SL/R107: 1979 450 SL Questions
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Newbie
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3
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Ford Escape
1979 450 SL Questions
I hope we can help. My wife is considering a 1979 450 SL as a driving collector car. What are the issues, if any, that we should be concerned about with a 1979 450 SL? Mileage is 143,000 miles, and the fuel system has been renewed from the fuel tank all the way to the last injector, according to the seller. The exhaust system is apparently new, as well. The car has a hardtop. What are the questions that we should be asking?
I seem to recall that some of the V-8s had a single row timing chain and some of the V-8s had a double row timing chain. If memory serves, the engines with single row timing chains were prone to break those chains and cause catastrophic engine damage. Can anyone speak to this issue? Were both kinds of timing chains present in the 450 V8? Can anyone speak to this issue?
What other questions should I be asking? Where on the car would I be looking?
Thanks in advance for answering newbie questions
Roger
I seem to recall that some of the V-8s had a single row timing chain and some of the V-8s had a double row timing chain. If memory serves, the engines with single row timing chains were prone to break those chains and cause catastrophic engine damage. Can anyone speak to this issue? Were both kinds of timing chains present in the 450 V8? Can anyone speak to this issue?
What other questions should I be asking? Where on the car would I be looking?
Thanks in advance for answering newbie questions
Roger
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 330
Likes: 26
From: Middle of Nowhere, USA
450SL
Only the 1981-83 US model 380s had the single row chain. All '74-'89 V/8s are subject to the system failure. This is because the Guide rails become brittle with age and heat cycles. They break and cause catastrophic failure. The tensioner can also get weak and fail. If the '79 is a US model it has the bound to fail Chrysler designed climate control system.
All came with hardtops. Ask if the timing chain systems has been serviced and at what mileage and year. Check the climate control system. Check the soft top.
Consider posting your question here: https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/ A more active forum.
All came with hardtops. Ask if the timing chain systems has been serviced and at what mileage and year. Check the climate control system. Check the soft top.
Consider posting your question here: https://www.benzworld.org/forums/r-c107-sl-slc-class/ A more active forum.
Last edited by myway; May 7, 2019 at 03:29 PM.
