another SL saved from ruin.

[Earlybird]

I just bought a 1976 450SLC from a guy for $500. It is in good shape for 500. It was his fathers since almost new. It had been parked in the garage for the last 5 years. His father died of Alsheimers. His dads house was demoed and the car moved and sat in his drive way until the sunroof leaked and mushrooms started growing in the carpet. He then realized he should sell. I told him I had a parts car and that I would be reselling it. He said he was feeling very remorseful and asked me If I would give him first chance to buy it back when I got it running. I said yes.

[Jim B.]

The '75 and '76 ones had the catalytic converter mounted near the manifold, in the engine compartment, which created very high temperatures and a few cases of fried wiring and fires. In 1977 Mercedes fixed the problem by locating the cataytics downstream.

I'd go ahead and sell it back to him when you are done with the car.

[al76slc]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

The '75 and '76 ones had the catalytic converter mounted near the manifold, in the engine compartment, which created very high temperatures and a few cases of fried wiring and fires. In 1977 Mercedes fixed the problem by locating the cataytics downstream.

I'd go ahead and sell it back to him when you are done with the car.

Could a 76 be modified to move the cat back? Is it much trouble?

[al76slc]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I'd go ahead and sell it back to him when you are done with the car.

That would be a great thing to do.

[ScottinSoCal]

Originally Posted by al76slc

Could a 76 be modified to move the cat back? Is it much trouble?

I wondered the same thing a while ago when I was looking at a '76. I talked to a muffler shop and they told me it was no big deal to put a 77 or 78 cat and exhaust system on, that they'd done it several times. That would effectively solve the engine compartment heat problem.

[nobby]

Solve it for the future but not undo the past.

[ScottinSoCal]

Originally Posted by nobby

Solve it for the future but not undo the past.

True, but what's a wiring harness or two among friends?

[Earlybird]

This year in my state is currently exempt from polution checks. If it has one, it's getting replaced by a straight pipe.

[Jim B.]

^^^That's great, but just first make sure that your state doesn't require the cat to be on your car should you resell it later, before throwing the system away....

I learned this the hard way (California)- had to rip out a beautiful dual custom cat free exhaust and reinstall the miserable single exhaust/cat. system upon resale....

[Earlybird]

Calif has had that law since day 1. If you are caught with a disabled smog system you get a smog ticket no matter how old your car is. Washington never looks to see after a certain year. Oh, I did look and the cats are packed in close to the manifolds making it hard to change the plugs.