Timing chain question
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 45
RE: Timing chain question
The only way to tell if the single chain has been replaced with the double is to pull a valve cover and look at them. If you see two sprocket wheels on the end of the cam and the chain is twice as wide as a single chain then the conversion has been done.
The early cars (1980 in Euro, 1981 in the US) had the single chain. I do not know when Mercedes went back to the double chain they has used in the past but they did as the warrenty cost was eating them up. They would not retrofit your car for free (it cost about $2200 at the dealer) but they would replace your engine if it snapped during the warrenty period.
Most of the 3.8 engines have been converted by now or they would not have lasted; something to do with US driving habits as I understand. Still, checking is as easy as pulling a valve cover and looking.
This is not a conversion for the beginner. You might check with some independent shops that have been around for a few years and see what they would charge. Parts for this are easy to get and they will know where to get them.
Another option (if you find yours is a single chain) is to shop around until you find one that has been converted and then sell the engine you have. They should not be hard to find if you just check with a few wrecking yards.
Sam
The early cars (1980 in Euro, 1981 in the US) had the single chain. I do not know when Mercedes went back to the double chain they has used in the past but they did as the warrenty cost was eating them up. They would not retrofit your car for free (it cost about $2200 at the dealer) but they would replace your engine if it snapped during the warrenty period.
Most of the 3.8 engines have been converted by now or they would not have lasted; something to do with US driving habits as I understand. Still, checking is as easy as pulling a valve cover and looking.
This is not a conversion for the beginner. You might check with some independent shops that have been around for a few years and see what they would charge. Parts for this are easy to get and they will know where to get them.
Another option (if you find yours is a single chain) is to shop around until you find one that has been converted and then sell the engine you have. They should not be hard to find if you just check with a few wrecking yards.
Sam
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1
From: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
380SL timing chain thoughts
I still have the single chain on my '81 380. My mechanic in Edmonton, Canada charges me $300.00 to replace the chain and the tensioner. It seems that if the tensioner wears out it allows the chain to wobble and eventually fail. If you keep up with maintenance there will never be a problem. To be safe I just replace them every once in a while. A dual retrofit is $3,000.00 installed. At that rate I can replace my chain and tensioner every 2 years for a long time and still come out ahead. Just offering another opinion on a hotly contested topic!
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