I have two questions. I just bought my 1975 450 sl and I love it! I would like to replace the becker cassette player with an aftermarket Cd player. Does the old radio slide out and a new one go right in or will I have to cut into the center console?

The other problem I have is that the left half of the engine runs very rough and ticks loudly. The cams, cam towers, cam oilers, rocker arms, lifters and valve stem caps have been replaced as well as the cap, rotor, plugs and wires. Any idea what could be causing this? The engine holds 160 pounds of pressure +/- 10% and since I've made all these repairs, it now burns a little oil when I start it. Any ideas would help me greatly!

Have you adjusted the valves yet?

Might also want to do a timing chain and rails if you have no idea when they were done (if ever) and you have over 100K on the clock.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I've always heard that a slack chain would affect the timing on the left cam a little more than it would affect the timing on the right. Can anyone confirm?

The mechanic adjusted the lifters as far as they would go. Is this the same thing as adjusting the valves? It seems to me that the mechanic threw parts at the problem rather than doing a proper diagnosis. The only reason I go back is because until they find the problem, the owner of the shop is not charging me for any labor and is personally working on my car. I'm just not sure pulling the head is necessary to figure out the problem. He has offered to do a valve job and charge me for parts only but says there is a chance the increased pressure will blow a piston ring.

Paul,

Not sure if the slack chain causes the noise, but every V-8 I have seen with a broken chain also had the valve train (cam, rockers and valves) destroyed on the left bank. Granted, I have only seen 5 or 6 while visiting Franz, but I've seen 'em none the less.

Princess,

Adjusting lifters sounds like simply different terminology (although you have overhead cams which drive the rocker arms directly). If they have been adjusted as far as they can go, either the weren't adjusted correctly or you need new ball studs.

How many miles are on the car? I think it is unlikely you'd blow a ring after a valve job, unless you have maybe 300K or more on the block. Is your mechanic a Mercedes Tech (dealer or independant)? If not, you might want to try and find one.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Mike,
The owner who is now the only one touching my car is a MB tech. The lifters are new, are the ball studs part of the lifter? I am stuck because I have spent so much money on this car and the owner really want to make me happy. I'm torn between giving him one more chance to fix it and letting it sit in my drive way until I have the money to take it somewhere else. What all can make this noise that is easy to check? Is there a test to see if the valve guides are bad? I get a little smoke when I first start the car and this did not happen until I replaced the cams and lifters.

Mike,
Also, I am not sure of the milage since the odometer is broken. I would guess there are about 150,000 miles on the engine. The compression is great and the right side of the engine runs like a top. Do you-or anyone out there-know a good mechanic in Dallas?