And this is the new engine with gearbox: a V8 from a 1970 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3. This M 100 unit (of Mercedes 600 fame) is from the same period as the 280 SL, which adds a nice touch. The engine has a displacement of 6,330 cc, a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and a mechanical Bosch fuel injection system. Most remarkable feature of this engine type was not so much its high-end power but its flexibility and silent running. In standard trim it produces 250 hp @ 4400 rpm and a massive torque of 500 Nm @ 2800 rpm.
The 300 SEL 6.3 was a luxury limousine which put 1,830 kg on the scales and still its engine propelled it to an impressive 221 kph. And now imagine of what it will do in a car that weighed only 1,360 kg (without hardtop and automatic transmission).
To fit the engine into a 280 SL some work had to be done on the exhaust headers. At the bottom you see the original headers and (in black) a set of Hooker headers meant for a 5.0 litre Ford Mustang engine. These Hooker headers were reworked to fit the Mercedes engine and the result is show on top in this picture.
If you look at the picture above you see the new headers fitted to the engine. An added bonus to this modification are the racy spaghetti-type manifolds.
Ah, the marriage. The engine and the car are ready to be united. To fit the engine the body was raised by 2 inches (5 centimeters) from the frame; that way the rehinged hood would fit. Also the steering box and steering link locator were lowered to restore proper geometry and the brake booster had to be moved to clear the valve cover.
Well, the rust has been removed, all sheet metal has been fixed, most mechanical parts have been fitted and a roll-bar has been added. Time for a paint job.
The roll-bar was originally intended for a Volkswagen Beetle and has been reworked to fit this car. It adds to the rigidity of the car and the safety of its passengers.
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And this is the new engine with gearbox: a V8 from a 1970 Mercedes 300 SEL 6.3. This M 100 unit (of Mercedes 600 fame) is from the same period as the 280 SL, which adds a nice touch. The engine has a displacement of 6,330 cc, a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and a mechanical Bosch fuel injection system. Most remarkable feature of this engine type was not so much its high-end power but its flexibility and silent running. In standard trim it produces 250 hp @ 4400 rpm and a massive torque of 500 Nm @ 2800 rpm.
To fit the engine into a 280 SL some work had to be done on the exhaust headers. At the bottom you see the original headers and (in black) a set of Hooker headers meant for a 5.0 litre Ford Mustang engine. These Hooker headers were reworked to fit the Mercedes engine and the result is show on top in this picture.
Ah, the marriage. The engine and the car are ready to be united. To fit the engine the body was raised by 2 inches (5 centimeters) from the frame; that way the rehinged hood would fit. Also the steering box and steering link locator were lowered to restore proper geometry and the brake booster had to be moved to clear the valve cover.
Well, the rust has been removed, all sheet metal has been fixed, most mechanical parts have been fitted and a roll-bar has been added. Time for a paint job.