Need some detail pictures

[WillS]

Hi folks, I finally got my 1970 280SL, 4sp, a/c, build date 8/70, back from the person who was going to rebuild the engine for me. It has been a two-year long nightmare that is over--except it isn't. The engine was rebuilt & put back in the car, but that's all. The intake manifold is on the engine. The linkage, engine accessories, pulleys, belts, hoses, tubes and so forth have disappeared. The rebuilder says they are somewhere in his shop, but I will have to rummage around & find them and finish putting the engine back together myself or hire someone else to finish it. Great  .   I could get all angry at him and sue or whatever, but just want to turn this into lemonade by learning about the engine and putting it back together myself. I will be needing some help with this from you over the next few months if you would be so kind.

First step, I am getting together a list of the missing parts to look for in his shop and would really appreciate anyone who has a late 280SL sending me as many detailed pictures of your engine bay as you can. I should have been smart and taken pictures myself before giving it to the rebuilder, but I didn't expect this outcome. 

Thanks & Regards,
Wil

[J. Huber]

Hey Will, I would start by going to MotoringInvestments.com and find the link to completed restorations. You will see a beautifully done 280SL with many good photos of the engine bay.

[ja17]

Hello Will,

What a nightmare!  I would feel very nervous about the quality of the re-build itself, if the rebuilder has treated you this way.  I would get a list of what has been done on the engine before you finish putting it back together.

Anyway, you should be able to get a lot of help here. Pile the loose parts up and take a picture we will tell you what is correct and what goes where.  This could turn into a fun group project.  You will definately be learning  a lot about your engine!

[bpossel]

Will,

Here are some pics that may help...
http://picasaweb.google.com/mercedes280sl
Bob

[waqas]

Hello Will,
Sorry to hear about your infortunate experience. I suggest you immediately write down and keep the details of all your interactions with this shop.

Also, many of us now know these engines like the back of our hands (or better, since the back of our hands are usually too greasy to recognize). So it might help to post pictures of what you currently have, so we can help you start a running list of what we find missing. We'll be glad to help!

[WillS]

Thank you all for the quick and helpful replies!

James and Bob, the pictures you pointed me to are just great! I will be printing them out and pouring over my engine bay using them. I would like to find a picture of the front of an a/c-equipped engine as mine is missing a pulley and has no belts on it. Some of the pulley sheaves line up and others don't, maybe because of the missing pulley. The radiator is out of the car so it is easy to see the pulley stuff, not so easy on a finished car w/ radiator installed.

Joe, the guy who overhauled it does have a good reputation (maybe that's my Stockholm Syndrome talking  ). The only way I can think of to verify the quality of the rebuild is to take it apart again and inspect it, so I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed. I will be talking to him and getting a list of what was done on the rebuild. I want to take some pictures of everything--as soon as I can find my blasted camera, it got feet again....

Wagas, I have kept a log of what happened over the two years. I'm not the fighting type though. I have to find my parts in his shop still, so I keep it on a civil basis as much as I can (Stockholm again?). As soon as I find my camera I will post pictures. My guess is I post them in the 'Photo Gallery' Forum, not here, right?

Thanks,
Wil

[WillS]

I would really appreciate it if Anyone could please point me to a parts book, diagram, or website that shows the pulleys (in particular the crank pulley(s)), v-belts, and crank dampener with OEM part nos. for a US Version late 280SL (8/70, 113.044 10-020431, 130.983 10-007324) with p/s & a/c. My parts books 12142, 10202, & M130E don't have it; SLS doesn't have it; EPCnet doesn't have it. It's getting a bit frustrating trying to figure out how the front of the engine goes together on this car.....

For this car, the water pump pulley is three-sheave, single-piece; the alternator pulley is single-sheave; the p/s pulley is single-sheave; the crank pulley is three-sheave too--but then it gets more complicated. 1) Is the crank dampener for p/s--a/c US cars different than one for non-p/s--a/c US cars? I found hints (nothing definitive) it might be. 2) What pulley(s) configuration goes on the dampener to accommodate both a/c & p/s? 3) Does the crank dampener for p/s--a/c US cars have pulley sheaves (1,2, or 3) that are an integral part of the dampener--or are separate & bolt to it? My best educated guess so far is that the US a/c version dampener has two integral pulley sheaves and a third sheave for p/s that is bolted to the two-sheave US a/c dampener

Sorry this is drills down so far in detail, but I'm hoping one of the many experts out there can help bail me out.

Thanks,
Wil

P.S. I posted some pictures of my car in the Photos section

[WillS]

PPS: I screwed the pooch on trying to load the pictures in the Photo Gallery Forum, trying to get it fixed.....