Will the 350 auto swap to a 450

[john skene]

Hi guys, is the 116 series 350 automatic interchangeable with the 450 gearbox? I have been told that they will not fit, which surpried me. Also will the earlier model 280SE 3.5 gearbox fit the 450? Being a 4 speed instead of a 3 speed. it sounds an interesting swap if it would take the torque.

[john skene]

Styra, when our club had a technical evening at Silver Star Spares a couple of years ago, I thought that they said the car also had a 450 engine installed? I would not be surprised that the bell housings have the same matching bolting patern for the gearboxe / engine combination, but Mercedes could easily have changed it for the extra torque of the 450 engine when they developed the 116 series (72-80) after the initial fitting of the 350 and the 450 engine in the final production of the US 280SE/SEL series that went from 1965 to 1972.

[john skene]

Styria, can I take this to mean that both the 3 speed automatic transmission from a 116 series 350 and the 280SE3.5 are a simple swap onto a 116 450 engine?

[john skene]

Hi all, Harry Gorrie at St Marys has checked with his mechanic who advised me via email that the 350/450 116 auto transmissions are a straight swap.  Interesting to know.