450 SLC restoration help - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Scout-Ranger · #1 01-06-2009, 04:56 AM

Hello All! and Happy new year!

I am in the process of restoring a 1977 450 SLC with body number:10702312000627 and engine number: 11698212005196.

My dilemma on the year model of this particular car was confounded by the fact that the chassis and engine number does not jive with my online search with that of the 1977 production year which was 107024.

This car has been kept in the garage for the past five years and it was not running when I got it though the previous owner told me that the car was running before he put it in his garage.

Upon acquiring it, I changed all the rubber hoses and the local mechanic tried to start the car. Initially, the fuel pump was stuck so we cleaned it, changed the spark plugs. We also check the firing order. the info was courtesy of this site upon doing some search.

The car still has problems since only 4 cylinder is working according to the mechanic

I cant say if this car has the D-jet 0r K-jet since I am not sure of the year model.

Is there a way to verify the year model of the car aside from the engine and body number?

The ECU number by the way is 000 545 333 288

I need help on this

Deltacom · #2 01-06-2009, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout-Ranger

Is there a way to verify the year model of the car aside from the engine and body number?

The ECU number by the way is 000 545 333 288

I need help on this

This might help... If your chassis number is 107023 then it is a 1971-1973 SLC not a 1977 and your engine is a 350 not a 450. Production from 71-76 were D-Jet. The injectors would be stuck shut on a number of cylinders after being stood for 5 years and would probably be the original ones. Time to replace them or a least soak them in acetone (also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propan-2-one, dimethylformaldehyde and β-ketopropane) for a couple of days then brush them clean, spray 3-in-1 silicone lubricant to release the stuck needles and leave them soak for a couple of hours before reinstalling.

pwogaman · #3 01-06-2009, 06:44 AM

the 1977 350SLC I just parted was VIN 10702312012082. Sounds more like you have a 1972.

http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/mercedes_350SLC_technical_specifications.htm

JimFreeh · #4 01-06-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deltacom

This might help... If your chassis number is 107023 then it is a 1971-1973 SLC not a 1977 and your engine is a 350 not a 450.

The 12 after the 107023 indicates it's a left hand drive automatic. Rest of serial number is sequence.

Lower number the pwogaman's car and 116 prefix on engine pretty much home in on the above quote's conclusion.

Jim

al76slc · #5 01-06-2009, 08:59 PM

Quick way to check - if it's got the small bumpers tight to the body, it's a 72. If it's got bumpers that extend out from the body with black rubber covers (5 mph bumpers), it's later - they started in '74.

Similarly - do you have cats? They started in 75.

72 has some interesting pros and cons, and is probably faster than the 77 (due to the latter's emissions controls. (My MIL's 72 450SE is quicker than my 76 SLC.)

Even if it is a 350SL, it has a 4.5 liter engine.

alabbasi · #6 01-06-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al76slc

Quick way to check - if it's got the small bumpers tight to the body, it's a 72. If it's got bumpers that extend out from the body with black rubber covers (5 mph bumpers), it's later - they started in '74.

Similarly - do you have cats? They started in 75.

72 has some interesting pros and cons, and is probably faster than the 77 (due to the latter's emissions controls. (My MIL's 72 450SE is quicker than my 76 SLC.)

Even if it is a 350SL, it has a 4.5 liter engine.

If it's a 350SLC it would not be likely that it would have the large bumpers or the catalytic converters as it's a Euro car. MB never officially imported the 350SL or SLC into the US. The 72 350SL is actually a 450SL.

You can tell if it's a D-Jet or CIS car by lifting the air cleaner of the car. If there is a fuel distributor (looks like a round unit with 8 hard lines sticking out of it and going to the injectors). Then it's a CIS car. If it has blue or yellow injectors, then it's a D-Jet car.

Pictures will help us help you.

Bye the way, the 350SLC is a very sweet ride. It has the short stroke, high compression v8 (9.5:1) V8 that is supposed to be a much better engine when compared to the 4.5 engine.

al76slc · #7 01-07-2009, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabbasi

If it's a 350SLC it would not be likely that it would have the large bumpers or the catalytic converters as it's a Euro car. MB never officially imported the 350SL or SLC into the US. The 72 350SL is actually a 450SL.

I defer to your greater knowledge.

However since the OP started by saying he had a 450SLC, I guessed it was an American, probably a 72 rebadged as a "450SLC" as many were.

I suppose a Euro could also be rebadged as a 450SLC, but in that case, wouldn't there be a number of other quick indicators (lights, gauges, placards)?

alabbasi · #8 01-07-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al76slc

I defer to your greater knowledge.

However since the OP started by saying he had a 450SLC, I guessed it was an American, probably a 72 rebadged as a "450SLC" as many were.

I suppose a Euro could also be rebadged as a 450SLC, but in that case, wouldn't there be a number of other quick indicators (lights, gauges, placards)?

Yeah, it's pretty easy to re-badge a car. But the vin gave it away, it's definitely a 350SLC. I also have a 350SLC parts car with a manual gear box that is badged as a 450SLC. I see that quet often with 380SL's badged as 560SL's.

Scout-Ranger · #9 01-08-2009, 02:10 AM

Whew! Those Information you gave me guys are awesome! Its now clear that this is a re-badged car. I will start from the actual data and find the problem with the engine on whys its not starting. I will keep you all posted on the developments. I will also post photos of the car when I figure out how to.

Gurunutkins · #10 01-08-2009, 09:36 AM

Now that everyone has helped you sort it out, remember that the euro 3.5 is a high compression engine and if your gas is old it will run like cr#p. I have one and it runs best on high octane because of the compression rating. if you had 5 year old gas in the tank and tried to start it you wont get anything just clean out the system and refill with good high octane (the highest you can buy) gas
cheers
Barri

Scout-Ranger · #11 01-13-2009, 04:01 AM

We cant still start the car. My mechanic is still trying to find whats wrong with it. I have noted the ECU Bosch no. 0280 002 001 and the M-Benz part no. is 000 545 333 288 since he was in the process of checking it. Will the ECU of the 450 fit the 350? are they interchangeable since both of them are V8s?

Bluefang · #12 01-13-2009, 06:45 AM

nope, wont work. Well it should run but it wont run very well. i have tried it with my moms car and mine, hers been a 73 350SL and mine been a 74 450SLC

alabbasi · #13 01-13-2009, 09:10 AM

I have a few spare ECU's. I'll take a look and check the part numbers.

Gurunutkins · #14 01-13-2009, 09:19 AM

Here is a list of acceptable ecu's and a web site for a company that restores them. If Al has a spare buy his

Don't confuse the bosch part number with the mercedes benz part number

MERCEDES BENZ

Models 350, 450 (D-Jetronic) - 0 280 002 XXX
(002, 005, 007, 013, 014)
Models 380, 450, 500 (CIS K-Lambda) - 0 280 800 XXX
(013, 027, 038)
Models 190, 260, 300, 420, 560 (CIS KE-Lambda) - 0 280 800 XXX
(100, 108, 168, 170, 216, 246, 274, 302, 304, 318)
Models C280, E320 (Motronic) - 0 261 20X XXX
(0 410, 3 242)

http://www.systemsc.com/Parts.htm

cheers
barri

Gurunutkins · #15 01-13-2009, 10:11 AM

I should have added that both the 350 and 450 should run on the same controller (that's the M117 and M116 djet engines). Both can use the same controller but the main difference is the TPS and if you run a later controller on an early car then you need to move the TPS over with it or it idles like cr@p. One TPS has 4 wires and one 5. The injectors in the 350 are around 395ml per hour and the 450 are around 495 ml per hour (yes some web sites say they are the same but check with bosch

) and the difference compensates well for the displacement difference. You may find with yours bluefang, that they had different TPS's

I ran my euro 350sl very sucessfully with both a 280 002 005 then 280 002 013 controller out of 450sl cars until I had converted both to megasquirt. I had to use my 450sl throttle body and TPS however.
cheers
barri