I have a 1977 450sl that has been my fair weather daily driver for the past two years. I like the car as a small luxury convertable but I really think that it is time to unleash the beast that must be lurking inside.

Is there anyplace that sells high perf equipment for older SL's. Specifically, I am looking for:

Headers - Something that breaths! Currently she sounds like an old lady on respiration support! We need to stop choking the old girl out with that stock exaust system!

Cams? Anything out there that is more aggressive? Maybe there is a shop that regrinds them?

Tranny? My god! It feels like it was build for a limo. Soft, slow take offs. Any body know of a place that can stiffen her up a bit? I don't want close ratio gears or anything. Just a stiffer launch and more responsive shifting.

Suspension - I think I have what I need here. I have read that you guys are firm believers in the Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks and new bushings. I am down for that. Is there a need for a sway bar to control the roll in the corners. Has anyone lowered their SL an inch or so? If so, how? Clip springs?

Any other tips along these line are greatly appreciated!

Mark & Ol' Sadie

AMG had some bits back in the days but the short answer is no - there is no off-the-shelf go-faster stuff. There just isn't demand out there so no one makes it. I am sure you could probably find some small firms in Germany that has something if your German is up to speed and you have a couple of weeks to surf German MB web sites. Another reason is the cost of parts. You'd spend more on the parts than what the car itself is worth. The least expensive way to make your car go faster is to source a 560SEL with good engine/transmission and drop that in to your 450SL. Anything else and you're almost certainly looking at custom parts which would be serious $$$. That said, the first thing I would do if I was you is to make sure your car is in tune as it is. Make sure your fuel delivery system is working like it should, that you have the timing set correct and so on. That alone can make a big difference in the get-up-and-go factor.

Dan,
I dare you to show us how to build a performance 450 engine with anywhere close to the power and flexibility of a 560 for less than what you'd spend doing a swap... I see 560 SELs that would work as donors every week for $1,500 to $2,000.
If you have a source that carries high performance bits off the shelf for the 450, I'd love to know! All you mention if that the exhaust is ok unless it's a 75. Let us in on the mods to get the power!
My point was not that it's either easy or a $500 proposition to stick a 560 engine in a 450. My point was that it would be less expensive to do that then build a high-powered custom 450 engine from scratch. Sorry to hear you think that's "shit"...

Wow Dan, seems I really ticket you off somehow. I'm not sure why. But I really think you are the one who is having problems reading - all I'm saying is that - as there are no go-faster bits available from the speedshop - the expense involved building a more powerful lump out of the 450 will be significant as it's going to be 100% custom work. Ok - fine, so you don't like the idea of dropping in a different engine. Then share some of those "things you can do" if there's a better way. I don't know what that "if you're so smart" is all about - my suggestion was to check that the engine is in decent tune before embarking on the journey looking for additional power above and beyond what it's got from the factory. I am no mechanic but I do know that good tune vs. bad tune can makes a difference. You are calling my comment that it's cheaper to drop a 560 engine in the car than build a custom 4.5 liter shit, you say I can't read, you suggest I don't know that a 450SL is a different animal from a 560SL, that I'm a smartass and that I'll never know what you know. I have never insulted you. I have never called you names. Would you mind letting me know why you are being such a jerk and what the heck I've done to deserve this tirade of yours?

Dan,

I'd like to know what I can do to my 450...
NOT swapping engines!!
PM me?

Thanks,

Misha

Guys, If you want good advise just do what Dan has suggested , dont stuff around with old 450SL technology , also dont stuff around with 560 SLs , read up on the history of the 560SL engine , the US laws caused MB to put so much pollution gear on the 560 they had to raise capacity from 500 to 560 just for the US market and then it would not perform as well as a 500SL euro.

Bottom line is, if you want the absolute top performer you forget the rest and buy a 500SL euro with its 7.5 second 0 to 60 mph figures and 4 speed gear box . you need to buy one with low miles or re-do the engine brand new again.

On my 82 500SL Euro I have a new engine and I have opened the exhust system ( taken off the first muffler and enlaged the pipes to 2 and half inch all the way through )and in deed there are no polution controls as per the standard 500 engine .

This baby will beat my sons 75 vette off the mark with his new L82 engine and all the other mods he has and there are many eg special heads and manifold and big carby.

My beast growls and is a real head turner in red, and is, as Dan said the quickest of all the 107,s.

Take his advice and dump the 450,s and 560,s go to the top and buy a euro 500SL , dont stuff about with engine mods.

Good on you DAN your the man.

Den Down Under

And you feel this gives you a right to insult people who have done nothing to offend you and call them names?