Looking for opinion on an SLC

[Austin85]

Considering buying an 81 SLC nice condition.

please any little quirks to check on for this yr & model?

Austin

> VEHICLE INFORMATION
> Make: Mercedes-Benz
> Model: 380SLC
> Year: 1981
> Price: 4477
> Mileage: 144860
> Body Style: Coupe
> Color: White
> Cylinders: 8 Cylinder Gasoline
> Transmission: Automatic
> Doors: Two Door
> Stereo: AM/FM Radio

[lkchris]

Verify whether has single-row or double-row timing chain.

[Austin85]

Originally Posted by lkchris

Verify whether has single-row or double-row timing chain.

What is better to have and why is one not as good?

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by Austin85

What is better to have and why is one not as good?

Double. Catastrophic enginge failure when the single breaks Must be a hundred postings detailing this problem on the 380 engine.

[Austin85]

Is it possible to tell from the yr make & model if it has 1 or 2?

I doubt the person I am buying it from knows themselves.

AA

[Alkraut]

If you remove the oil filler cap and use a light and a dental mirror, you should be able to look. You need to know wht to look for, which is a double row roller chain. Check out this site:
http://www.slack.net/~thundt/mercedes/timing_chain_380.htm

[vwnate1]

Pay a muffler man $5.00 and get it up in the air where you can walk underneath it and take a good long look ~ bring your own flashlight , check the wheel wells and rockers for rust , don't be afraid to poke a screwdriver or your keys in suspicious looking places . _completely_ unload the trunk too .

Look at the big front subframe , it has four mounting points and it can crack , rubber do-nuts can rot away .

The cam chain is not done allready , should be done right away , cost between $300.00 ~ $800.00 depends on the shops in your area , it's a bunch of labor and if you let it slide and the cheesy $10.00 plastic guide breaks or that cheapo original chain jumps time , your engine is trashed in 3/4 of a second .

Change the fuel filter right away and have the valves adjusted too as they'll be tight for sure .

If it's nice , the price is decent , moreso if the AC is working , not just blowing cool outside air .

These are -very- good drivers and can be driven rather hard as the Coupe body prevents flexing when you get into the fast twisty bits

Don't be afraid to grind the seller over small things needing repairs , yopu might get $500.00 ~ $1,000.00 scrubbed off the price , 'tis the season to BUY not sell ! .