i just purchased a 83 380 sl, local mb indep shop said they could break any time. I was a vw mech. 25 years ago, looked at sprokits and they look new. so does the chain. car has 155k. single origonal sprokits. should i worry or. he quoted me about 3k to change to double, I am thinking I would kjust get a mnotor out of a wreck if chain breaks,?? any thoughts on this. otherwise motor seems good. thanks Boatr@cchat.com

All 1981-1983 U.S. 380s had single row chains, most have broken by now & have been converted. If you wait the cost will be much higher.

$3,000 sounds like a lot to do this. I have done plenty of 380SLs, and they're no different except that you have to drop the front subframe down in order to do it. I think we charge at the dealer about $1,750 to do this. (or maybe it was my extraordinary quick time?) :)


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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'79 6.9
'79 6.9
'80 300SD
'81 240D
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8