280 SE Engine Identification

[treedoc]

I have the opertunity to purchase a reconnditioned 280SE short motor engine, number 130983 22 023745
Can anyone tell me what year this motor was likely to have been produced, we believe it is out of a RHD automatic
Response would be much appreciated
Have in mind to install in a 1970 SL

[Larry & Norma]

I have a 280SE in my 1970 280SL auto the engine number starts 13098022.
Just wondering what the '3' in your number means.

[treedoc]

I have a 280SE in my 1970 280SL auto the engine number starts 13098022.
Just wondering what the '3' in your number means.

983 means that the engine was originally built for an 280SL, which has a slightly "hotter" cam than the 280SE

[Richard Madison]

In the absence of any better information, here is a possibility:

If all 130.983 22 engines were numbered in a continuous series, it may give some guidance that our Car Registry in the Tech Manual shows engine 130.983 22 012241 was in a 1970 280SL. That's the highest number in that series in the Registry.

It may help to know that the lowest number engine in that series is 130.983 22 000011 and is also in a 1970 280SL.

If all these engines were numbered sequentially no matter what model or chassis car they were installed in, the numbers increased about 12,000, maybe more, in one model year, 1970.

It only a guess but maybe Engine #23745 (about 12,000 more engines) was from the next model year or about 1971?

Richard M, NYC

[ja17]

There are some minor plumbing differences with the sedan engine also, besides not having a mechanical tack drive which can be added. There is also an early and a late M130 engine.  The block and head are not interchangeable between the two, but replacing the block and head together works fine, since the exterior "package" is the same.

This is a list of the breaking point between the early M130 engines with (square combustion chambers) and the late M130 engines with (oval combustion chambers):

               Model                    chassis #                engine #           early (chassis #)                late (chassis #)
                                                 (first six digits)               ( first six digits)                   (last six digits)                     (last six digits)

280SE sedan   (68-72)                     108.018..........             130.980......                before ...040 705                           after...040 704

280SEL sedan  (68-71)                    108.019.........               130.980.....                 before ...040 705                            after...040 704
    
300SEL sedan  (68-72)                     109.016.........              130.981....                  before.... 002 438                          after...002 437  

280SE coupe   (68-72)                      111.024.........               130.980....                 before.....004 009                             after...004 008

280SE cab       (68-72)                      111.025.........               130.980......               before.....004 009                             after...004 008

280SL              (68-71)                     113.044........                130..983.....               before.....002 438                             after... 002 437

[Larry & Norma]

Sorry to butt in on this thread but my engine number is M13098022-R-13783
This is a 'genuine mercedes replacement' engine, would the last digits be the
same as the pre-reconditioning engine number, just with 'R' inserted?

[treedoc]

Joe A,

Thanks for your input, numbers very useful but am wondering if the change over numbers for the 280SL are correct 92486/5 sounds like a lot of engines, isn't it more likely to be 29486/5
Below are some images of the spare head I bought recently, can you tell if this is an early or late series?

Thanks

Geoff

[ja17]

Hello Jeff,

That is a late (oval combustion chamber) head.

[ja17]

Hello Geoff,

Thanks for proof reading this for me.  I corrected the original post.  Note that the chassis numbers are listed instead of the engine numbers.  I will try to find the break points for the engine numbers also.


Gnuface,

Most factory replacement blocks are shipped with no engine numbers at all. The repair shop can stamp them in if desired.  I do not know of any factory engine numbers that came with and "R" in the number.

[treedoc]

Thanks Joe,

Engine number break point would be very helpfull, make it very clear what engine blocks would fit with what heads regardless of what chassis they came out of, seems we have got lucky and our spare block and head are both late series.
Below is an image of the current inlet manifold assembly fitted in our SL can you tell if it's early or late? the throttle advace solenoid [not wired] is an early one

[Larry & Norma]

Well this is how it looks?

[ja17]

Hello Gnuface,

Very interesting. This block could have been shipped with a blank plate, and the engine number may have been added at the repair shop.  The stamped numbers are different a different type from what is normally stamped from the factory.

[pauldridge]

Hmm... well this discussion throws me for a loop.  The engine in my '70 280SL shows:
130983 674515   I'm pretty sure this is number I recorded, but I'll check tomorrow (the engine is on a stand, waiting for me to finish the rest of the restoration).

This number is way out of range of what was discussed above... even if the first digit were a zero instead of a 6, it still wouldn't jive.

Any comments or thoughts?  Joe?

[waltklatt]

JA17,
Would the head gaskets be interchangeable between the early square M130 and the later oval M130 engines?
Just curious as to what kind of symptoms would pop up if the wrong gasket was installed.
Got a nice previously running 280SL and now not running after another so called mechanic rebuilt the lower end.
Messed up a lot of things on it. 
And now slowly putting everything right.
Look forward to some assistance here.
Walter

[ja17]

Hello Walter,

I just unraveled a mess like that for a customer. His cylinder head had be rebuilt and they used the late gasket on the early engine. The car ran for a while, but the gasket did not fit right and  one part of it passed into and  through the combustion chamber. Eventually that part of the gasket burnt away and problems began. Also the incorrect gasket also partially closed some water passages so the engine ran warmer than normal. Not sure what  your issues really are, but this could be a possibility.

[ja17]

Hello Phil,

Yes make sure that  you are reading the number correctly. It sounds like 600,000 plus engines is a lot for only  less than 30,000 280 SLs

[waltklatt]

Hi JA17,
Thanks for your reply.
My problems are the water disappearing from the coolant reservior.
Then I cranked the engine and saw the motor turn and then slow down to a near stop and then continue turning like normal.
Then took the radiator cap off and then cranked again.  This time water came gushing out like old faithful.
Then took spark plugs out and cranked it.  Whew got a nice shower that washed me and threw water and antifreeze about 50 feet behind me.
Now comes my question again.  This engine just had its bottom end rebuilt.  Not sure about the integrity of the rebuild, but am getting mighty leery of the work done.
Looks like it would be best to go over everything again or get a new engine.
But now I will take the head off to see why the water is getting into the cylinders. 
Rats, kinda hoped to be finished with the car, but...
Anyways, i am sending you a PM for some assistance on parts.
Thanks again JA17
Walter