Stamp on Engine - SE A?

[tarheel]

Hello

I have a 1969 280SL.

The prior owner assured me that the engine was original

Yet whilst changing the plugs and wires today I discovered 280 SE A stamped along side of engine nearest firewall a drivers side (LHD).

Clearly it’s a W113 and not an SE!

How do I confirm this is the original engine?

Did they put SE engines into SLs or was this a replacement engine?

Love her in any case!

[Jack the Knife]

I've never figured out what the /A stands for, but what's the number on the block? If it says 130.983, that's a 280SL engine. If it says 130.980, that's for a sedan. There will also be an engine number after that which should match the number on your data card, if you have it. If it is a sedan engine, you may want to check the distributor and camshaft that were used, as those used in the SL gave it a bump more horsepower. Also, you'd want to note if it's an early or late model M130, as there are differences.

[Benz Dr.]

I've never figured out what the /A stands for, but what's the number on the block? If it says 130.983, that's a 280SL engine. If it says 130.980, that's for a sedan. There will also be an engine number after that which should match the number on your data card, if you have it. If it is a sedan engine, you may want to check the distributor and camshaft that were used, as those used in the SL gave it a bump more horsepower. Also, you'd want to note if it's an early or late model M130, as there are differences.

Sort of. Only the euro 280 SL engine had a bit more HP. /A indicates later USA version engine, kind of like /8 indicates 1968 or later build. Sedan engines and SL engines are more similar than they are different.

[Jack the Knife]

Sort of. Only the euro 280 SL engine had a bit more HP. /A indicates later USA version engine, kind of like /8 indicates 1968 or later build. Sedan engines and SL engines are more similar than they are different.

So it really does stand for USA? Interesting. So what all were the differences between the US and ROW engines? Was it just the early emissions stuff?

[DaveB]

Yet whilst changing the plugs and wires today I discovered 280 SE A stamped along side of engine nearest firewall a drivers side (LHD).

Yes, agree, 280 SE/A on the head is normal, seen plenty like that.

[Benz Dr.]

So it really does stand for USA? Interesting. So what all were the differences between the US and ROW engines? Was it just the early emissions stuff?

I think so. The block, cam, cam bearings, head, ignition system and throttle valve were some of the changes. The late Euro engines stayed with the cast iron distributor and the early systems.

[MikeSimon]

Sorry to contradict an expert. The /A on the cylinder head does not stand for "America". During my extensive research about cylinder heads (my 1971 German spec 280SL has a head which is not shown in our head chart in the Tech Manual, with the ID 280SEL/SL and the number 130 016 17 01) I found that the SE/A head was installed in a lot of European M130s, both 280 SE and SL.
What the /A stands for I don't know, though.

Looks like the OP's engine does not have a number on the block.