1975 450SLC Transmission mod????? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cgoodwin · #1 04-09-2004, 01:39 PM

In the late 70's Mercedes rally raced the 450SLC and in reading up for my reproduction project I found that they modified the trans so that it could be shifted manually the quote reads:
"The drivers screamed about servo steering and a four-speed automatic too. I said automatics stay in them but we'll take out the shift plates next time and use a positive hydraulic pattern." (Erich Waxenberger).

Now what exactly is he talking about and how do I do it to my car????? (1975 450SLC)

Any help apreciated.

Chris

mbdoc · #2 04-09-2004, 05:11 PM

That was on the later 722.3_series trans that they used in the 450SCL 5.0.

cgoodwin · #3 04-09-2004, 10:04 PM

Actually the frist 450SLC rally car war run by a brit named Tony Fowkes who scored a class victory in the 1976 Tour of Britain and that was a 1975 model. He then drove again supported by Mercedes GB in the 1977 Castrol/Autosport Rally championship in 1977. Then later in 77 Erich Waxenberger fostered the production of the 450SLC 5.0, however most of the victories were in 450SLC cars.

1978 S American rally Overall winner in addition to 2nd and 4th
1979 Bandama rally 1-2-3 &4th
1979 Kenya rally 2nd
1980 New Zeland rally 3rd & 5th
1980 Portugal rally 4th & 5th
1980 Bandama rally 3rd
1980 Ivory Coast rally 1,2 & 5th
1980 Acropolis rally 14th
and again in 1980 in a 500SLC at the Codasur rally in Argentina

Somehow the 450SLC 5.0 cars just did not fare as well as the standard 450SLC cars, in a interview with Erich Waxenberger he said "I also saw that the 280 wasn’t fast enough so we slimmed the SLC as much as possible and set the suspension a little higher. Our engines were virtually standard. The drivers screamed about servo steering and an automatic too. I said automatics stay in them but we'll take out the shift plates next time and use a positive hydraulic pattern."

Hence my question.....

stevebfl · #4 04-10-2004, 09:15 AM

Well the early trans was a 3 speed as MB designed it, thus logical a 4spd would be only in the 5.0 version. The three speed could probably have been built to be a four speed though.

What they were talking about was a special valve body that used manual shift valving instead of automatic shift valving. There is probably someone still around doing that. In the modern era it would be done electronically thus the paddle shifting off the steering wheel now available.

cgoodwin · #5 04-11-2004, 11:34 AM

Yes, well I had a 1976 450SLC given to me...Well it came to the shop as a possible restoration, when I told the client what the paint would cost to restore and gave an estimate for the mechanical repairs along with a valuation of the car when complete and running.... They gave me the car. Here in Washington a really nice and original SLC with under 100K is worth less than $3,000, if you can even sell it. One of my clients has a low mileage car in great condition and has been trying to get $3500 for almost a year.

So at the end of the day there I was with the car and in researching the value I had come across a couple of websites regarding the 450SLC in rally racing and found the story interesting, having rally raced some 15 years ago ad seeing the potential for fun in vintage rallys as well as the potential for some promotion for my business I decided to pursue a reproduction of the original rally car. Now if I had a 5.0 all aluminum motor and a 4 speed transmission I would go for a 450SLC 5.0 project.

I have researched the cars as much as I can and even coresponded with Karl Ludvigsen, author of many books on Mercedes, famous photographer and author of an article dealing specifically with the SLC rally cars featured in the March/April 1999 issue of "The Star".

My plan is to sand down the repainted and cracking paint and have the car shot in silver with a satin black hood, strip and sell the interior off, install a cage and a set of Recaros with 6 point harnesses, gut the dash and install a 2 way radio and vintage rally clock, extinguishers, gauges, etc. A set of hood pins, a brush gaurd and 4 Ciebe OSCAR's , beef up the suspension mounts, put in a skid plate and find a set of slightly taller springs, have a set of Bilsteins re-valved for rallying and finally....

Go out and slam a Mercedes as fast as possible through mud and gravel next to a bunch of vintage cars or class 5 rally cars. In the vintage races I will likely be the only car worth $2000 when all the others are worth $20,000 plus and class 5 is limited to rear wheel drive vehicles below 5.0 liters which would place a 450 in the top of the displacement competing against quite a few 1.6 and 2 liter cars. At the end of the day I think that for about $2000 it would be a blast to do, a blast to drive and frankly showing up at local Mercedes club meets and parking a mud encrusted 450SLC next to the spit polished, sunny weekend driven, original sticker still in the window line of cars would give me a chuckle deep down in my mechanic/drive the damn car heart that would make it all worth while.

So back to the point. Does anyone have any idea how to do the transmission mod.?

Does anyone want to buy a very nice tan interior for an SLC?

Does anyone want to donate a 5.0 motor and 4 speed trans?

jim16671836 · #6 04-11-2004, 06:30 PM

You have a very neat idea....I have 2 SLC's that I was a fool to buy and I am trying to repair and fix rust and paint and not get any growth on my investment. I will lose about 1000 on the first one that I am messing with. I have fixed the rust and a few mechanical problems plus changed out the rims and tires..I still have a clunking in the drive shaft and a bad water pump....I need the piece right under the radio...my interior is a creamy white...this piece has the slide temperature controls for heat and defrost...How about emailing me with your telephone number and I will give you a call. I have some things you might want or trade for...I have some racing Bilstein shocks etc...my email is h16671836@yahoo.com