QuestionI read your excellent response on the 380SL timing chain issue. I just purchased an '83 and was told that the chain had been replaced. I used your mirror and flashlight method and see its a single row chain. Car has 66,000 miles on it. Am I fairly safe with the replacement single row chain? Are they better quality?. or is double-row mandatory? This is a show quality car, always garaged, never "horsed" with, and I will be babying the car also.
Cruise control has a pulsation it it when engaged, is this the actuator?? Thanks so much. Steve
AnswerSteve,
Double row is not manditory
if the car has been cared for you have little to fear, the single row chain was not as durable . Mix this with poor maintenance and failures were common. Sounds like yours has had the care it needed. You can avoid catastrophe if at every valve lash adjustment ( about 20-25 thousand) you also check chain stretch. Also the chain will give you a warning, typically if it is going south you will hear a slapping metal noise (pronounced at start up ) . You may even be able to feel it under the valve cover
Of course the usual disclaimer.... anything at anytime can happen to these cars.
I have a 72 with 172K and an 84 with 200K and both have original chains, in fact the one with 200K has never been adjusted, so If yours has been replaced I would find it very unusual that you would have anything to worry about
One thing you might do is add some Lucas oil treatment, this makes the oil a bit more "clingy" and avoids dry starts which is tough on the chain. Especially if you will be a long time between start ups.
Cruise control issue can be for several reasons, a small vacuum leak to an amplifier. Remember that Mercedes designed the CC to stay within a very minute variation from where it is set, so it actually adjusts very frequently and can mimic a pulse..
Sounds like you have a gem, good luck. I have an 82 parts car if you need anything
Happy Motoring
Ron
