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[foxtrot wagon]

I haven't been on the forum in a long time, and didn't think I'd have the time to really sit down and type anything up. But alas, here is my latest project, a 1960 Mercedes 220sb.

This particular fin tail has the Hydrak transmission. Anyone who is also familiar with older aircooled Volkswagens and Porsches, you'll recognize where they got the idea from.

It's a vacuum operated 4spd "standard" on the column with no clutch pedal. It's pretty crazy a lot of the ideas the Germans had in the late fifties.

anyway, onto the photos...
if you have Instagram, that will probably be the best way to keep up on any progression of this car, since I'm hardly on here haha.

@thebrightlight





























It's the straight 6 twin carburetor, starts up and sounds flawless.




This is a shot of the Hydrak, it uses a coupler that actuates the clutch, which holds ATF, and the body of the transmission holds regular gear oil since that is a traditional standard transmission. They were definitely too smart for their own good, and over engineered everything, which is also why I love old Mercedes... as long as Im not trying to fix it.



Since I've had it, I've done points, condenser, a battery, and have been scrubbing all the dead paint out of her and got her paint coming back pretty well.

Much more coming as the days go by Im sure, especially once all the air equipment starts coming in haha.
Aiming to have her sitting on the front bumper when the smoke clears.


I also just bought a 1973 series I Jaguar XJ with a Chevy small block 350 swap, it has been rather difficult focusing on the fin tail. But Im holding tunnel vision on it and hoping to have her on the road soon!

[Bronzit]

Sooooo awesome, man. I am stoked for you.

[axelillo_PR]

I would do so many dirty things to that jag

[foxtrot wagon]

Originally Posted by Bronzit

Sooooo awesome, man. I am stoked for you.

Thanks man!

Originally Posted by axelillo_PR

I would do so many dirty things to that jag

Trust me, I know the feeling. And it's in my driveway every day haha.

[jacbo]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.

[projecthoarder]

This thing is so bad ass and the jag is to, thumbs up for 2 sweet old school rides.

[D&W]

good work, keen to see the benz sitting pretty.

tigghhtt

[JC.]

Oh just straight up fuck you. I **** you. So much.
But... I love you <3

[martinm13]

I am beginning to think that I will never purchase a new car. Old cars have such a strong presence compared to cars today. I love the smell of inefficient v8's, the amount of chrome used, real wood interior, even the colors that cars were painted are better than they are now. Both of your cars are stunning and I can't wait to see what you do with this one.

[99sil-teg]

man that thing is sexy, love the interior

[NickBroderick]

This is awesome!

I want a car from the 60's now!

[foxtrot wagon]

Originally Posted by jacbo

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.

Originally Posted by projecthoarder

This thing is so bad ass and the jag is to, thumbs up for 2 sweet old school rides.

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by D&W

good work, keen to see the benz sitting pretty.

tigghhtt

thanks man! Im hoping it all comes together soon!

Originally Posted by JC.

Oh just straight up fuck you. I **** you. So much.
But... I love you <3

hahaha

Originally Posted by martinm13

I am beginning to think that I will never purchase a new car. Old cars have such a strong presence compared to cars today. I love the smell of inefficient v8's, the amount of chrome used, real wood interior, even the colors that cars were painted are better than they are now. Both of your cars are stunning and I can't wait to see what you do with this one.

I really appreciate it man! And I share the same love for older cars as well.

Originally Posted by 99sil-teg

man that thing is sexy, love the interior

thanks man!

[foxtrot wagon]

So what I didn't mention before, was that the Hydrak only has 1st gear. No vacuum leaks, servos are good, but seems to be an alignment issue between the column and the linkage at the tranny.

With all of the nightmare stories about these transmissions just not being reliable at all, I have been considering any and all options for motor and tranny, or just tranny swaps.

To cut right to the chase, I bought another 1960 220sb fin tail today.
Mechanically solid with a good 4spd standard on the column.
The body and interior is rougher than mine, so she's going to be the parts candidate.
The price was right and I am pretty excited to not only have 2 fin tails in the yard, but to have an identical parts car, right down to the year and model.













The wrap on the dash in mine has lost the battle to heat and the sun over the years, and it just so happens, the new fin tail has an amazing dash, steering wheel, and other interior pieces I'll need, let alone the transmission swap.






The engine bay is real clean as well and has a lot of new parts.







After trailering the new fin tail 3 hours home, the first swap (without wasting any time), was getting the hood emblem onto mine, since, it's not really a Mercedes if it doesn't have the hood emblem haha.













As of right now, the deadline is h20... the tranny swap, a week or two of shake down driving, and an air setup.
So between that and working 50-55 hours a week, I'll have my work cut out for me haha.


I'll have White (the parts fin tail) on the lift tomorrow and starting to pull the tranny and column, more pictures soon!

[foxtrot wagon]

Originally Posted by NickBroderick

This is awesome!

I want a car from the 60's now!

thanks man!

and yea man, my daily driver is a 79 Chevy haha, I love old automobiles,

[FunfGang]

Holy cow man, so much radness in one thread. As an engineer, the amount of work that must have gone into that transmission alone astounds me.

[MrGL2]

Amazing cars ! You have such good luck to find the same exact car except for the color

[foxtrot wagon]

Originally Posted by FunfGang

Holy cow man, so much radness in one thread. As an engineer, the amount of work that must have gone into that transmission alone astounds me.

Yea man, they're seriously nuts. Ive dug into mine a little bit, and have an original 1960 220sb 200 page workshop manual, these things are from outer space haha.

Originally Posted by MrGL2

Amazing cars ! You have such good luck to find the same exact car except for the color

Thank you man! And I am pretty happy to have an identical fin tail, they're getting harder to find. You can find fully restored or pristine ones for sale for between $20000 and $30000.

Mine sold at auction 3 years ago in the condition I bought it in for $7000. So they're definitely a collectible car!

[Wunderbaum]

<3 benz fintails.

would love to see this slammed and maybe on some widened steelies? just my words

keep up the good work

[Tinystancer]

Nice car!

[d.parker]

holy shit!! this is gonna be dope! you going bags or static?

[foxtrot wagon]

Originally Posted by Wunderbaum

<3 benz fintails.

would love to see this slammed and maybe on some widened steelies? just my words

keep up the good work

thanks man! Yes, she will be on the ground, and as of right now, I am most definitely keeping the 2 piece hub cap/beauty rings. The stock wheels are only 13's but Im going to be running some wide white wall tires and possibly getting the wheels widened so I can get wider fitment while also keeping the stock wheel covers!

Originally Posted by Tinystancer

Nice car!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by d.parker

holy shit!! this is gonna be dope! you going bags or static?

Thanks man! And Im bagging it.

[willis]

I had never even heard of a fin tail mercedes. An then two of them in one thread, looks amazing and good luck!

[Average_Jerk]

didnt know you got that Jag. Any engine bay shots? Im curious how that all fits in there

[foxtrot wagon]

So I wasted no time today and got right to it...






First, got the exhaust out of the way.






If you've ever wondered where all that glorious old Mercedes rear camber comes from, here it is, a differential/suspension setup from deep outer space. I've had a few older Mercedes, so Im growing more and more familiar with all of these over engineered spaceships. Here is sans exhaust...






Next, pulled the driveshaft(s).







Then the transmission, he's a cute little guy





I also acquired a 300+ page 1960 220sb Mercedes workshop manual, a legitimate manual on everything in the entire car. It seriously makes a Bentley book look like a brochure.

It is seriously worth it's weight in gold. You'll never find all of this information online.
Even has every detailed piece of the Hydrak transmission in my Brown one.




With that being said, we have gone to this to read up on keeping the clutch and pressure plate lined up when pulling it...

When working with a transmission from outer space, you obviously need tools from outer space, which we do not have, so we're improvising haha.










Also, the Jaguar is currently out back behind the shop so I don't look at it.

[foxtrot wagon]

So for those of you who I don't know personally, here is a flash back to a couple months ago.

This was my 1969 w108 280s.

I miss it a lot, but a buddy of mine from Wisconsin has it now and he's driving her daily.
Im happy she went to a good home!









Back to the fin tail...

Here is everything from underneath the car that I need...




Rolled Whitey (parts fin tail) out of the shop, I can get everything else I'll need from up top (master cylinder, linkage, brackets, steering column etc).