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I have a '77 450SL, about 98K miles. On the passenger side of the engine, there was a pipe that ran from the timing chain tensioner to the diverter valve with a check valve on it before going into the diverter. I am in the process of replacing the air pump and need to find that pipe and a check valve. Right now, it looks like someone cut the pipe off, and blocked off the hole into the side of the block. I want to get this done before I start trying to figure out if I have a timing chain & rail problem. It looks like this has something to do with the timing chain tensioner pressure. Does this make sense to anyone....I think I need to find a couple of parts. I am in western Nebraska, I can't even find a wrecked 450SL to look at! Anyone have either help or an idea on this?? Maybe a place to get some used parts??Thanks.

[450slcya]

Originally Posted by Nebraska450SL

I have a '77 450SL, about 98K miles. On the passenger side of the engine, there was a pipe that ran from the timing chain tensioner to the diverter valve with a check valve on it before going into the diverter. I am in the process of replacing the air pump and need to find that pipe and a check valve. Right now, it looks like someone cut the pipe off, and blocked off the hole into the side of the block. I want to get this done before I start trying to figure out if I have a timing chain & rail problem. It looks like this has something to do with the timing chain tensioner pressure. Does this make sense to anyone....I think I need to find a couple of parts. I am in western Nebraska, I can't even find a wrecked 450SL to look at! Anyone have either help or an idea on this?? Maybe a place to get some used parts??Thanks.

Try www.mbpartsonline.com, one of the better sources for used MB stuff. Good Luck!

[deanyel]

You can look at the same parts diagrams as a dealer parts person by subscribing to EPC. I believe it's only $3 for a month, and $20 for a year.

http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/welcome.jsp

[page62]

Don't worry about that pipe. Or the air pump. Waste your money on something else...it's all smog junk. The AIR system injected the air into a port on the timing chain tensioner. But it has NOTHING to do with the tensioner mechanism, which is driven by oil pressure. Go figure.