupholstering the seats. Elvin is also assisting this team.
• The project remains a piece of curriculum across all aspects of the restoration program giving every student an opportunity to learn from it.

• Metal fabrication, including repairing rocker panel, repairing rust throughout and slight collision damage in rear bumper and trunk. Four students took on various aspects for their senior project in sheet metal.
• Interior, including making patterns, completion of sewing leather for rear seat, and beginning work on front seat.
• Suspension and brake systems rebuilt.
• Beginning work on engine bay components.
• Assembled rear axle.
• Disassembled and cataloged engine.
• Painted suspension and brake components.

• The summer project team disassembled, stripped and primed the 300 S. The students also constructed an engine run-stand for class demonstrations.
• The fall semester student team cleaned and inspected parts; continued break down of the sub-assemblies; and took inventory of parts to
  identify what is missing or needs to be replaced.
• Students are also manufacturing and repairing damage found on the boxed sheet metal frame.
• Surprises discovered in the process: uncovering the amount of past damage and repairs that have been done to the lower portions of the front fenders; rotted-out headlight buckets; severe damage to the lower halves of the rocker frame rails; and considerable rust in the spare wheel wells and trunk area.
• The next steps include: continuing work on the manufacture of frame rail replacement; paint and reassemble front suspension and brakes; disassembly of the engine; and begin construction on the interior.