SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: amok55amg build thread
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
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From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
yes I do believe you guys …. I see on the side of the pistons an area that’s appear smoother …. pointed that out to all the companies I talked to ….. guess it shows the real value of this forum – thanks a lot 
thou ….. the side of the pistons where the rings are placed doesn’t touch the cylinder wall …… only the rings touches ….. (also MB doesn’t renovate engines themselves ……. they sell them ….. ha ha ha )
What will you say for this cleaning procedure? Step one and two only …… http://www.ehow.com/how_8516657_clea...m-pistons.html
thou ….. the side of the pistons where the rings are placed doesn’t touch the cylinder wall …… only the rings touches ….. (also MB doesn’t renovate engines themselves ……. they sell them ….. ha ha ha )
What will you say for this cleaning procedure? Step one and two only …… http://www.ehow.com/how_8516657_clea...m-pistons.html
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From: Orlando
1967 Pro Touring turbo LSX Camaro
It's not just the skirt , the whole piston is coated. And you're right, the ringland areas don't touch the bore( unless you run the mixture really lean and swell the piston material) if they do, you've got bigger problems 
I like the carb cleaner solution. Ive used lacquer thinner and mineral spirits with great success also, but carb cleaner will be more aggressive I think. Take a paint brush and cut the length of the bristles in half. This will make them stiffer and more suited to brush away carbon. It won't take much after soaking in carb cleaner!
Good luck with it! I've got extra stock pistons you can have in case you messed some up.
I like the carb cleaner solution. Ive used lacquer thinner and mineral spirits with great success also, but carb cleaner will be more aggressive I think. Take a paint brush and cut the length of the bristles in half. This will make them stiffer and more suited to brush away carbon. It won't take much after soaking in carb cleaner!
Good luck with it! I've got extra stock pistons you can have in case you messed some up.
yes I do believe you guys …. I see on the side of the pistons an area that’s appear smoother …. pointed that out to all the companies I talked to ….. guess it shows the real value of this forum – thanks a lot
thou ….. the side of the pistons where the rings are placed doesn’t touch the cylinder wall …… only the rings touches ….. (also MB doesn’t renovate engines themselves ……. they sell them ….. ha ha ha )
What will you say for this cleaning procedure? Step one and two only …… http://www.ehow.com/how_8516657_clea...m-pistons.html
thou ….. the side of the pistons where the rings are placed doesn’t touch the cylinder wall …… only the rings touches ….. (also MB doesn’t renovate engines themselves ……. they sell them ….. ha ha ha )
What will you say for this cleaning procedure? Step one and two only …… http://www.ehow.com/how_8516657_clea...m-pistons.html
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
I like the carb cleaner solution. Ive used lacquer thinner and mineral spirits with great success also, but carb cleaner will be more aggressive I think. Take a paint brush and cut the length of the bristles in half. This will make them stiffer and more suited to brush away carbon. It won't take much after soaking in carb cleaner!
Good luck with it! I've got extra stock pistons you can have in case you messed some up.
I will start cleaning the pistons next week with the technique you suggest
………. was also thinking of ultrasonic cleaning ….. it can be done …… you can see the picture of aluminum pistons ……..
Thanks for the offer - I could be interested in you pistons … PM ?
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
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From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
Sir-boost-a-Lot ....
I will start cleaning the pistons next week with the technique you suggest
………. was also thinking of ultrasonic cleaning ….. it can be done …… you can see the picture of aluminum pistons ……..
Thanks for the offer - I could be interested in you pistons … PM ?
I will start cleaning the pistons next week with the technique you suggest
………. was also thinking of ultrasonic cleaning ….. it can be done …… you can see the picture of aluminum pistons ……..
Thanks for the offer - I could be interested in you pistons … PM ?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
... but it certainly interesting ..... you can get them in every size and prices are reasonable
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Over the top …..
Had now finally cleaned all pistons - cleaned them the hard way – never would have imagined it could be so difficult. Pistons are very delicate and even so you have to take this carbon deposit off them.
Got my heads and valves back from the machine shop – nice job - Having all parts painted – valve covers and other smaller parts I had to repaint - from my first experience with Super Thermo Dupli Color I used clear coat. That didn’t turn out right – it never dried up … also I didn’t like the look so had to blast all items again 
….. puhhhh
Got my heads and valves back from the machine shop – nice job
- Having all parts painted – valve covers and other smaller parts I had to repaint - from my first experience with Super Thermo Dupli Color I used clear coat. That didn’t turn out right – it never dried up … also I didn’t like the look so had to blast all items again ….. puhhhh
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Finland
SL600 / SL450 (107) / E350 / BMW M5 E60 / BMW 745i (E23) / BMW X6M / Toyota Hilux 4 WD/ Honda CBX 10
Had now finally cleaned all pistons - cleaned them the hard way – never would have imagined it could be so difficult. Pistons are very delicate and even so you have to take this carbon deposit off them.
Got my heads and valves back from the machine shop – nice job - Having all parts painted – valve covers and other smaller parts I had to repaint - from my first experience with Super Thermo Dupli Color I used clear coat. That didn’t turn out right – it never dried up … also I didn’t like the look so had to blast all items again ….. puhhhh
Got my heads and valves back from the machine shop – nice job
- Having all parts painted – valve covers and other smaller parts I had to repaint - from my first experience with Super Thermo Dupli Color I used clear coat. That didn’t turn out right – it never dried up … also I didn’t like the look so had to blast all items again ….. puhhhhGood luck
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Vulture
Yes the funny parts starts now.
Always looking for stuff on eBay and an engine came up – pulled from a car wreck – lots of good parts on it but have mixed feelings about this since I don’t know what happened to the person driving it … felt like a vulture …… The engine block itself is in good shape – better than my own – it has now been tucked away for another build in the future.
Sir-Boost-a-Lot – am very impressed with your build – especially now where you have gone from alusil to iron sleeves – will that mean you can “save” an engine which alusil bores have been striped with this method? Does it make sense moneywise?
Always looking for stuff on eBay and an engine came up – pulled from a car wreck – lots of good parts on it but have mixed feelings about this since I don’t know what happened to the person driving it … felt like a vulture …… The engine block itself is in good shape – better than my own – it has now been tucked away for another build in the future.
Sir-Boost-a-Lot – am very impressed with your build – especially now where you have gone from alusil to iron sleeves – will that mean you can “save” an engine which alusil bores have been striped with this method? Does it make sense moneywise?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Pistons
New parts for the pistons; rings and bearings ….. ………. as said before this cleaning of the pistons had until now been the most time consuming and difficult to figure out. Internet and fellow members help have helped me a long way and finally I got feedback from Mahler …….. but even so I’m not 100% satisfied and have to live with this state. An experience richer.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Chain cover chewing – part 1
My chain cover also have this stupid chewing of the cover from the chain that drives the oil pump. No doubt it’s a design flaw – the tolerance are simply to narrow ……. https://mbworld.org/forums/5750426-post44.html)
I bought a new spring and it’s as strong as the one I took out …. I grinded half of the aluminum tap off to give the chain more room. This aluminum taps purpose is to keep the timing chain in place on the crankshaft gear when you’re working on the timing. I tested it to see if it made any different and all looks good. The timing chain will not lose the grip on the gear.
It will also be possible to have a much stronger spring or another solution will be to enhance the diameter of the gear on the crankshaft and the oil pump …. but both solutions is too complicated and is not worth the effort.
I bought a new spring and it’s as strong as the one I took out …. I grinded half of the aluminum tap off to give the chain more room. This aluminum taps purpose is to keep the timing chain in place on the crankshaft gear when you’re working on the timing. I tested it to see if it made any different and all looks good. The timing chain will not lose the grip on the gear.
It will also be possible to have a much stronger spring or another solution will be to enhance the diameter of the gear on the crankshaft and the oil pump …. but both solutions is too complicated and is not worth the effort.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
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From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
A winter pick from southeastern Wisconsin. The SL hasn't left the garage since before Thanksgiving. Of course it has been even longer for your R230
Last edited by cal1; Jan 26, 2014 at 07:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Chain cover chewing
Hi ha Curt 
….......
you should put a big star on your snow blower))) ha ha ha … but you don’t have any probs. getting from A to B with that nice ML …….
Now it’s time for the timing chain + cover etc.
Important to be well prepared since this Loctite 5970 only gives you 10 min. working time. Great stuff but very very important that every part is cleaned and free from oil ……… notice the huge numbers of different length on the bolts …. also a few specific bolts need Loctite as well. I have marked the bolt holes with different colors and ditto the bolts – then it’s easy for fast picking the right one.
….......you should put a big star on your snow blower
))) ha ha ha … but you don’t have any probs. getting from A to B with that nice ML …….Now it’s time for the timing chain + cover etc.
Important to be well prepared since this Loctite 5970 only gives you 10 min. working time. Great stuff but very very important that every part is cleaned and free from oil ……… notice the huge numbers of different length on the bolts …. also a few specific bolts need Loctite as well. I have marked the bolt holes with different colors and ditto the bolts – then it’s easy for fast picking the right one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 85
From: Central WI (BFE)
SL55, ML500 & Acura TL
Your making some nice progress.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
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From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
Sealant on the heads
Yes my friend – patience is the key word here ……
When assembling this engine at the MB factory the whole gasket gets a thin layer of Loctite 5970 but it is not recommended later when doing repairs except if damage of pigging etc. is present – they do however want sealant on the left head in the area of the chaincover as shown ….. even I had my heads machined I did give it sealant …..
When assembling this engine at the MB factory the whole gasket gets a thin layer of Loctite 5970 but it is not recommended later when doing repairs except if damage of pigging etc. is present – they do however want sealant on the left head in the area of the chaincover as shown ….. even I had my heads machined I did give it sealant …..
