what size engine does a 1972 350SLC have???

[mespe]

I would like to know more about the engine I pulled out of a 1972 350SLC. It looks like the 4.5 liter that I had in my 1973 450SL, but looks can be deceiving.

Is it 3.5 liters or 4.5 liters, also how can I tell byu looking at the engine?

Thanks

[deanyel]

I think it has to be a euro car which should mean a 3.5 116 motor. You can tell by the engine number - 3.5 is a 116, 4.5 is a 117. You can also tell by the injectors - 3.5s had yellow injectors.

[mespe]

Will a 3.5 liter bolt up to a tranny from a 450SL?

[kip Foss]

I have a 1972 350 slc parts car with a 4 spd. manual trans. for sale if you need parts.

[tjohn]

To confuse things further, I believe the 1972 US models were badged 350 SL/C but in fact had the M117 4.5L engine. The Euro 350s did indeed have the M116, but since you state the car is a 1972, I suspect it's the good ol' M117.

The way I understand the story the US market got the somewhat detuned m117, but Mercedes didn't want the home folk to think that US purchasers were getting a superior engine. In fact they weren't as the Euro M116 had more ooomph than the US M117, but that first year they were badged as 350 SLs.

[divino2much]

Originally Posted by kip Foss

I have a 1972 350 slc parts car with a 4 spd. manual trans. for sale if you need parts.

do you still have the parts car?

where in S.TX are you, I'm in deep S.TX. and will need some parts

[deanyel]

Originally Posted by tjohn

To confuse things further, I believe the 1972 US models were badged 350 SL/C but in fact had the M117 4.5L engine. The Euro 350s did indeed have the M116, but since you state the car is a 1972, I suspect it's the good ol' M117.

Ah, a great riddle - in the U.S. the 72s were badged 350SL (with a 4.5 117) but not 350SLC - because the SLC did not come out in the U.S. until model year 73 and was therefore badged a 450SLC. In Europe the SLC came out a year earlier - so a 72 350SLC would be European and therefore a 116 motor - at least originally.

[230/8]

deanyel:

Spot on with that info, if mespe has a '72 350SLC it is a euro-model with the 116 motor.

More trivia, the owner's manual for my US version 1972 350SL lists it as a 350SL 4.5, though the deck lid has only the 350SL badge. At one time the car had the badge changed over to 450SL. Some folks have said it was SOP for dealers to do this at the first service. The original 350SL badges are now a bit hard to get here in the USA, but just seem to look right in a sea of 450SLs.

Cheers,

230/8

[divino2much]

Originally Posted by 230/8

deanyel:

Spot on with that info, if mespe has a '72 350SLC it is a euro-model with the 116 motor.

More trivia, the owner's manual for my US version 1972 350SL lists it as a 350SL 4.5, though the deck lid has only the 350SL badge. At one time the car had the badge changed over to 450SL. Some folks have said it was SOP for dealers to do this at the first service. The original 350SL badges are now a bit hard to get here in the USA, but just seem to look right in a sea of 450SLs

Cheers,

230/8

'72 350 SL, originally white exterior/red interior, when I bought it in 1982 the car was midnight blue/blue, the color that I have repainted twice in 23 years and that I'm repainting it again next month. My car still has the original 350SL badge and 168k original miles

[deanyel]

Magazine articles of the era often referred to as a 350SL 4.5, which was consistent with the nomenclature of the times - e.g. 300SEL 3.5 / 4.5 / 6.3 and 280SE 4.5, 280SEL 4.5, etc. The 4.5 in the name didn't seem to get picked up, perhaps because it wasn't on the trunk lid. I wonder what the title's say, or the marketing literature.