Reassurance please!

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Naj. So observant of you.

Joe and I discovered when we put the rebuilt engine back together in the summer of 2003, that the new timing chain I had bought was (way) too long. So we put in the one that came with the engine, "temporarily". I did buy a new chain last year, but have not yet allocated the time to put it in. Will do so shortly.

Since the rebuild, the engine has covered around 6,000 miles. Just tonite, I began doing the first major service since putting it into service, starting with the valve clearances. Some were a bit too tight. I retorqued the head first of course; it seemed a few bolts were a bit loose. I rounded off one of the valve adjuster nuts, so that slowed me down, I had to put in a better one. Taking the rocker arms off with the head installed is not so easy if you don't have a special tool like Joe made for himself.

I tried measuring compression but without an external starter switch it was rather difficult. The three cylinders I was able to measure came up to about 165 PSI. I will search old posts to find out how to make the external switch.

All spark plugs except for no. 3 were a nice light grey, No. 3 had some darker deposits.

I readjusted the front wheel bearings and, while the wheels were off, I lubed the front suspension and cleaned the brake discs with brake kleen; this can make quite a difference in braking performance in my experience.

Now that the valves are adjusted, it's onto the ignition and the air/fuel mixture. Hopefully later this week I can find the time for that, "she" has to go in for the annual safety check-up soon.

Sorry to stray so off-topic!

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by norton

Michael I'v also owned MGBGT's,TR4's and 6's,Sunbeam Tiger and a mini moke, as well as a hole bunch of other stuff. you forgot one of the real British car oddities, carburetors that you put OIL in.[:p]

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

Oh, yes--the good old "Skinner's Union" (SU) carbs.  Actually had a set of 1.5" SU's ex '67 MGB (pre-smog)feeding the '66 Cooper S.  Replaced the 42DCOE Weber which had a penchant for catching fire.  Any self respecting British car mechanic keeps the SU carburetor oil in a tin right next to the imperial quart of Hydrolastic Fluid.  Next to that would be a set of Whitworth sockets and spanners.  On the same shelf is another box with a selection of SU carb needles for tuning the carbs.  Not too far from this is a rubber mallet for the KO (knockoff) to take the wheels off of spoked Triumphs.  Don't forget "+positive earth" cars...such fond memories.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Mike Hughes]

How about shock absorbers that you must check the oil level of and top up, kind of like a 230SL FI pump (only without the convenient dipstick!)?  For those who have, or have had, older British cars, remember that "Positive Earth is a State of Mind!"

quote:Originally posted by norton

Michael I'v also owned MGBGT's,TR4's and 6's,Sunbeam Tiger and a mini moke, as well as a hole bunch of other stuff. you forgot one of the real British car oddities, carburetors that you put OIL in.[:p]

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[Malc]

quote:Originally posted by Mike Hughes


How about shock absorbers that you must check the oil level of and top up, kind of like a 230SL FI pump (only without the convenient dipstick!)?  For those who have, or have had, older British cars, remember that "Positive Earth is a State of Mind!"

What do you mean remember.....
My old MGA is still +ve earth and has lever dampers, SU's that eat more oil than the engine, and wirewheels with Knock offs!!
Funny thing about the KO is that although the car was originally exported and thus LHD the Knock offs were marked "nearside" and "offside" for RHD cars!
Still the most fun you can have at 30mph on a wet day! Like the old song "Slip Sliding away"
Malc  

[norton]

And don't forget 2 6 volt batteries to make a 12 volt system

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[Benz Dr.]

Cees, you could have ground off a few links to shorten the chain. I do it all the time. Feed the chain in and join the two ends together - the right amount of slack will be taken up by the tensioner.

  Oh, Mike?
I only foam at the mouth after eating Alka Selzter ~)

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org

[Mike Hughes]

Yes, the British used two six-volt batteries to make a 12 volt system.  They pioneered 12 volt electrics at a time when six-volt batteries were the only kind commonly available!  U.S. automakers were still using six-volt electrics well into the '60s...

quote:Originally posted by norton

And don't forget 2 6 volt batteries to make a 12 volt system

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

- Mike Hughes  -ô¿ô-
  1966 230SL Auto P/S
  Havanna Brown (408)
  Light Beige (181)
  Cream M-B Tex (121)

[ja17]

Hello Cees,
Actually the new chain you recieved was not usable  being too small, probably from a 280 carbureted sedan.

Yes Dan is correct, if the chain would have been too long it could easily have been shortened and used.

In the old days I used to buy original equipment new timing chain in  100 meter rolls with a pack of master links. I used a length chart I made to cut the new "bulk" chain to correct lengths. I always had a new timing chain for any Mercedes gasoline engine in stock this way. I could usually get about five timing chains from the roll.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[norton]

Mike the one thing I loved about my MGBGT was that I could drive it like a mad man, redline in every gear, and still not be breaking the law.

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[TheEngineer]

Please don't knock the SU carburetors: I had them on my Jaguar XK120 and on my Mark VII. I would drive those cars at 200 km/hr on the autobahn. There was less traffic in the '50's. Because I installed the 3.27 rear end in my 280SL, I often push it into the higher RPM in 2nd or 3rd, usually when entering the freeway. We have these stoplights at some on-ramps. It's not unusual to push it to 5,500 rpm in second gear. It accelerates quite nicely, thank you. On the freeway I cruise between 3000RPM and 3800 RPM. That is 62MPH to 78MPH.

'69 280SL,Signal Red,007537,tired engineer, West-Seattle, WA

[Cees Klumper]

Hi Joe - I started wondering about it being too long or too short after Dan's reply. So too short it was. But I think 100 meters for 5 chains is a bit much?! ;-)

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Naj ✝︎]

Cees,
I thought you had enough engines to use up 100m.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[ja17]

Oops,
Your right Cees, I meant 10 meter  rolls of chain!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Cees Klumper]

No Naj, but 30 meters would just be enough!

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Malc]

Chaps,
You are all missing the point re the wonders of British automotive engineering.....
Yes, SU carbs set up right are wonderful
Yes, lever arm shocks are cr*p
Yes, a Mini gave you powdered spine within 20 miles
Yes , Lucas deserves the title "Prince of darkness"
But.....
You could not hide in your shed/garage telling her in doors you were fixing the car if it all work all of the time....

Well that's my excuse [:p]
Malc