Suppliers

[restor]

Hi.  I just recently purchased a '69 280sl in need of a motor and quite a bit of work.

Can anyone recommend two or three parts suppliers?

Thanks in advance.

[mdsalemi]

restor,

Too general a statement/question without specifics.

If you plan on doing this yourself or even orchestrating the restoration of this car, consider becoming a full member here, introducing yourself around, read the posts on the items you need, search the site here, look at the tech manual here, look at the supplier list here, join the MBCA, get the Star Magazine.  That's a good start.

Unless you have a bottomless checkbook, there is no way to do this kind of work without research.  Even with the bottomless checkbook there is probably no way to do it correctly without a lot of research.

Now, since you indicate you need a motor, several questions come to mind.  Do you need a motor or do you have a motor that needs to be rebuilt?  Do you plan on doing this yourself, or sending it out?  There's a lot of mechanical work involved to get the motor out, such that it can be rebuilt.  Do you plan on doing this yourself or do you have a local and trusted mechanic to do the work for you?  A simple statement, "in need of a motor" really begets far more questions than answers.

As you come up with a plan the answers will be here.

[restor]

Thanks for your response.

Yes, I have someone to do the work.  He has restored several other vehicles for me, and his work is satisfactory.

The vehicle we have does not have a motor, but we've got the rest.  As far as the machine work is concerned, no, that's not something he'd do, we'd send that out, if required.  As far as assembly of the engine is concerned, I wouldn't have him send that out, would just have him do it.  Is there something particularly complex about this motor about which we should be aware ?

So again I'm looking for a few parts suppliers and a motor (280sl).  It'd be nice to know of a supplier that can provide pistons, rings, rods, bearings, cams, etc.  I'm assuming that whatever we will find by way of a motor will be siezed/have bad compression, etc.

Thanks.

[Via Manci]

It is going to be fun watching this thread unfold!

[66andBlue]

One place where you can start finding suppliers to your heart's delight is right here:
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Suppliers/Start
But you must promise telling us whom you selected in the end and how much you paid ... 

[Ron]

You'll probably need a lot more than a motor.  My tale: when I first saw my 230SL, the motor was on a stand next to the car.  The owner said the car was complete, and the motor rebuilt.  He had the paperwork: used head and valve job done ($2K, he had purchased the car without a head, and he did rings, bearings, all clutch goodies, and flywheel resurface).

I purchased for the beauty of the thing, and the thoughts I would have a good car.  While most of the internals of the engine were together, there was much to be done. 

Here's some of the things I've had to work on: stretched timing chain, wrong intake manifold, wrong power steering pump, wrong injectors, incorrect head and IP (but these should work), missing exhaust parts, missing chrome pieces off one door, both door windows loose, door locks a mess, heater core loose, no windshield washer pump, bad motor mounts, bad steering shaft bushings, and more.  I still haven't run the car after a year, and I have yet to deal with the brakes and fuel pump/gas tank (latter two replaced in '95 so maybe ok).

The good news, the car is relatively rust free.  It's been hit once, minor in front, but new grille, bumper, and hood.

This site has been terrific for me, there's so much help here.  I've restored two vehicles before, a 1959 Austin Healey Sprite, and a 1948 Dodge pickup.  NOTHING compares to the complexities of this SL.

Plus, I'm getting old!    I hope I can finish the thing while my body can fold up to go inside.  (I should be able to start it in a couple of weeks.)

My advice on suppliers, get to know your local M-B dealer parts folks.  Beer helps mine along.  There are vendors connected with this site who are also very helpful.  For an idea of all the parts this car has, and how it is put together, it is hard to beat SLS:

http://www.sls-hh-shop.de/index.php/cat/c3_Mercedes-Benz-230SL-250SL-280SL-Pagoda--R113-W113-.html

Their service, from Germany is good, but with the Euro exchange rate, the prices are high.

Here's an engine for you:

http://www.adsitco.com/category.asp?CID=1871

There's lots of goodies to hang on that thing before you turn the key. 

I wonder how many parts were removed from your car when the engine was removed?

Good luck, and keep us in touch!

Ron

[restor]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate the comments and especially that listing for that motor for $5.5k.

Not aware of anything that is missing, but assumed that I'd have to replace all motors (starter, windshield wiper, steering if there is one, etc), and various suspension components on this vehicle.

Am anticipating putting about $15k into it for the motor and anything else it needs, in parts alone.  If it's less, then great.  If it's going to be more then I'm not going to do this project and will just unload what I've got.

I'll check the suppliers list, thanks for all replies and I'll keep you posted.

[stickandrudderman]

Well, if you decide to unload what you've got I'm looking for a project to make a 3.5V8 SL out of!

[waqas]

You might consider contacting Dr. Benz (Dan Caron) -- he should be able to provide all the missing parts including engine.

[rwmastel]

One place where you can start finding suppliers to your heart's delight is right here:
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Suppliers/Start

Besides the list of suppliers, here's a list of documentation available for the car.  It's part of our Technical Manual, which you should be looking at.  http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Documents/Start

There are three critical books to have:
1) the Service Manual (or Big Blue Book, or BBB)
2) the Spare Parts List
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Documents/BBB
3) the Technical Data Manual (similar to this eBay auction, but get correct date book)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-TECHNICAL-DATA-MANUAL-350SL-450SL-W107-R107_W0QQitemZ270433256231QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Manuals_Literature?hash=item3ef7140327&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Also, it will be helpful to have an owner's manual
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Documents/OwnerManual

You and/or your mechanic should have these to ensure all the parts are replaced, and replaced with correct parts.  I hope your machanic has rebuilt 1960's era M-B engines before.  You said he did good work before, but you didn't mention on what type of vehicles.

Enjoy your new adventure!  We'll be here to help.

[Benz Dr.]

 I have a running 280 engine here from an automatic car. I also have pretty much everything you would need to do a standard conversion.

 I also have a complete 3.5 drive train from a 3.5 coupe.