3.27 diff conversion

[France]

Hi guys,

Now that Carling has her new paint job, I am in the market for a 3.27

Checked out Hemmings and talked to Star Motors in Endicott, NY and they pretend to remanufacture complete rear axle assemblies, providing a 2 year warranty.

Has anyone ever heard anything about their diffs or does anyone have a good one in the garage?

Cheers from warm and sunny Sarasota,


Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France

[ja17]

Hello Trice,

Those guys as Star are very reputable, but I can imagine very good and a bit pricey also!? I am always looking for these 3.27 axles but have none at this time. You must be aware of a potential problem with these and check it before installation. The large pin which holds the spider gears in the casting wears its mounting holes oblong causing differential "slop and clunk"! This seems to be characteristic of this unit which is subject to the power and torque of the big Mercedes 4.5 engine from which it came. Almost half of these units with high mileage will have this wear.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[France]

Dear Joe,

Thanks for your advice; we already had the feeling that a remanufactured (new) unit was the best idea, although we didn´t quite know why.

Wish we could find one at a reasonable price.

Cheers from sunny Sarasota
Trice

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France

[Chad]

Trice, May I ask what ballpark they quoted you for this differential?

[TheEngineer]

I put a 3.27 axle in my lil' red car two years ago. It's wonderful!

[France]

Chad,

They told me something around $6K, including transport Sara-NY-Sara.  Our local mechanic who has lots of experience on W113s wanted $7k...

Seems like a lot of money...

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder
Sarasota FL; Alsace France

[Chad]

quote:Originally posted by France

Chad,

They told me something around $6K, including transport Sara-NY-Sara.  Our local mechanic who has lots of experience on W113s wanted $7k...

Wow, I agree - indeed that does sound amazingly pricey... money probably better spent elsewhere in the driveline.

[n/a]

I bought a 3.27 rear axle to replace the original 3.69 in my stick shift 3.5 coupe.  I bought it for $350 at the local Mercedes recycler at Sacramento.  It is dry and tight and quiet as a new one.  It even had a good hydro-compensator on it.  So check the local recyclers.  My recycler had a notifier one could sign up for that will send you a email when they get a specific car in(108 4.5)
Also the rear axles from V8 cars have a oil cooling tube.
Tony

Tony H.

[Cees Klumper]

I had a 3,69 differential put in a few years ago. It cost me something like $750 installed.

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

[domingo_santo]

Dear friends,
I am attaching two pictures of an open differential case 3.27 ratio in order to try spotting where the problem with these differential is.  Joe we beg your help here.

regards

Download Attachment: DSC04251.JPG
42.21 KB

Download Attachment: DSC04244.JPG
46.17 KB

Juan Tomas Santos
Dominican Republic
1982 911SC
1972 350SL
1969 280SL

[ja17]

Hello Juan Tomas,

Hope all is well with you and the pagoda.  Here are some photos of the 3.27 differential problem to look out for. Hope this helps.

Download Attachment: diff casting.JPG
36.31 KB

Notice the physical difference in size of the standard six cylinder differential and that of the V8.

Download Attachment: diff2.JPG
38.96 KB


Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[domingo_santo]

Joe,

Thanks a lot for these pictures, they clarify where to look for problems.  It seems that my 3.27 Diff is in good condition.
The restoration is taking more time than planed but is going well.

Best regards.

Juan Tomas Santos
Dominican Republic
1982 911SC
1972 350SL
1969 280SL

[mdsalemi]

I had the pleasure of meeting with Tom Sargeant once again, this time on his turf in Washington a couple of weeks ago.  He insisted (OK, twist my arm) I drive his "driver", the Tunis Beige 280 with the 3.27 differential.

I'd say compared to my stock 280SL, it offered about an 800 RPM or so reduction in 4th gear; that reduced RPM is a significant reduction in "engine roar" and combined with the windscreen would allow a quiet conversation even on the highway at speed.  A touring car indeed.

Now, it wasn't a long or accurate test: we were on the George Washington Parkway (speed limit 35MPH) and he was pushing me to do 60 or more.  In addition he is so enamored with the little "remote kickdown switch" that Gernold added in front of the ashtray that he kept hitting it as I was driving.  A boy with new toys!

Anyway it was fun, and I didn't notice any real offensive change in acceleration from start.

If one plans on putting a lot of highway miles on the car, I'd say go for it if you can find one. Get a windscreen, too.  And that's from a purist.

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

[waltklatt]

How many mods does one have to do to the SL and rear end in order to install a 3.27?  I have a line on a 3.27 and will pick it up later this month to install on my 1967 220SL-diesel.
Oil cooler line doesn't present any problems, right?  Also the upgrade from the drum brakes to discs would help greatly in the braking, so that is not a problem.  
Walter Klatt
1967 220SL-diesel
1963 230SL-gas
3.75 rear end sitting on floor in garage(leftovers from a 1966 230SL)

[65auto230sl]

hi all,
i'm interested in putting a 3.27 diff in my car...does anybody have a list of what car's came with these gears?
thanks in advance.
bo
65 230sl
84 300sd
84 500sec
80 240d

[rwmastel]

Bo,

The most common was the W108 chassis, 280SEL 4.5.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[A Dalton]

..both the SE and SEL -108/4.5 will have the 3:27.
 You will have an easier search looking for the higher production 108.067 chassis, 280se/4.5..
 There were almost twice as many SE produced as  SEL......  

[ja17]

Hello,
The 3.23 rear differential casting is physically larger than the six cylinder differential. However it fits and mounts without problems except that the "U" shaped cooling tube, not used on the six cylinder versions, must be removed and plugged. Standard oil pan drain plugs are the correct size and thread to use for plugs.

The 3.23 differential is normally found in the USA W108.067 and W108.068 chassis cars (as mentioned 280SE and SEL sedans).  The Euro versions with the 3.5 V8 engine had a 3.46 ratio.

Be sure to know how to check for damaged spider gear castings in these units (see previous post).  The higher torque of the V8 engines seem to damage quite a few of these.

I have not done the drum brake to disc conversion, however I suspect that the brake master cylinder, and the emergency brake cables would have to be changed along with the disc brakes.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[A Dalton]

<<The 3.23 differential is normally found in the USA W108.067 and W108.068 chassis cars>>

 Actually 3:27 ratio on both those chassis..
There was some confusion on that a while back, but we verified the 3:27 figures.
 On drum conversion, you also have to add the rear proportioning valve for disc.

 For those looking for one , here is a post on another site I Tech on .. This fellow runs the 108 site and he keeps up on where these can be found  ..

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=152556