Just bought a 1982 380SL need advice

[Richard Wooldridge]

Hi, just thought I'd mention that the Performance Products4Benz.com catalog has the 380SL/SLC Double Timing Chain Conversion Kit advertised in their spring catalog for $557.82. It includes new double timing chain, chain tensioner, cam sprockets, crank sprocket, crankshaft seal, distributor timing gear, idler sprocket, 5 new chain rails and misc. gaskets. Stock No. 11-025 in the catalog. Seems like a real good price!
I think the easiest way to do the job is to go ahead and pull the radiator, put the car on jackstands and remove the motor mount bolts, lower the front subframe after supporting the engine with a jack just behind the subframe, and pull the front cover. I pulled the front subframe and replaced it on my '82 380SL in about 4 hours the other day. Not hard, just a lot of wrenching. By the way, both motor mounts were broken on my car, as well as the left front subframe lower control arm mounting tab, which was the reason for replacing the subframe. I've been looking under all the 380SLs I see, and none of them have the reinforced subframe, which makes me think that the subframes will probably fail on all the 81-89 SLs sooner or later. Mine failed catastrophically, with the left front wheel canting out at a 45 degree angle, not a good thing!

[docpk]

Does any know a competent mechanic in Mass that will replace a single row timing chain? Thanks.

Originally Posted by docpk

I just bought a 1982 380SL with 84K miles, great body, no rust. Had a mechanic look at the car and said that it had a single timing chain. His advice was to sell the car as soon as possible due to the single timing chain and the expense to convert to a double chain ($5-6k). He said the car is a ticking time bomb. Should I sell?

The mechanic knows too much, and sounds like a slimball.
It's gone for 24 years without blowing up, so the ticking bomb comment is nonsense. Sounds like he wants you to sell the car to him, for a low price. So he can make a large profit. The single chain can be left in, as long as it is changed every 40k along with the tensioner and close examination of the rails, at a fraction of the price quoted.

[airedale]

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

The mechanic knows too much, and sounds like a slimball.
It's gone for 24 years without blowing up, so the ticking bomb comment is nonsense. Sounds like he wants you to sell the car to him, for a low price. So he can make a large profit. The single chain can be left in, as long as it is changed every 40k along with the tensioner and close examination of the rails, at a fraction of the price quoted.

I am of this school of thought too.

That's what I did with my 230S, and it was never a problem. I feel it's more risky to convert. The payback isn't that great, because a double row chain doesn't last much longer than 80k to 90k. IMHO.

[sokoloff]

John - obviously you would know, but I have never heard of the 230S or any other Mercedes for that matter that had a single timing chain set-up. In fact, I think only the US versions of the early 380SL's had them.

Len

Some of the european model w123 six cylinder gas cars had a single row chain. A 230S is a oddball car with tail fins, sold in the mid to late '60s, the gas six cylinder also used a single row timing chain. IMHO, frequent oil changes help more than anything.