Author Topic: Will a 280SL fuel injection pump work on 230SL? (Read 14356 times)

Sirasila · « **on:** August 14, 2011, 18:46:09 »

Just that. I will most likely have to send my pump off for a rebuild in the US and am wondering if a 280SL FI pump will work on my 230SL.
I have very little mechanical knowhow, but is it possible to do this? How long will a 230SL pump take to rebuild? Is a rebuilt 230SL pump as good as a 280 pump? Please help. I just happen to have a friend who has a 280 pump I can use if it will work.

IXLR8 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2011, 18:49:39 »

Hi--

I'm no expert, but my understanding is that the later pump may be used, although it will take some calibrating to function properly.

Joe

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2011, 20:09:03 »

No, it won't work. The engine will run but it will be far too rich. I had a 280SL pump on a 250SL and it was too rich for that engine so it would be even worse on a 230SL.

Turn around time for rebuilding is usually two days or less. Shipping time is more in most cases.

nadeem · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2011, 22:04:52 »

yes you can use 280sl injection pump for 230sl but it needs som adjustments. the adjustment is described in original mercedes benz workshop manual.

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2011, 17:59:59 »

Why are you telling this guy that? This isn't a simple adjustment that will cure everything.
Listen up, don't do it!

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2011, 21:48:09 »

For one thing the 280 pump will have an external oil line that the 230 will not (self-comtained oil supply), right?

mdsalemi · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2011, 22:01:02 »

Quote from: Benz Dr. on August 15, 2011, 17:59:59

Listen up, don't do it!

As Cees mentioned there is the oil line. But when Dan says "Listen up, don't do it!" proceed at your peril. You might very well end up with an expensive, undrivable mess on your hands that will take a lot of money and effort to sort out. Here in the USA we call this "Mickey Mouse mechanics" and often curse the PO (previous owner) that corrupts the integrity of the car by trying this things. Yes, it may work. So will shoehorning a Chevrolet V8 engine under the hood.

Select a FI pump rebuilder; be sure to send off your injectors for testing as well. Do it once, do it right. You will not be sorry you chose this path, but run every risk of cursing yourself if you start putting unsuitable pumps in place...

But hey, that's just my opinion...

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2011, 15:32:03 »

There are two different styles of oil lines. Those with the check valve and those that are a line without a check valve. You have to match the oil line to the pump and you have to match the pump to the engine.
There is only one pump used on a 230SL; the R11. This pump requires an oil line with a check valve.

Jonny B · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2011, 16:08:48 »

Michael has good words about the injectors. Even new ones can be bad (ask me how I know about that one!). They need to be tested to ensure they have the proper spray pattern and do not leak.

Sirasila · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2011, 15:45:12 »

Thanks for all your input. After having my R11 Fuel injection pump rebuilt by a bosch specialist here in Bangkok, it seems to be great. I had the fuel injectors themselves looked at and that seems to be the cause of the problem as well. So after replacing these, things should be looking up.
Thanks for the comments.

69280sl · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2011, 17:04:09 »

Quote from: Sirasila on August 29, 2011, 15:45:12

After having my R11 Fuel injection pump rebuilt by a bosch specialist here in Bangkok, it seems to be great. well. So after replacing these, things should be looking up.

Do I understand correctly that you had your pump rebuilt and re-installed in a little more than one week?

Sirasila · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2011, 19:33:42 »

Yes. About 2 weeks in total actually. I found through a friend here in Bangkok a German gentleman who was for several decades a 300SL gullwing specialist and has worked on more than 47 of them in Europe and Thailand. He seems to be very knowledgable about classic mercs in general and was able to help with the rebuild and replacement spares. Across town is also the an Bosch center which has the neccessary parts for the Fuel injection pump.

mdsalemi · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2011, 21:50:20 »

That is NOT what Gus wanted to hear...

Sirasila · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2011, 16:00:34 »

Quote from: mdsalemi on August 31, 2011, 21:50:20

That is NOT what Gus wanted to hear...

I'm sorry.. Did I say something wrong?

Is there something I should be looking at that's been overlooked? please help.

Sirasila · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2011, 16:13:09 »

The fuel injection pump was returned and he installed it and made adjustments. He brought me some new injectors as well and when tested, 2 of the new ones had problems and had to be replaced again. I didn't have to pay for those. Finally he made some tweaks here and there and after that my car ran like it just got cured from bronchitis. Smooth and even. Driving it just took me back in time a couple of decades. I couldn't be happier. I think there are something else that need work on the trans but I'll try it out for a week first and go from there.

69280sl · « **Reply #15 on:** September 01, 2011, 17:35:06 »

Quote from: Sirasila on September 01, 2011, 16:00:34

I'm sorry.. Did I say something wrong?

No. You did not say anything wrong. I was curious because it took much, much longer for me to have my pump rebuilt.
Best of luck with yours.

66andBlue · « **Reply #16 on:** September 01, 2011, 21:34:37 »

Gus, how much longer? What happened??

I shipped my pump to the other Gus at Pacific Fuel Injections and he shipped it back about 3 weeks later.
Considering that he is 70+ years old that is pretty fast for an 'older gentleman' who works alone!
Here is an 'up close and personal' interview with Gus Pfister that was written 10+ years ago. Keep that in mind when you read about parts and service prices.
http://www.bayarea02.com/features/pfister-interview/index.html

69280sl · « **Reply #17 on:** September 01, 2011, 23:11:44 »

Quote from: 66andBlue on September 01, 2011, 21:34:37

Gus, how much longer? What happened??

Alfred
I have my pump and car back now. Out of curiosity, after the fact, I wrote to Gus Pfister at Pacific and asked how much and how long to rebuild a Pagoda pump. The answer was; $1500 - $1800 and 3-4 weeks.

Sirasila · « **Reply #18 on:** September 02, 2011, 04:15:21 »

I suppose that having to ship the pump and getting it shipped back could be time consuming. I didn't ship mine anywhere. Everything happens to be in the same city from start to finish and maybe that's why it's quicker. The rebuilding stage took place also immediately after removal and the installation was right after the pump was finished. All done by a few elderly gents. Labor also costs less here in Thailand and so I paid a bit less. Just a bit.

mirkwood · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2011, 09:04:24 »

I'm in Brisbane,Australia and I do a lot of MFI equipped Mercedes . Do you have an address for the Bankok Bosch place?

Sirasila · « **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2011, 15:29:05 »

The place is what used to be a main Bosch outlet here. Most of the guys that used to work there are disbanded, but still reachable through phone appointments. They keep a fair amount of equipment and parts here and also serve the old Porsche community. They are quite old, in their 60s and 70s. I can get you a number, but do you speak Thai?

mirkwood · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2011, 00:00:46 »

No,But my Cousin,Michael Nepia, teaches a special School in Chang Mai

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2011, 06:27:16 »

Hopefully at least some of these older experts are transferring their knowledge to someone? For example I would hope that in Thailand there's enough of a market to keep someone in business. Otherwise we're going to find it more and more difficult to get our specialised work done.

Forunately for North America, guys like Joe A and Dan C are still in their early-to-mid-thirties ...

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Author Topic: Will a 280SL fuel injection pump work on 230SL? (Read 14356 times)

Sirasila

IXLR8

nadeem

Sirasila

Sirasila

Sirasila

Sirasila

Sirasila

mirkwood

Sirasila

mirkwood