Does anyone know where I can purchase used specialty tools for working on my 1985 380SL. In particular: U-shape 8mm offset head socket, for V-8 heads and Impact puller for bearing bolts. Thanks for your help!

Samstagsales.com has it for $60
http://www.samstagsales.com/mercedes/mb116589001300.jpg

Thanks for the help!

Ouch, this is gonna hurt.... Thank goodness my husband is able to do most of the work. We need new valve guides and seals. I wonder what a shop would charge for this type of job??

Are you sure you need the guides? Just the seals fixed oil burning on my 380 and you don't have to pull the heads.

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Cheers, Neil

Yeah, we pulled one of the heads and the bottom of one of the exhaust valves had a rather nasty buildup. We thought we'd change the guides seeing how we had it all apart. And while we were at it, might as well do the other side too. A little preventive medicine could save us a lot of trouble some time down the road.

Pattywack,

Be careful with that 'might as well' attitude. It will cost you big bucks. I tore into my 6.3 Diesel to replace an oil sensor and 'might as welled' myself into $1,500 worth of other repairs. the engine runs like mad but in the end I really didn't need the repairs.

Check www.************************ for the tools. If you are good with your mechanical skills and have access to an oxy tourch and a welder you can make some of the bent allen wrenches. Some of the allen sockets can be purchased at your local parts shop slightly cheaper than from performance products. A good parts store brand is Blackhawk. Its made by Proto but is noticeably cheaper. Harbor Freight often has allen sockets that are really cheap compared to Proto or Snap-On.

You can also use the extra-long (6") hex bit sockets from K-D (8mm to get the head bolts out). This set makes the intake manifold MUCH easier to get off.

You also need a valve spring compressor that will work with the OH cams.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Thanks for the "might as well" advice Kip, we'll keep that in mind. We've spent $1500.00 so far just in parts to rebuild the fuel injection system plus a number of other things. My husband has done all the work, so labor costs are pretty close to nil. Luckily, We have a friend that builds high performance motors that is going to help with some of the machine work that needs to be done.

Thanks also for the tips on the tools we need!

I know a German MB mechanic in La Vernia, Tx., just up the road from me, that sells rebuilt fuel distribution valves for $250. At $1,500 that sounds like what you had replaced. Let me know if you want his number. His name is Stan Keutz at 1-830-217-4170.