1970 280SL

[BOTIGER1970]

Have started taking apart my 1970 280SL for complete restoration and have some missing or unusable items.  I am looking for an oil dipstick, auto transmission dipstick, water pump housing, Thermostat housing, radiator shroud. 
Mark

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Mark, post your parts needs to Buds Benz

https://www.budsbenz.com

e-mail Dave (the owner) wuth your needs he may have what you need.

I never yet had any problems when I needed something from him. Tip, when you order something ask to include a fuse set for your car and keep it in the glove box when needed.

Dieter

[BOTIGER1970]

Thank you for the information, much appreciated.
Mark

[MikeSimon]

Do yourself a favor and leave the fan shroud off!!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

 Mike, why would you leave the fan shroud off?

Dieter

[MikeSimon]

The main reason I would leave it off is, it is very difficult to work around it when you do anything on the front of the engine. You can't even see the markings on the crank pulley. then, the thing itself is rather controversial. Not all cars had it. It seems only US cars with AC and then only later ones had it. Nobody really knows. It is supposed to help cooling, but I am not sure about that.

[opopotts]

I thought the shroud was to protect the mechanics hand when the car was running so you wouldn't be hit with the blades. Many mechanics never put them back on. I had to find ones for my W111 and W113

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks Mike,

Your explanation makes sense. In my case I am glad I do have the shrould it prevented major damahe to my hood last fall when my water pump failed and broke most of the blades of the fan. One piece of the broken fan pieces made it to the underside of the hood and leaving a slight dimple the rest were prevented from the shrould to cause further damage. Some years ago I had the clutch fan changed (over heating issues) and one of the 4 bolts that holds down the water pump was over-torqued causing a crack. total damage with replacement parts was over $1,600- Canadian. Goes to show you that we have to make sure mechanics use the right torque values. I have not done the repair of the hood as of yet, it will be another $1,200- Canadian. I dont think I will do it I will use it as a conversation topic at car shows if questions are asked. LOL The one small dimple does not bother me at all.

Dieter

[BOTIGER1970]

While there might be benefit to a shroud protecting the mechanic's fingers or prevent damage from an exploding fan blade.  The real purpose of the shroud is to ensure the maximum airflow goes through the radiator and not around the sides of the radiator, thereby allowing maximum cooling.  Nice to know that not all cars came with the shroud.  I'm assuming since my car has A/C it also came with a shroud.  Is that correct?
thanks for all the input.
Mark

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Mark,

I agree with you it seams logical to me that the shroud can be found on cars that have been equiped with air conditioning since maximum air flow due to overheating was required to be directed to the radiator. If the shroud was added when a/c was added to the car or at the factory I dont know. My car was assembled and shipped to the US in December 1968 and is a 280SL, it had a/c (was removed) and does have the shroud.

Changes that have been made to the 280 SL have been documented in Pagoda Notes Issues 11-1 Page 1 to 8, Issue 11-2 Pages 1 to 7, and 11-3 Pages 1 to 6 also later in Pagoda World Issue 25 Pages 15 to 19. The only change I found that was opening the gap between the fan (called "hub" in German), and the shroud (see my screen shot attached below).

Last month I prepared Indexes that can be alphabeticly sortable (see the General Discussion Forum area), and information can easaly be found using the indexe's.

From the attachement and the only item I found pertaining to the shroud (hub), I assume that the shrould must have been inplace on 280 SL when a/c was part of the order from the factory.

Mark I realize you may not have PW Issue 25 (unless it was mailed to you with our welcoming letter). However, you do have full access to Pagoda Notes here in our Technical Manual. Should you wish to get PW Issue 25 there are back issues that can be ordered.

See here-----> https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=11537.0

Dieter

[BOTIGER1970]

Dieter,
Thank you for the information.  While I have been working on cars for over 30 years, I am early in my experience with Mercedes.  Most my car experience is with American cars.  So all this help is appreciated.  I have taken my car totally a part, so now comes the challenge of rebuilding everything.  I am just starting on the  body, putting on new body panels and floors.  I have been gathering parts that I know I am missing.  As with rebuilding any car, information and documentation is key.  Thanks again.Mark

[Benz Dr.]

I thought the shroud was to protect the mechanics hand when the car was running so you wouldn't be hit with the blades. Many mechanics never put them back on. I had to find ones for my W111 and W113

Anyone who has their hands that close to running engines or fan blades deserves a wake-up call. The shroud is all about extra cooling.

[MikeSimon]

Rolf-Dieter,

I don't want to be a smart aleck, but in order not to confuse anybody, the fan is called a "Lüfter" in German and the hub should be a "Nabe".

[Shvegel]

I'm with Dan (Benz Dr).  Simply a way to stave off overheating and costly warranty issues.  My 1970 had one and had no AC.

[waltklatt]

If it helps, my early 68 280SL had the fan shroud with dealer installed AC.
The shroud was original to the car, but not the AC, was installed 6 months later.
Had all the papers since new, and saw the installation for the AC by the dealer.
The shroud had a crudely hacked out opening for the new alternator pulley bolt at the top left corner.
The compressor went to the bottom and alternator went to the top with the new monster bracket.