Author Topic: Which oil fill cap is correct for a '70 280 SL? (Read 9543 times)

Iconic · « **on:** June 10, 2016, 19:15:57 »

Hi !
Please help on this if you can.
Which oil fill cap is correct for a '70 280 SL.
The first one pictured is a screw on heavy cast part.
The second one pictured is a "bayonet" mount type and is made of formed sheet steel.
Both cars pictured were produced in August of 1969 and are 1970 models.
They are only 127 VIN numbers apart.
If I were to guess, I would say the heavy cast screw on oil fill cap is correct ....

?

Jonny B · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2016, 19:50:08 »

I took a look at the M130 engine book. The footnote for the valve cover indicates the change was made after engine number 3498. Will need corroboration on that to be sure I am looking at the right spot on the parts manual.

FYI, my 280 SL, chassis 12730 has the bayonet style (Sept 1969 build)

Iconic · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2016, 20:49:01 »

Thanks Jonny, the information you are giving tells me my earlier car has the wrong oil fill cap.

That makes me sad cause I like the screw on better, so if one was wrong, I wanted the bayonet style to be wrong.

My chassis' are 12160 (with engine 7721) and 12287 (with engine 7748). Both build in August of '69.
The engine numbers are correct per data card and verified with the numbers on the blocks too.

Can anyone else confirm that after engine number 003498 for M130 (280 SL) the cap went to bayonet?

Tyler S · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2016, 21:09:16 »

What valve cover each engine has on it determines which cap. They are not interchangable. Make sure you have the correct valve cover. It will dictate the correct corresponding cap. The earlier valve cover has a threaded opening. Later ones have a notched flange. see pics below from Vintageeuroparts ebay listings

Iconic · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2016, 21:39:28 »

Thanks for your reply Tyler.
Yes, I understand what you are saying. I guess I should have mentioned that.
What I am trying to figure out is if the oil caps (and valve covers) are correct for the two '70s I have.
One has the screw type with corresponding valve cover and the other car has the bayonet type with the corresponding valve cover.
Before I got my second Pagoda, I never gave it a second thought, but since they are different and both cars built in the same month, I figured one of them is wrong (cap and valve cover) and one is correct.
Thanks,
Mark

stickandrudderman · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2016, 11:31:31 »

They should both be bayonet cap.

neelyrc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2016, 16:23:03 »

I can confirm that my car has the screwed cap. Engine 2901, chassis 7749.

Iconic · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2016, 19:10:11 »

Thanks Stick and Ralph,
All information that all have given so far is consistent.
Thanks to all. My Anthracite car is wrong and the Grey-Blue car is correct.

ctaylor738 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2016, 23:51:16 »

In a concours only Jon the Merciless would fault your car for having the wrong cover. Most judges would not know the difference. If you like the screw-in type, I have one that you can have for shipping cost. PM or email me if interested

One thing to consider. The newer caps are NLA even from the Classic Center and it is very hard to find a used cap in excellent condition. Beware, there are a lot of newer style caps that came off diesels that are not correct. And if you do find one, it needs to be cad-plated - the older style are correct in their original aluminum.

Shvegel · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2016, 01:17:15 »

My car is a May 1970 build and the engine in my car is 10550 and has the bayonet style cap.

Iconic · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2016, 02:28:33 »

Thanks Shvegel, that is one more confirmation.

Chuck, Of course I would need the matching valve cover if I took your oil cap.
But, no thanks, I won't be changing from what I've got.
Thanks anyway !!

Pinder · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2016, 12:49:39 »

the 1969 I have has a screw on cap.
the 1970 I have has a bayonet cap.

One thing Ive noticed is the bayonet cap is the same on some BMWs. I found one in the car that also fits both the gas tank and the valve cover. It has a BMW logo on it but looks the same as the cap for the valve cover.

I like the 1969 valve cover and cap; seems more solid. Overall I like the 69 car in general.

Iconic · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2016, 14:00:36 »

Pinder,
I also like the solid feel of that cast screw on cap, but I like "original" or "correct" better !!

So, my blue car will stay bayonet.
And, it appears, my Anthracite car is WRONG.

I can't imagine what would have occurred (switched valve cover and oil fill cap) to make that happen since I bought the car from the original owner with 78k miles on it. The car had not been "messed" with, it just needed lots of deferred maintenance. I guess just about anything can happen in 46 years.
Can you tell me the VIN of your '70 car? Or at least the month/year of manufacture?
It sounds like both of yours have "correct" oil fill caps.
Thanks,
Mark

Pinder · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2016, 17:08:00 »

here are the vin numbers.

1970 VIN 113044 10 018442
1969 VIN 113044 10 010573

Iconic · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2016, 12:59:59 »

Thanks Pinder !!

RobSirg · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2016, 12:13:55 »

Can someone please confirm if the bayonet style oil cap should be yellow cad plated or silver?

Both my 280SL's correctly have the bayonet style but appear to be silver (perhaps the yellow/gold wore off?). I've seen some people get them yellow cad plated but I don't know if that is original or pimped up?

Thanks

Rob

ja17 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2016, 13:50:02 »

I thought them to be silver color plated.

Jonny B · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2016, 16:08:27 »

Will concur with Joe, silver not yellow cad.

Iconic · « **Reply #18 on:** August 29, 2016, 15:51:31 »

Quote from: ctaylor738 on June 11, 2016, 23:51:16

One thing to consider. The newer caps are NLA even from the Classic Center and it is very hard to find a used cap in excellent condition. Beware, there are a lot of newer style caps that came off diesels that are not correct. And if you do find one, it needs to be cad-plated - the older style are correct in their original aluminum.

Chuck seems to be pretty definite that the bayonet caps are cad-plated. I assume he is referring to yellow cad plating, but I could be wrong.
Mine, on my "new" car is yellow cad plated, but I cannot really state it is original and if it was I assume the yellow would be gone by now as is true with much of the yellow cad under my hood.
So, Jonny B and Joe (ja17) state silver plated.
Chuck, did you mean yellow cad plated or silver cad plated?

hauser · « **Reply #19 on:** August 29, 2016, 19:26:39 »

I just looked at a picture of my fresh Metric install by Gernold with cad plated bayonet style cap.

ja17 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 30, 2016, 15:15:22 »

Not sure if the plating was cadmium, clear cadmium, zinc or whatever, but the color on the original factory engines was silver.

Iconic · « **Reply #21 on:** August 30, 2016, 17:24:10 »

Thanks Joe !

RobSirg · « **Reply #22 on:** September 03, 2016, 07:08:20 »

Thanks Joe and Johnny,

I'm glad to hear that. Yellow always looked too bling for me.

Rob

Shvegel · « **Reply #23 on:** September 04, 2016, 10:29:32 »

Just bought an NOS steel oil cap with the correct Type 1 (Silver) cad plating and raised star logo on ebay. Only $125! Sheesh.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222228566461

ja17 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 15, 2016, 05:46:47 »

Someone once asked what the "730" on the outside of the cap stood for

Answere: They were reading the "OEL" upside down!

News:

Author Topic: Which oil fill cap is correct for a '70 280 SL? (Read 9543 times)

hauser