My first real problem with SL - Manifold

[Mercedes cozy]

How about getting one made. These manifolds are only made out cast iron and get someone to make a diecast.

I think that will be a cheaper option and quick.

 

[grober]

Welding stitching cast iron is not impossible with the right equipment materials and experience. The problem is getting the right specialist. They will soon tell you if its possible/give you a quote if you send them a photo as you posted on here.
e.g. http://www.castironweldingrepairs.co.uk/

 

[Druk]

Tried Julian Larkin?

http://www.mercedesparts.plus.com/mercedesparts.co.html

 

[SilverSaloon]

spoke to alf who put me onto "smithy" who is the other ebay link mentioned above.. no one has one!

The issue is the manifold is specific to the UK 500SL, parts are slim... I have lots of W126sitting here, but they are all different..

Spoke to Mark Cosovich (W123 guru) as he used to keep R107 parts.. He said he had one but last year he had a clear out and got rid of all his R107 parts as no one wanted them!

Martyn Marroco(?) on the official club has a V8 SLC he is breaking - no idea if it has the same engine but he also has quite a few spares afaik... may be worth a PM

 

[jaymanek]

Welding stitching cast iron is not impossible with the right equipment materials and experience. The problem is getting the right specialist. They will soon tell you if its possible/give you a quote if you send them a photo as you posted on here.
e.g. http://www.castironweldingrepairs.co.uk/

You may have just sorted me out!

They are at measham auctions and guess where i spend half of my life!

Speaking to the chap, he thinks he can do it for £200 and guarantee it for 12 months... It will take a week though..

So is it worth spending double to get a brand new that should last another 20 years or get it repaired... hmmm

 

[grober]

You may have just sorted me out!

They are at measham auctions and guess where i spend half of my life!

Speaking to the chap, he thinks he can do it for £200 and guarantee it for 12 months... It will take a week though..

So is it worth spending double to get a brand new that should last another 20 years or get it repaired... hmmm

Did you notice that according to their website they have changed address to

Slinden Services Ltd
L3 Olympic House
Westminster Industrial Estate

I don't know the area so that could be next door or miles away but I expect you will know. If the section to be welded was say the manifold to head flange I might hesitate but since its the port for the EGR I would probably take the chance. If it doesn't fail in 12 months its going to last years. It might also be a good "trial run" for future repairs??

 

[jaymanek]

yep im going to give it a go... i hope it does last as taking the manifold off is very fiddly with all the old rusted bolts....

 

[Vlad]

How much would it cost to have a stainless manifold made up and as an upside would it not allow the engine to exhaust its gases more efficiently?

 

[jaymanek]

I may try and find that out tomorrow... I would then have to do both sides.. simply for aesthetics..

 

[Adam230K]

I tried getting one made up for my 230K, cheapest i could find was £800 in england and £300 in america (which by the time it gets here, comes close to 500).

I'd try and ask the welder dude nicely to do it for 150 and go with that

 

[nicko]

hi mate, sorry to hear about the crack in the manifold.

I think welding will not do the trick as I believe the material is cast iron.

£500 is too expensive for a new one.

Best bet is to get a second hand one.

There is one guy on ebay who is breaking lots of SL 107 and I heard he is good with prices.

I have had some success welding cast iron,using stainless steel rods or dissimilar ones.What makes you think it is cast iron.

 

[Mercedes cozy]

I have had some success welding cast iron,using stainless steel rods or dissimilar ones.What makes you think it is cast iron.

In my experience yes you can weld, But I have found the weld not to be a strong in the long run.

The material is definately cast iron.

 

[nicko]

I have welded quite a few back boilers/fire hearths etc.I'm not saying that its the same as a manifold but they take alot more heat and they seem to last

 

[nick mercedes]

-Get second hand but everywhere i have rang doesnt have one as its a very common issue
- Get new - £500 plus vat
- Weld closed the inside of the manifold as EGR is a waste of time anyway?

What do people think?

What are the chances of a 380SLC having the same manifold?

I don't know if the car below is still there, but it might be worth giving him a call...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=65441

 

[Druk]

One has to ask what caused it to crack in the first place and would welding withstand similar stresses medium to long term. £200 is a lot of money for a small weld and may be good money after bad.

 

[SilverSaloon]

What are the chances of a 380SLC having the same manifold?

I don't know if the car below is still there, but it might be worth giving him a call...

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=65441

that sold on ebay a few weeks ago

 

[jaymanek]

Well speaking to my technicians here they say:

- Removing the EGR valve will cause smoking on occasion...
- Welding at a tension point (no matter how good the welding is) means im asking for trouble in the future.

But on the flip side, the company mentioned by Grober are extrememly confident.. Im waiting for a call back from them to re confim this.

If they are any less than 100% confident that the repair will last then im going to order a new one as I dont have time to keep doing the job..

Like has been said £200 is not worth it if i have to do it again in a couple of years. I dont ever plan to sell this car so its all about longevity.

 

[jaymanek]

Well the guy at slinden couldnt have tried harder to convince me that the repair will be perfect and will last longer than even a new manifold!

He says its all down to the method in which its welded and apparently his is the best.

Upon seeing my picture he said that many rolls royce manifolds have a similar setup and break in the same place.. he does lots of these.

So it will be dropped off in the AM with him.. ill report back when im a couple of hundred £ lighter.

Cheers again Grober..

 

[grober]

Will be interested to see how things go, but I am confident the repair will be a good un.

 

[Will]

that sold on ebay a few weeks ago

I'm not sure it is sold, it was still sitting outside there a couple of weeks ago AFAIK.

Will