Need help sourcing Valve Lifters for 280SE Engine

[SuperRobbieG]

Happy Saturday, I'm a new Pagoda SL Group member who is embarking on an engine rebuild over the next couple months.  I have a 1965 MB 230SL with a 2.8L engine swap from 280SE sometime in the mid 1990's.  I've pulled the engine and head and am in the process of gathering parts.  One particular part I'm having difficulty sourcing are the valve lifters.  I'd appreciate any ideas on where I could possible source.  So far Buds Benz, Autohaus and others have come up empty.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks again for the help.

Cheers,  Robbie

[ctaylor738]

It's an overhead cam engine, so there are no "lifters."  Do you mean rocker arms? Or ball studs?

Cheers,

CT

[Cees Klumper]

Have you determined what parts need replacement? Some parts are quite expensive, unlike most American made old-style V8 small and big block engines, where you can buy complete short block rebuild kits with pistons, crankshaft, bearings and many more items for relatively little money. So it may be a good idea to measure all old parts and see if they are still within allowable tolerances etc before wholesale replacing them.

[mdsalemi]

Have you determined what parts need replacement? Some parts are quite expensive, unlike most American made old-style V8 small and big block engines, where you can buy complete short block rebuild kits with pistons, crankshaft, bearings and many more items for relatively little money. So it may be a good idea to measure all old parts and see if they are still within allowable tolerances etc before wholesale replacing them.

Then one needs the proper measuring tools, exactly what to measure on what parts, and what the manufacturer specifications for wear are on all the parts.

Maybe a spreadsheet would help…???

[Pawel66]

If you are after rocker arms, for 130980 engine, part number is A 114 055 00 01. Equivalent: FEBI BILSTEIN 07917

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/1140550001.htm?pn=114-055-00-01-M36&bc=c&q=febi%20bilstein%2007917

[Cees Klumper]

Then one needs the proper measuring tools, exactly what to measure on what parts, and what the manufacturer specifications for wear are on all the parts.

Maybe a spreadsheet would help…???

Yes for sure, micrometers, calipers, machinist straightedge and so on. Since I assume Robbie is tackling the rebuild himself, I am also assuming he has the basic knowledge and tools to do the job.

[mdsalemi]

Yes for sure, micrometers, calipers, machinist straightedge and so on. Since I assume Robbie is tackling the rebuild himself, I am also assuming he has the basic knowledge and tools to do the job.

Hopefully! But then WHAT to measure where on what parts? Where is a comprehensive list of all these parts, and the manufacturers specifications on these? That’s most important in my eyes. If you don’t know what to measure the tools cannot help you.

Hence the suggestion of a spreadsheet…

https://sautomotivetools.com/19-must-have-engine-rebuilding-tools/

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2023/11/10/basic-engine-building-tools-that-should-be-in-every-engine-builders-toolbox/

[ctaylor738]

All wise advice, but it would be nice if we knew what is needed!

CT

[Cees Klumper]

All essential tolerances and dimensions will be in the 'Tabellenbuch' (data book?). Things like spring lengths, max cylinder out-of-round, journal dimensions, plastigauge references, valve seat angles, torque specifications, minimum cylinder head thickness, piston ring gaps, etc etc.

We may have scared off the OP.

[mdsalemi]

All essential tolerances and dimensions will be in the 'Tabellenbuch' (data book?).

We may have scared off the OP.

Maybe wisely! See this book? It’s just ONE of many dozens of similar books on the same group of engines. Large block instead? Ford? Chrysler? The knowledge resources and how-to books on these is almost limitless. So is the parts supply. Compared to ours, cheap and plentiful.

Now if someone shows me a similar book on our M127-M130, I’d like to own it, even if I would only enjoy reading it. I don’t think it exists. We’ve also had members recently looking for various engine parts. Sourcing everything for a proper Pagoda engine rebuild is nothing like that for an American engine—or even a Porsche. That by itself is a huge challenge.

[Cees Klumper]

I haven't looked at the particular sections, but usually the Haynes manuals are pretty good about engine rebuild instructions. That's probably where I would start if I was looking for documented help on that topic - in addition to the tech manual, of course, and other Pagoda specific sources like the Glenn's book.
I have not yet taken the time to go through my 8 hours of so of videotape (literal tape) that I recorded when Joe Aexander rebuilt my engine back in 2003, with me as his helper. I recorded everything on a Sony camcorder with Joe speaking to the camera with details about what was going on, and I still have those tapes back in France, to work out in a detailed addition to the tech manual / how-to one day. I will do it!

[Pawel66]

I think those tapes are very precious. They contain knowledge that may be lost. I am sure they also contain a lot of useful tips and tricks specific to these engines.

I suppose good idea would be to digitise them first and make a couple of copies just to protect the content.

[SuperRobbieG]

Thanks a ton for the reply.  I am having a machine shop do the work on the head, so I am passing along what they requested.  Questioning the machine shop at this point