impressing view

[SEB]

A view, that impressed me deeply and it is not the speed on our German Autobahn ( in fact is a normal combat sped for a Mercedes), but the tachometer. A friend of mine, who has this 280 SL Pagoda convinced me by this photo to change also to GETRAG 265

[Peter h]

I know this pagoda to. 
Fantastic car and owner.
Peter

[Cees Klumper]

Nice to see it pushing 200, also. About as high as I've taken mine, still solid at that speed (about 124 MPH).

[waltklatt]

Yes, most impressive.
Car feels so smooth at that speed.
Took mine up to 110mph from DC to Baltimore with a friend and blew the head gasket.
That was back in 1989.
Oh, wow, it was a smooth ride with the top down.

Would love to do that again, but too many people and cops around.

Walter

[teahead]

Ya, sux the gearing in these cars are so low.

4k rpm, I'm only doing maybe 75mph.

[SEB]

I have to add, that this picture is also a testimony of the owner's competence. BTW- He is a fantastic Pagoda expert and aficionado, who support me with a lot of knowlegde durring the restoration process of my Pagoda.

[Peter h]

3.46 and getrag 5 gear is lot far from 4.08 and 4 gears. Nearly 40%.?
Roman is a tough guy. Very helpful and good friend.
Peter

[jeffc280sl]

Wow!!  I have a stock manual tranny and 3.27 rear end.  Our tech manual says  3.92 and 3.27 rear end performance is as follows.  I like my setup just fine     


                                                  rpm                mph

Getrag 265                                 4000                 120

Std Manual with 3.27 rear            4000                 94
 
Std Manual with 3.92 rear            4000                 78  Stock as delivered from MB

[SEB]

I am in the front of this project, so I have following questions:
Where I can buy and what I have to pay for the axe ( in fact only for the ratio) 3,26 or 3,46?
As far I know the axis are from the W 108- V8 - so the market was in fact mainly the US export

[jeffc280sl]

once you find one you will need to pack and export.  as you can see from the pic below this is challenging.  big ask for a Dallas member to help with packing and shipping.  suggest you move questions to another category if focused on axle options.  suggest you read old posts on this subject.  there are some key areas to look at on the used axle to make sure you have a good transplant

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-3-27-1-Rear-End-Fits-W111-W108-W113-280SL-280SE-250SL-230SL/123953596721?hash=item1cdc35c931:g:nnUAAOSwEGVdtMpe

[SEB]

Big thanks!
BTW I also have a W111 Coupe with the M129 Engine with Automatic transmition and with the American  4,08 ratio. Does anyone have any experience in this area?  What is the lowest ratio with automatic transmition, where the engine and car works?  All European W108 with this engine and the M130  had the 3,75 ratio.
Many thanks in advance for advise!