Vehicle: '87 560SEC, '85 500SEC; '85 500SEL parts car, '84 300SD parts car, Euro '85 500SEC parts car
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 29
W108 Rear End Gears Swap
A good friend of mine has a 1971 280SE (W108) and he wants to swap-in a 3.27 gear set from a W109 280SE 4.5. To that end, he's purchased a complete parts car.
Does anyone know what's involved in this conversion? Will the complete differential bolt into the W108 chassis? Will he need the W109 axles? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Firstly, the 280SE 4.5 is a W108. A W109 would be a 300SEL with air suspension. The short answer is yes, swap the rear axles. The long answer is that the 280SE's current rear end is perfectly matched to the engine. Sure the revs are high, but the car has a 6 cyl. The 4.5 has more torque and can handle the lower numerical ratio.
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Near Manassas Va. '89 300SE, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, 89 420SEL
Had '65 220SE, 67 230S, 72 280SE 4.5 Dad had '65 300SE LWB, '65 220SE
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." C.S. Lewis
Hello to everyone in here, I have been wondering what would be a good replacement for 280sl 4speed manual 1969 rear axle differential.
the intention is, since the ZF 5gear tranny is impossible to get, what if I lower the ratio a bit?
any suggestions, as of what ratio should I try getting? and second, what whould be a matchin one out of? a w114,5 or the pagoda is rather a w108 in the rear?
have a good day
angelo
Hello to everyone in here, I have been wondering what would be a good replacement for 280sl 4speed manual 1969 rear axle differential.
the intention is, since the ZF 5gear tranny is impossible to get, what if I lower the ratio a bit?
any suggestions, as of what ratio should I try getting? and second, what whould be a matchin one out of? a w114,5 or the pagoda is rather a w108 in the rear?
have a good day
angelo
I am running the 280 se 4.5 differential in 67 250 sl auto. (3.27). I like it for my driving which is daily and mosly above 50 mph 80k. If I was driving twisty mountain roads a lot it would remain stock. Some of the 108 3.5L came with 3.56 gears and are a good compromise. Since the 4.5 was us only look for a 3.5 rear end. If you purchase one get everything, disc to disc.
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