Hey again guys... I found a local 1983 Mercedes 380SEL, which I think has the single row chain. The PO is unsure of if/when the chain/guides/rails were changed, so it definitely needs changed. The car is worth "saving", its nice and runs good and its cheap. Runs smoothly and quietly, transmission shifts perfectly, NO rust!

I have heard were people change these to double chains? About how much more work is involved in converting these to be like the engines (double chains) on the 1984-85s?

Thanks!

Didn't Benz retro fit all the single chain engines? I thought they were well and truly gone after 1981.

I am not sure about when the change was made, but I have a 1983 380SEL that has the single row chain. I have heard that the single row chain and guides are no longer available and that conversion to double row is required. I know that the changeover requires removal of the front cover which makes the job a lot harder.
Paul

__________________
84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

From what I have learned here, it did not change to double chain until 1984.

from 1981-83 USA & Japan got M116 engines with the single row chains.

MANY (most) have either died OR were converted to the normal double row chain.

YOU can look thru the oil cap & see if the holes in the cam gear are round OR oval.

IF you see oval holes then you are seeing a converted engine.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

My 380 SE was MFG. 2/84 and has a dual row timing chain. I was told that the change was made for the 1984 Model year. Hence I just had to replace the chain and guides. My Indy also told me(before we knew that it was a dual row chain) that single row chains are OK if they are changed out Around 70,000 miles. Had mine been a single row I would have just changed it and the guides out and then kept an eye out over 60,000 miles.

__________________
1986 Euro 500SEC "RUF" 9:1CR, "Rose"
1985 Euro 500SEC Cabriolet AMG Widebody
1982 Euro 500SEL "Blue"
2001 Texas Heeler (Aussie/Queensland X) "Sulphie",
2012 Queensland Red Heeler "Squeak"
Best dogs I've ever had.

It's definitly not cost effective to convert one now. I did mine about 6 years ago and it was over $1000 in parts alone back then.

__________________


1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

WOW !!

Thanks MB Doc.... I will have them take a look inside of the oil opening. He claims that it belonged to the president of MB during that era, then the mans wife drove it for a couple of years - then she sold it to a family friend that had it for years and years.

Unfortunately, all I have is a photo of the engine....