420SEL parts car update – May 2025

Today I removed one of the final parts I wanted from my parts car – the SLS struts.  Its much easier doing it with the proper tools at home as compared to the USA junkyards.   You don’t even need the car jacked up that high to get them out.  I’ve now got a few used sets on hand, useful for the multiple cars I own that use this suspension.  Before I got the car, it was sitting in the grass for a while.  You could really see with how muddy it was underneath and everything covered in cobwebs.

On this occasion, I didn’t bother getting the valve.  It looked like it had been leaking.  I’m not at the point of diminishing returns on this car.  It’s taking up space and I rarely get the time to work on it.  I prefer to spend my time on projects that will improve my actual cars.

Now I have access to the front of the car, I will remove the horns, and I want to try and remove the wheels again.  I tried before and even with a breaker bar I could not budge the lug bolts.   After that, I’ll sell the rest of the car.  there are some good rust free panels, but I don’t have anywhere to store them. Originally, I was going to take the front bumper, but it is not in great shape.

I spent some more time getting the car out from the corner where it has been for the last few years. I used my supercheap auto vehicle positioning jacks. The brakes are still locked on, even after cutting the hoses. These jacks are not easy to push a car like a 420SEL. I find I cannot push them forward or backwards on my own, only side to side. It was quite a time consuming process moving the car from side to side to get it into a more accessible position.

Now the SLS is removed, I’ll soon sell the car and free up some space.