First and foremost Thanks To DrBenz (Dan) for his advice re getting up off my ass and fixing a troubled 280SL.
Basically bought my 1970 280SL over 2 yrs ago. Progressively accerating away she became rougher and rougher to the point she was undriveable. My fiends in Ireland pointed to the fuel tank as a possible source with blockages upstream.
I called a good friend in the aviation game which I am involved with. This guy owns a tuning shop but never mentioned he was a wizard at problem solving.He's made his money and couldnt be arsed taking on new business. He organised a flat bed truck and took my beloved pagoda away.
This is what he did and found. He concurred with DrBenz on all his advice also.
Removed fuel tank...contaminated, leaking. Fuel tank restored, resealed. Fuel lines binned and replaced due age/ perished. Fuel filters cleaned/ replaced. Fuel filter in engine found diseased with stuff.
Fuel injection pump calibrated....injectors ultra sonically cleaned....throttle linkage realigned.....idle control valve overhauled to venturi...CO2 was through the roof and adjusted.
Distibuter which I replaced a year earlier was the wrong type and correct one fitted. This is where there was a big problem. The spark at high rpms was fading. Car found to have incorrect condensor and more importantly the ballast resistor was all wrong. Correct one fitted (7.5volts) was mentioned over a few beers on the post work meeting in the local pub!
Venturi screw replaced. The engine temps sensor switch on the side of the block at the rear of the eng was perished and replaced. New HT leads supplied/wrong ones previously fitted. Fitting standard modern day car HT is a no no.
Thats all the engine work done but have you guys checked your sub frame mounts? This is a thing that can go unnoticed until your go over a hump back bridge where the coolin fan will make contact with the rad if these mounts are not correct. My mounts had to be changed.
Final job....are your reverse lights working? Inhibitor switch on gearbox was required to get mine working.
Finally check where your springs are mounted. I had some rusting....treated the underside LPS 3 fluid.
The car is a totally different animal....and I thought I'd share my costly trip to the tuning shop but she's done and done well. My man fell in love with the pagoda. showed it to a few of his friends( as he felt he needed over the week end, i didnt beleive him!)....all his friends had memories of the pagodas of the 60s/70s. Many stories involving the opp. gender. It wa the car to have then and is the car in my opinion to have now.
Regards
David
