Regarding driveshaft angles

[Ben Roberts]

Hello all. Has anybody out there measured or do they know of the normal driveshaft tilt angle of 280SL's (late) as it relates to/from the crankshaft to the pinion/diff housing? I measure the front of my engine to be on a 1.6 degree downward tilt and the face of the diff connecting plate to be at 0 degrees. Whether this is "normal" I am not too sure as my rear engine mount could need shimming/replacing. Perhaps this information has been mentioned elsewhere and I haven't found it.

Regards to all

Ben, Adelaide. Australia

1969 280SL, 906G, 904G, now back on the road after 3.5 long years...

[DaveB]

I don't know the specification but I'm pretty sure the engine should be tilted slightly down at the rear not the front. So maybe the rubber in the front mounts has collapsed some.
Mine's tilted back so far that the valve cover almost touches the firewall (all the mounts are old & bad). So no use as an example.

[cfm65@me.com]

Ben,
Remember, the drive shaft have two sections. Drive/ prop shaft universals are not designed to run perfectly straight. There should be a kink with a minimum of .5*between  the front and aft sections and the same between the aft section and the diff.
I found when everything is bolted down, I have about 2* tilt in the U joints and also about 2* nose up of the engine.
Chris
Cape Town