Engine Restoration Advice

[Hans2012]

I am having a full restoration done on my engine and engine compartment (and undercarriage) and hope to post some detailed photos at the end of the process   My mechanic had an NOS intake manifold from Mercedes- Benz in his parts inventory and has installed it,  as opposed to sending the original out to be cleaned and refinished.  As you will note from the photo there is a blob of green paint plus two red grease pencil marks on it that he has encouraged me to leave alone as they are marks from the inspectors back in the day.  I would be interested in comments from the experts on this forum as to whether to leave it as is or clean it off. 

Thanks
John   

[DaveB]

Leave them on for now and you can ponder the question at length
It's looking good in that sneak preview

[ja17]

It seems that the paint marks are not an exact science. Locations and colors vary somewhat from car to car. Lots of yellow marks, fair amount of red, that drab green (in your photo) is another. Blue is anothe less common color.

[pj]

Hi John,
does the photo show the old intake that you are saving? or the found one that your mechanic installed from his secret stash?
Either way, what makes you think the green and red marks are original?
If we have no evidence that the marks are original, and no hint of similar marks among the considerable experience with originals that is represented by our fellow forum members, I'd take them off.
The marks can always be put on -- this goes for the red and yellow dots, or the chalk digits of the Aufbaunummer, etc -- by a resourceful and knowledge restoration person. I think it shows a commendable attention to detail, even without proof that it's perfect to the original. Or maybe it's just too fine a point to argue about.

[Benz Dr.]

Intake manifolds had paint dots on them. I had a car with blue dots inside of the two circles on top of the casting. Not proof that every car had them but then it's not proof that they didn't.

[49er]

Have posted these two pictures many times but just easier just to do it again then hunt them down

First one is of my 6 month old '69 280SL with one red dot on the intake plenum, 2nd is of my "departed" 250SL when new (1967) with one very big red dot on the valve cover. Dealer put on the Castrol Stickers

John

[Hans2012]

Thanks for the responses.

The picture I attached is of the new intake manifold.  It is a Mercedes-Benz part out of the box - my mechanic has had it for many years and suggested that we use it instead of refurbishing the original manifold.  He is doing a complete engine restoration and is justifiably proud of how it is shaping up thus he is bringing out a few items from his stash.   The marks on the new manifold are original and came that way from MB.   I think I will leave them.  

We are stuck on one part.  We cannot locate a rubber "breather pipe sleeve" part # 008 997 6682.  The are NLA - the replacement form MB i longer and would need to be cut to length, leaving an unfinished end.  Any ideas?

Thanks again for your comments.  

Regards
John

[49er]

Is this the sleeve you are looking for? I bought mine last year for mine from MB but had a different part number 007-997-77-82 - "Cover" for $26.35

John

[Hans2012]

I think that is it - thanks for the information. 

Regards John

[Benz Dr.]

Have posted these two pictures many times but just easier just to do it again then hunt them down

First one is of my 6 month old '69 280SL with one red dot on the intake plenum, 2nd is of my "departed" 250SL when new (1967) with one very big red dot on the valve cover. Dealer put on the Castrol Stickers

John

The small red dot in your picture is where I saw the small blue dots on one of my manifolds. I say dots because each casting circle had a dot each.