I would like to get your thoughts. I decided to paint the hood on my 84 500SEL. It has some small dents and the paint has come off in a few spots. I got to thinking, I have a good spare hood on a 83 380SEL that is perfect, but the wrong color. I decided to just paint it and then swap the hoods and the car is ready to go. I removed the hood from the 380 and find it is aluminum. The one on my 84 500 is steel. Which should I use? The trunk on the 83 is also aluminum. Should I use it also? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the aluminum?
Thank you in advance.

Paul

__________________
84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

Weight hence better fuel mileage.

When the 3.8L engine replaced the 4.5L Mercedes' intent was to achieve the same performance as the 4.5L by reducing the weight.

The disadvantage is that it is easily dented.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

no, I would go ahead and do that replacement thing you mentioned. The difference in weight is virtually not worth considering. I mean, as long as it all fits, by all means so say I. What, an extra 50 pounds on a 2 ton car? The extra fuel is not significant for that sized vehicle....You could take the spare tire and jack out and it'd almost the same thing.....I see no big deal here....good luck

I don't think the aluminum is more easily dented.........I've had a lot hit mine with no dents......its a bit more flexible, which may actually be an advantage.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I would be surprised if its 50# lighter.

I probably would go with the aluminum hood and trunk especially if I had good ones on hand.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It really is 50# lighter, my dad's nice SD has a replacement (steel) hood on it, and when we removed it to work on the motor swap it was a LOT heavier than the aluminum hood on the other SD........

I too would go with aluminum, its lighter, and doesn't rust.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I am impressed and surprised.

(You did actually weigh them?)

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thanks everyone. I'm going with the aluminum hood and keep the trunk for later if I need it.
Thanks again
Paul

__________________
84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

No, but I've carried both types....and the steel one is a lot heavier!!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)