Installing a 280SE engine in a 230SL

[Gerard]

Engine oil cooler to be located, Should i use the 280SE cooler or after market cooler. Also installing 3.27 Diff. with disc. brakes. I'll have to change the proportioning valve. Should i use the one from the 280se

[al_lieffring]

a 280 se oil cooler should work in an SL, but the 280 radiator is narrower than the 230 radiaor. you would have to locate a 280sl radiator, the 280 sedan radiator will not fit.
Another option would be to adapt a 66-67 250se/sl tank type cooler that fits below the Injection pump at the motor mount arm.
Get the cooler, the oil filter housing and the associated coolant and oil pipes. there have been several threads about testing these coolers for leaks and rebuilding them.
it should be a simple bolt on instalation.

[lurtch]

Hello Gerard,  I upgraded my 230 SL to an M130.980 engine also. At the same time I also upgraded to the vertical side mounted oil cooler. This required widening the radiator bay. To accommodate this, it was necessary for me to fabricate a new radiator support, which I then riveted in place. The salvage yards have many 280 sedans from which you can cannibalize the necessary oil lines and filter housing to do this modification.

Good Luck,  Larry in CA

[SteveK]

Gerard, I have a 230 and the PO installed a 280 engine sometime during it's life.   Unfortunately, they left the 230 oil filter housing and no oil cooler.  It's hot where I live so I decided to add a cooler back.  Found a 280 oil filter housing on eBay and bought an "Earl's" after market cooler.  Hoses and fittings came from eBay and Summitt Racing, the brackets are home made.   I have the cooler located below my front license plate.  You have to look hard to see it.