Camshaft codes and question (not W113)

[Ziggy]

This isn't about a Pagoda but a M130.920 engine (w108 280S) but perhaps the knowledgable people on this forum know this as well.  :oops:

I want to know if I have the right camshaft in my engine, but couldn't find a mirror small enough to see the code at the back.
The number on the side is 180 051 08 35 however. Am I correct in assuming that the code on the back should be 08?

Does this camshaft belong in this engine? And if I wanted a faster camshaft, which one do I have to look for?

Thanks in advance
 

[ja17]

Hello Ziggy,

Yes you are correct, the ID number on the camshaft end should be "08".  The "08 camshaft is an improved version of the "04". The imoprovement is in the material the cam was made of. It should be more durable than the "04".  However these are the most "tame" of all the cams used in these engines. Probably an emmission issue. The "01 and #05 were a little hotter. The #05 was an improved material over the #01.  The camshaft #86 and #11 were the hottest for these engines. The same #86 was good enough to use in the 250SLs and the pre-emmission sedans of the era. The camshaft main journal and its holders have a smaller diameter. You would need to replace these with theses cams.  These #86 and #11 make a noticable difference in power.
Lasty, the #02 or improved matierial #09 "SL" camshaft is the hottest. These are expensive and hard to come by.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ziggy]

Thanks Joe !
I have the Haynes and was a little confused about these codes because it lists 0835 for 230 and 250 engines, and 08 for the 280s(e). So I take it the 230/250/280 carbureted engines use the same camshaft and it does belong in this engine.
I see the #01/#05 is from the 280sl with exhaust emission and the #09 for the euro 280sl. But from which engines are the #86 and #11 cams, the m127 and m129?
Would such "hotter" cams also make a difference on a carburated engine, as all the others are from injection engines?

[ja17]

Hello Ziggy,

These cams were and can be used in either fuel injected or carbureted engines.

There was not a special 280SL emission camshaft. There was an early cam "02" and a latter cam "05"with improved material both had the same grind. These are the hottest cams.  Some USA cars had these cams from the factory. During the "emission era" the lates USA 280SLs were equiped with a tamer sedan cam for emission purposes.

Email me for my complete "cam chart" I am not sure it will post here.



Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[stickandrudderman]

I'm currently investigating a customer's car with a strange issue......
The compressions are excellent and a cylinder leak test shows no faults.
However, the manifold vacuum is poor unless the ign timing is wound up.
The timing marks are all in order.
One thing I have found is that the camshaft fitted (180 051 86 01 code04) has much smaller lobes than a second hand one I have in stock (114 051 01 01 code 02). (the difference is some 2mm!) The 04 cam doesn't appear to be worn, the shape of the lobes is too uniform.
I realise that the 02 cam is precious but am prepared to install it IF it's likely to resolve the issue.
One further complication is that MB EPC shows the 02 cam to be for a LHD air pollution control version??
Can anyone offer any comments?

[Ziggy]

It is correct, the 02 cam has a deeper valve lift, the lobes are larger. The bearings are larger as well.
But the number you quote 180 051 86 01 does officially not match with a code 04 cam. This cam should have a 86 or 11 ID. But I have seen other "impossible" combinations as well...
In any case, if you say the 04 cam isn't worn, it wouldn't be the problem. Also you can't just install the 02 cam, you would need different bearing holders and a different injection pump as well.

[TR]

Hi Joe.  I'm a little confused.  Would an 02 and an 05 cam both be considered the hottest cams?  And by that I mean would they deliver equivalent oomph?  I ask this because I have a new 02 cam, still in the box, and if I am not mistaken (which I might be) I think my engine (#130-983-10-007564) from Metric came with an 05.  My understanding was that the 02 was the hotter of the two.  Is this incorrect?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Tom Rose

quote:Originally posted by ja17

Hello Ziggy,

These cams were and can be used in either fuel injected or carbureted engines.

There was not a special 280SL emission camshaft. There was an early cam "02" and a latter cam "05"with improved material both had the same grind. These are the hottest cams.  Some USA cars had these cams from the factory. During the "emission era" the lates USA 280SLs were equiped with a tamer sedan cam for emission purposes.

Email me for my complete "cam chart" I am not sure it will post here.



Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Ziggy]

No you are right. I think Joe meant 'the hottest cams used in the 280sl'
The 02 cam has a duration of 142 degrees, the 05 130. These cams followed up respectively the 09 and 01.

[stickandrudderman]

quote:Also you can't just install the 02 cam, you would need different bearing holders and a different injection pump as well.

I'm aware of the different bearing size and have the bearings for the 02 cam, and the pump I have is the correct one for the car, not the engine.
Can you confirm that there's a full 2mm extra lift on the 02 cam?
I could use a copy of that cam chart if you are able to mail it to me.
Thanks for your help.

[Ziggy]

I don't recall how much the lift exactly was. But if you want to change the cam you can just use the 08. This uses the same bearings, and has improved material over #04. It is very readily available as it was the most commonly used 6 cylinder cam at the time.
Anyway I still don't think your problem has anything to do with the cam.

[wbain]

I have the Technical Data book for my 220S, (fintails, 230SL, 300SE's and 600) and it lists the cams and codes. Get one for your car. It's really worth the 30 bux because you ger ALL the important data, like valve sizes, guide sizes, engine repair measurements etc.

[stickandrudderman]

I've discovered the reason for the poor manifold vacuum: 3 thou cylinder wear. She's already on max oversize too so looks like I'll have to sleeve it back to 1st oversize (std pistons apparently not available)
I still don't know if I can fit my 02 cam though!

[cth350]

One oddness about the M130 motor, is that the 1968 ones have different cam dimensions.  If you mix up various towers, cams, rockers and thrust pieces from assorted motors, get them in nice uniform sets.

If your cam lobe is a mm or so shorter, a different rocker and thrust peice can compensate.  It was lotsa fun discovering this as I hand turned the motor after putting it back together.

Also, don't sleeve the block. Get another one.

-CTH

[stickandrudderman]

Too late!!
She's now back together and running beautifully!