M130 Custom Intake

[bigmellon]

Hello everyone!  This is my first post on this forum, although I have been lurking and reading posts for some time now.  I am very fond of this section of the forum, because I am looking to make a few modifications to my M130 engine.  It is currently torn apart, cleaned, and awaiting some new internals.  The block looks good with very little wear on it. 

I thought I would hare some photos of my progress and try to tempt you all to offer some advice...

First, the block was cleaned and painted gloss black with the POR-15 Engine enamel.  Can't say enough good about this product.  All the reviews were grerat, and this stuff does not look like it is going anywhere. 

Secondly...  (Oh boy, the excitement!) Here are some pics of the start of a new intake....   I port matched the head to the intake gasket and matched the intake gasket geometry to 3/8" laser cut stainless plate.  This will be the start of new stainless intake and headers!!  Still working on runner length, plenum volume, and all sorts of good items...  And this may be where some advice could be handy.  I am searching for intakes on these old engines, but most of what I see is stock.  So, since you guys are the experts - Have any pics to share on custom intkes??

Thanks!!  Hope you enjoy the pics. 

[jeffc280sl]

Welcome to the group and thanks for posting pics.  I look forward to reading more about your project.  Sorry I don't have any info to share on the intake and exhaust manifolds.  I did buy a set of extra exhaust manifolds recently to use as a template for future headers.  I have a SS exhaust system.  I may be able to help when and if you get around to brakes and suspension.  We had a thread going a while ago about rocker arms.  Any plans in this area?

[bigmellon]

Yes, the roller rocker thread has me thinking!!  Time will tell what I come up with, but it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to pull something together there.

[ja17]

Hello and welcome!

Misc. ramblings;

Mercedes-Benz Factory used to fabricate the intake manifolds on some of their race 300SLs out of sheetmental.  These were extremely light, and smooth inside. 

AMG used to spend a lot of time lightening and polishing the robust, heavy rocker arms during the W113 era.

I often wondered how an aluminum flywheel would feel in one of these engines.

Lightening the car itself goes a very long way wihout causing any kind of reliability or durability problems. It also creates much beter handling.

If originality is not an issue get a little more radical:

try moving the battery from the engine bay to under the deck behind the seats.  this improves handling by lowering the center of gravity and improves the polar center of inertia  from front to rear  by the  "weight of the battery times the square of the distance moved"  1500 foot pounds difference!

Find some of those light aluminum dish wheels and save another 100 pounds of unsprung weight. These wheels are much lighter than the bundt type alloys.

Install a nice super light  aluminum plastic radiator and remove that "boat anchor" mass of copper and brass radiator.

Things like the original  massive, heavy horns (left over from the 7,000 lb Mercedes 540K days) can go away and be changed to the modern units.

If yours is a 230Sl with the heavy cast iron rear drums, replace these with the stock  lightweight aluminum finned drums of other MBs of the era, lighter and cooler.

Probably every 100 pounds saved is equal to 5 to 10hp increase with improved reliability and hadling.

I understand that most of these mods are not acceptable on mice original cars. Just something to think about for those few who dare.

[bigmellon]

I'm just focusing on the M130 engine for now...  A few upgrades (not original) don't scare me away.    I like a good challenge. 

[Tom Colitt]

You might also look at some 230SL Factory tube headers that are said to flow slightly better....

Tom Colitt

[Benz Dr.]

The 230SL made more HP per litre of displacement than the other two models so I've pretty sure the early headers work quite well.

 BTW, the rear drums on 230SL's are the aluminium type as used on the front of 190SL's. All 230SL's use them.