Well, we had a great time on the rallye this weekend down through Lexington, Kentucky and the rest of thoroughbred country! My 280SL ran beautifully during both days of driving but on the way home she decided that she'd had enough driving for the weekend....

We were heading back to Cincinnati from Lousiville and were about 45 miles out when we lost power completely. We coasted to the side of the road and I immediately dove under the hood trying to figure out what could be the culprit. After almost an hour of searching, I couldn't find anything amiss, but when I'd try to crank the engine, all it would do was click once and that's it. So I got on the phone with AAA and had a rollback sent to come retrieve us. We dropped the car off at the shop and today when I went in and tried to crank it, she would indeed turn over, but I heard the dreaded "squeaking" noise and she turned over really slowly. Tomorrow I am going to pull the plugs and see how easily she turns over by hand, but it's not looking promising right now, I'm thinking the bottom end is cooked (spun bearing). Couldn't hear anything on the freeway (those cars are so loud at 60mph anyways), but all I know is that I'm probably looking at a shortblock as of now. Although we did consider a 3.8 or 4.2 Mercedes V8 conversion! Well, I'll keep you all updated.

Attached Images

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Regards,
Aaron

Sounds amazingly like what happened to me. See my "bizarre" post.

I don't see how a spun bearing would make the engine stop running. Sounds more like an electrical problem.

Chuck

A spun bearing will seize the engine, as the crankshaft will seize up and stop. The bearing failure is usually the result of an oil system problem. If an autopsy of a blown engine reveals even the hint of a blackened crankshaft rod journal, that's strong evidence that a spun bearing was responsible.

I did it on my '66 Olds Toronado (425 ci V8). I was driving along and all the sudden, the motor just died. "Click-click" from the ignition and that was it...

Aaron, it's odd that you didn't hear a rod knock or some such ominous bottom-end noise before the calamity. Are the 2.8 litres known for crankshaft or bottom-end problems??

Hope you work things out!

Well guys, I pulled the oil pan today and discovered that one of the bolts that holds the oil pump to the crankcase was in the oil pan and the other was quite loose! This caused the pump to become disengaged and that's what did it. The crank looks bad, so I have sourced a good longblock. Looks like we're into an engine swap!

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Regards,
Aaron

My condolences on the untimely loss of your engine. I feel like we should all chip in for a tube of Loctite.

Chuck

I feel sorry that this had to happen.

At the back of my mind, I'm just trying so hard to figure out why it happened.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Reading this thread makes me wonder if installing an Oil Pressure Warning system would be any help in minimizing damage caused by oil starvation.

The oil pressure gauge on MB's are great, but it doesn't scream at you when there's a problem. And I don't find myself looking at the gauge very often. Especially when cruising.

Maybe an oil pressure sending unit on a T-fitting to the oil pressure gauge. Then hook it up to the horn. !! That'll get your attention.

Or maybe a high intensity light (like the Auto-Meter shiftlites).

On the W123's there are a lot of empty "pods" that can take another warning light. Unfortunately, there's none on the older models

hmmmmm,

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Johan Limcangco
Manila, Philippines
79 350SE (W116)
86 230E (W124)
http://www.geocities.com/johan01.geo

Aaron,

I remember reading an issue of Hot Rod magazine back in the Seventies that contained an article on a 280SL with a 327 Chevy engine swap. Even used the original hood. You could always graft a few three-pointed stars onto the valve covers and tell the Mercedes purists about your one-off factory prototype.

I'll even pitch in for a custom-made "530SL" nameplate for the trunklid.

Arron,
I was just curious if that was your 280 SL for sale on Ebay?? If not, some else had the exact same problem with there 280. If it is yours I was just wondering why you would sell it instead of restoration??? Maybe you could enlighten those of us in the market for these types of cars the point at which you cut your losses and run.

Thanks,

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CKS

Yes, that is my SL on eBay. I pretty much put it on there to see if anyone is interested. Otherwise, I'll have to find storage for the winter until I can find time to get an engine in it. That was my biggest issue-the storage. Of course I'd love to restore it and will do so if nobody bids on it, but right now I am so wrapped up in other things, the SL just became more of a burden than anything. I wouldn't be able to begin on the restoration until next summer at the soonest, and I'd rather have the garage space for now. There will always be something else out there.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't want to do it, it's all just a time/space issue.

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Regards,
Aaron

How does one prevent a spun bearing from happening?

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Shea

See All My Mercedes-Benz Cars And Other Cars (Click Here)

Visit http://www.cform.net/

Regular oil changes, not playing boy-racer when the engine is cold and knocking on wood alot.

(Not really prevention, but advoidance, **** happens)

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306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

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