062 Distributor

[rb6667]

Does the 062 Aluminum body distributor have an oil port on the side like the earlier cast iron ones? I have the cap on the side, and can turn it, but can see no opening to oil.

Also, I was surprised when I removed the battery tray, and found a box bolted under the battery tray.  This box has wires going into it.  I was thinking this was used for the later ignition systems only. 

Car is a 68 280SL.

Thanks in advance.

RB6667

[Benz Dr.]

Your car is probably newer than you thought. It has to be at least mid 1969 to have what you describe.

  The 062 has an oil cup on the the side. There's a hole in the cup and you have to turn the cap to uncover it. If you can't see it, then someone moved it. Pry the cup off with two screwdrivers and turn it so that the oil hole is facing upwards. Tap it back in with a small hammer.

 You will likely need to remove the distributor before you can work on this part.

[rb6667]

I was able to move the cap apprx. 180 degrees. (Top and both sides)   Saw no hole.  I'll see if I can get a small mirror to take a look at the bottom.  The hood is off and the battery tray has been removed, so I might be able to do as you suggested if I find the hole on the bottom.  As far as the year model, this is an early 68 as it has no head rests.  Maybe the distributor has been changed.  Should this car have the early cast iron dist?


Thanks for the advise Doctor.

RB6667

[69280sl]

  As far as the year model, this is an early 68 as it has no head rests. 

Thanks for the advise Doctor.

RB6667

What is your car (chassis) number?

Gus

[rb6667]

11304412001385

Thanks,

RB6667

[Benz Dr.]

I was able to move the cap apprx. 180 degrees. (Top and both sides)   Saw no hole.  I'll see if I can get a small mirror to take a look at the bottom.  The hood is off and the battery tray has been removed, so I might be able to do as you suggested if I find the hole on the bottom.  As far as the year model, this is an early 68 as it has no head rests.  Maybe the distributor has been changed.  Should this car have the early cast iron dist?


Thanks for the advise Doctor.

RB6667

Your car is a 1968 from the VIN.  This engine should have a cast iron distributor but there are aluminium replacements out there that do the same thing.
 If it's a 062 or similar then it's the wrong one for your car. The 062 has a different vaccum fuction and it won't work with the vaccum retard system found on late 230SL's on through to about mid 1969 cars. I believe Euro cars maintained the 051 until until the end of production.

The main thing to consider is that all of the parts of your ignition system need to be matched to each other. Correct wires, cap, rotor, points, coil, ballast resistor, spark plugs, distributor, throttle body and switch gear if your car has it.

[rb6667]

Thank You for the information Doctor. I did some more looking and here is what I found: This car does have the transistor ignition system, and it appears to be factory/dealer installed.  No hack jobs on the wires, all nicely mounted with what looks to be factory mounting brackets.  Take a look at the attached picture from our tech manual.  This car has all 4 of those items including the Bosch Blue coil.

Since the opinion is that this type of ignition did not appear until mid 1969, either the factory used this car as a test mule, or maybe the dealer or PO did a complete change over.  If it was changed, they did a very nice job on it!  I guess another possibility is that this was an option for the 1968 year?  Would the Data Card show if this car was built with this ignition? I do not have one for this car, but plan on doing so.

One other thing, on the bottom of the silver colored plate that the Switch Gear box mounts to, are the hand written numbers 15 16 7.  This is written with a black magic marker.  Anyone make any sense of this?

By the way, car runs great.........so if it ain't broke............

Thanks for all the responses.

RB6667








 





 

[Benz Dr.]

It may not be correct for your year of car but as long as all of the parts match each other it should work OK. You should check to make sure you have the correct throttle body though.

[ja17]

I love when The Doctor lectures on ignitions.........he's the master of experience on the subject!

[rb6667]

It would be interesting to see if any other members have cars that were produced prior to mid 1969 that have the transistor ignition.  We'll figure it out!

Thanks,

RB6667

[rb6667]

Hello All, If you are reading this thread, you know I'm trying to figure out what I have here.  Is this a conversion that was done of this car, since this type of ignition was not used until mid 1969 OR......Am I the only one who has this system on a pre- 1969 model

Would the Data Card show if this car was factory built with the transistor ignition?


Thanks for the information.

RB6667

[Benz Dr.]

That seems unlikely.

[pagoden]

Hello RB -

Negative information only, I fear: my 280SL is number 004622, which I make as a roughly mid-August birthing in 1968, and still has a conventional ignition system with an 051, FWIW.  It's a US version, picked up at the factory, driven around western Europe for a month or so, then brought over here and titled in the autumn of '68 as a new 1969 model, which was customary, I think.  I've certainly not heard of anything like your setup showing up that early in production -- over 3,000 113s  between yours and mine, still with its good ol' iron dizzy: very odd.

Easter's peace, All,
Denny

[rb6667]

Thanks for the information Pagoden and Dr. Benz.  This is a true mystery alright.  If it was not for the neat factory look of all of the items used for this transistor ignition, I would suspect that this had been changed by a PO or a dealer.

As i mentioned, car runs great so..........................I'm leaving as is. 


Thanks again,

RB6667

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, rb,

It would be interesting to see what throttle body you have on your car. Can you past a pic?
Also. are there any extra relays or valves (in the vacuum system) ?

Naj

[rb6667]

Hello Naj, I am starting to think that this 68 of mine must have had an engine transplant in it's earlier life.  I got many service records with this car when I bought it.  None however were from any Mercedes Dealers.   All service records are post 1974.   You have supplied information about the black tube bolted to the front of the engine.   My car has this, but apparently the 68's did not get this vent.  My car does have the Funnel shaped thingy at the rear under the bumper. 

This may explain why this 68 also has the transistor ignition that is not known to appear before mid 1969.   SO.....I'm thinking a Dealer replaced this engine around 1969/1974 with a replacement engine and had to change the ignition system as well.    Another tip off is the thermostat cover has the sending unit on it, but no wire.  I thought maybe the old one was damaged and just replaced with a newer version.  I do not think that the 68's had this sending boss on top of the thermostat cover.

Sounds like we might be close to figuring this thing out!

Thanks for all the responses.

RB6667

[twistedtree]

If you get the data card for the car it will answer most of your questions as it will give the original engine number for the car.  Then you will know if you have a different engine, and can judge (roughly) how much newer it is.

[Naj ✝︎]

rb,

Is there an engine # stamped on the block (below spark plug #6) ?

Naj

[rb6667]

We are starting to get somewhere now.  I could not find an engine # stamped on the block, however, I went back and look at the old service records for this car.  In 1984 car came into a shop running hot.  They found coolant in # 4 combustion chamber and replaced the head and a whole bunch of other items.  Over $5,000 US dollars in 1984.  At the top of the work order under engine # this is written:  130-983-12REPL. 

Head is stamped 130-016-32-01.  off to the side 280/SE/A  Looking at Jal 17 head gasket chart (Thanks Joe) it appears that this is a 70/71 model head.  So, it looks like prior to 1984 an engine block swap was completed.   I can only assume that the head replaced in 1984 matched the one taken off due to coolant leakage.

Next step is to figure out if the induction/ignition system was changed when the engine block was changed.

Any thoughts based on the above information?  Does the 130-983-12 ???REPL give us a date for this engine being produced?

Thanks very much,

RB6667

[Benz Dr.]

The late head won't interchange with the early block so the whole long block was changed. Clearly, they installed all of the newer ignition system at the same time.

[rb6667]

Thanks Doctor. Since we have this block situation settled now, the next question is was the induction system changed over as well.  Will the old intake/ Ex. manifolds  bolt up to the newer style head?

[Benz Dr.]

There were two diffrent exhaust manifolds. The early header pipe and the cast iron manifolds to the end of production. There are at least 4 or 5 different intake manifolds.

   You can use almost any manifold combination but you also have to make sure all of the linkage and vacuum hardware will fit and work with what you are trying to do.
Throttle valves are also split into three basic types; vacuum advance, vacuum retard, and constant vacuum used on the late CD ignition systems. Failure to get this sorted out properly will result in a porly running engine.

[rb6667]

Thanks Dr Benz.  I will try and snap of picture of the induction system so we can figure out if I have the right one.   The ex. manifolds are cast iron.

Many thanks,

RB6667 

[rb6667]

I am hopeful that these pictures will allow us to figure out what I have here.  Seems safe to say that this is not the original engine.  Looking forward to solving the mystery.

Many thanks,

RB6667

[Benz Dr.]

You have a late engine but it doesn't have the late vacuum switch gear installed. I need a closer picture on the inside of the throttle valve. Looks like the vacuu line is going to that area and if it's hooked to constant vacuum it won't work.
you will need the early throttle valve used on 280SL's and a 051 distributor or similar.