Looking into upgrading the cooling system on my 129 for the added heat from the turbo. My original plan was to have a custom radiator based off my original, possibly thicker, with some mounts for some kind of electric fan and shroud.



I noticed my radiator sits on some large risers for mounts, whereas the v8s and SL320's have no riser or just a hole.

After looking at dimensional images of the 300SL-24 and SL320's radiators, it looks like the SL320'S radiator is just an extended version of the 300SL-24's with the same trans line and coolant hose locations.

SL320
https://www.muirsradiators.co.nz/store/259/1063/Mercedes-R129-Radiator

300SL-24
https://www.muirsradiators.co.nz/store/259/1061/Mercedes-R129-Radiator

Can anyone verify this? Pics of a SL320'S radiator mount? Do you think a new SL320 Behr radiator would be enough for cooling with turbo? Or should I have a custom one made based of SL320'S dimensions?

Is the 203 electric fan upgrade any better than an aftermarket dual set up like Spal or Perma Cool?

Attached Thumbnails

   

https://image.ibb.co/n6OvTK/Radiator_mount.jpg

My lower radiator mounts

I looked at this before.

The only real difference between late 320 and V8 rads is location of in and out. Inline 6 cars had in / out on left side and V8 one left and one right.

The 300 did use a shorter rad and taller mounts. These mounts are welded to the lower bar so some cutting will be involved to fit the 320 in a 300.

If you have 320 parts sitting around, that is the most direct route though a SL320 rad is $ 400 last time I bought one.

Baring 320 parts sitting around, I'd move towards a more common off the shelf rad from another brand as it might cost 150 and you might be able to use the fan / shroud that was made for the rad. Custom stuff is $$$ and can't be found at the local auto parts if you have a failure on the road.

I think I will chop the mounts and go with the 320 radiator, I've already mocked up turbo with current radiator and trans line locations and dont want to bother with custom hoses.

Great advice on the off the shelf parts part.