SL V-8 manual (stick) shift vehicle

[willy77]

Originally Posted by allenj123

I just bought a 1977 450sl manual tranny only to find out it's really a euro 350sl with a 450 emblem on the trunk lid! At first I was angry but now I am finding that it is quite rare and that is how/why I found this forum. I am trying to find out more about the engine (116 984 10000376) Does anyone know how these numbers break down? I know 116 is basically the block but what is 984? The first "10" following that indicates gasoline and manual shift and the rest is serial number... but what is 984?

984 stands for K-jetronic (CIS mechanical injection) and high compression motor.

[willy77]

Originally Posted by dpatterson

Allenj,

The 900 series number refers to which particular spec your engine is - euro, US etc. Regretably my MB manuals are packed away at present and I cant check them but someone else here will be able to quote chapter and verse. From memory the differences are in compression. Do a search on MB numbering systems both here and on the web in general. There are several sites devoted to decoding all the various MB numbers on chassis, datacard, engine etc. If not I'm sure one of the regulars here will pony up with a detailed description.

Welcome to the small fraternity of manual V8 350SL owners. In four years I've only ever seen two others here in Australia and heard of a manual 350SLC. You really do have a rare car, although no one has ever pinned down the precise numbers built as apparently MBs summary records do not segregate autos from manuals (which is weird given its all made explicit in the chassis number) but the guestimate I've seen before is probably circa 1000 - 2000 manual 350SLs built between 1971 and 1980 with no idea on the split between left hand or right hand drive. So you have actually stumbled onto a winner.

Great fun to drive I'm sure you agree (I enjoy driving my auto 350SL as well but the manual beats it pants down) and enough performance to keep up with pretty much most things on the road to day. Damn shame about not having a 5th gear though - as all other manual owners have already stated on this post. Would make it a fantastic highway machine with another cog to choose from.

The downside is when you go to do a clutch replacement. MB parts managers will just look at you funny - as if you had asked for something off a Honda. But with some further enquiring you can convince them there once was a manual version and there are one or two clutch kits in stock (ex Germany) with a mind blowing price tag. I had to remachine the hydraulics, the pressure plate and the friction plate with a clutch remanufacturer to get mine back on the road. MB didnt even have a listing for the slave cylinder, the clutch kit was circa $2000 and 6+ weeks delivery and they couldnt confirm it was the correct one until it landed. This from a dealer who normally gives me brilliant service, despite the age of the vehicles. Vastly cheaper going down the remanufacturer path but still more costly than your average clutch job.

All part of the fun.

Regretably however my fully restored manual is about to go up for sale as the house extensions are sucking all available cash up at an alarming rate. It will be interesting to see if there is any appreciation in the Australian market for the rarity of this car.

Give this website a crack. http://www.sls-hh-catalogue.de
It has replacement parts and panels for 107's even clutches I would have never have found this site my self except my wife is german.

[willy77]

Hello,

I am lucky enough to have a 1980 350SLC 4 speed manual number 19 of the last 20 ever made in total, so hopefully its the last manual slc ever made. Really fun car to drive, currently overhauling top end of engine due to noisy rockers.

[cth350]

To answer the questions floating about in this thread...

1. Benz made their own transmissions by the 70s rather than outsourcing them. The v8 4-speeds are beefier than the straight-6 counterpart. Also, the bellhousing size is quite different.

2. To convert a car, you need, the transmission, flywheel, clutch assembly, pedal assembly, shifter, drive shaft, transmission support plate and the rear end.

3. Buying the car in TX is a cost effective way to get such a kit. A visit to the vintage forum for the MBCA site will reveal a running, drivable 350slc in an adorable green somewhere a bit north of TX. I forget the exact local (and the URL, sorry).

4. I can't respond to the survey as written, since I have three (yes, 3) of the transmissions that are no longer wrapped in cars. I can provide a complete conversion kit for somebody, if they want it for 1,200$+shipping.

5. John Olsen of the SL Market letter (as close to an authority on price as you can come), puts a 10% differential on the price of a 107 car if it has a manual transmission installed. This is of course an averaged target. So you might get lucky and get 15% more than an equivalent automatic (though don't bet on it).

6. It is possible to convert the light alloy cars to manual, but not with factory parts. An adapter plate for a tremec bellhousing and an adapter for a clutch are required. Franz down in australia makes them. They are not cheap.

-CTH

[vwnate1]

THANX for that great post ! .

I sorted all the tuning issues out of my stick shift 107 and it's a wonderfull car , the gearing is great for Ameican roads as it'll easily loaf along in nasty traffic or whistle along @ 115 MPH (or faster , I get askeert) all day and night too .

Sadly , these cars have extremely low resale value ~ I've now bumped into quite a few of them here in the Los Angeles area , most have significant rust issues as none were sold in North America so they were brough home by Servicemen or as older used grey market cars in most cases .

I'm ready to move on from mine cheaply if anyone is interested , it's a fine runner but needs floor seam rust repairs , it is my daily driver right now , nice
part is : everything but the AC works ! .

[Bondavi]

Anyone have info on 107 500SL manual cars? I heard some conversions were done....

[smallblock450sl]

Originally Posted by jfsehl

Here is info regarding the specific 4-speed manual shift transmission which came with my 1980 350SL. First, my Euro 350SL is a 107.043, whereas all of the 107s for the US market are 107.044s. My engine is a 116.984, and my manual tranny is a 716.100 (G 76/27 A). The factory differential for my car is a very high 3.46 to 1 (whereas the US 450SLs are 3.06 to 1). Hope this may benefit those who wish to know.

Does anyone know if the rear differentials form a 80's 4 speed manual tranny 350sl's and a 1978 450sl are interchangable ? My auto gears are (I beleive 3.07) and because a transplanted 700r 4 speed tranny I want "taller gears". Thanks for any input.

[cth350]

that rear change would be a bolt in replacement. -CTH

[deanyel]

Here's a rare one, and a cheap one.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/259954063.html

[jas2wa]

This is a long-running thread, for sure! Anyhow, as the V8 and manual transmission combo is so rare, and since I recently acquired one, I thought I'd add to the thread. I am probably looking at doing the clutch sooner rather than later on my 71 350SL so the info here is very welcome. Cheers, Justin