An unexpected purchase - questions galore
I recently took custody of a SWB 280GE 1988 auto. I was not looking for this model, year or wheelbase... but sometimes life flips the script. It is definitely a working mini project and I have started compiling a list. It would great if anyone could offer advice or places to source parts etc.
Here is the list - it will grow I am sure:
1. The outer edges of the NS floor pans have rusted through. OS has started to. A quick inspection would suggest a couple of the chassis legs will need remedial work to. Rest of the underside looks pretty good. Any advice on this - decent sheet metal supplier? Recommended welder near Brighton.
2. Whilst rinsing the car with the hose outside, I noticed water dripping from under the dash and onto the left side of the tunnel. Maybe the cause of floor rot(?)
Where is a good place to look? Wiper spindles I remember reading somewhere. Is there a how to to rectify the leak?
3.Smoke came out the vents and the blower doesn’t work. Presumably the blower has cooked? Replacements still available? Is it a big job to replace?
4 Indicators don’t work. The dash light just stays solidly lit.
5. Engine a little lumpy at idle - starting place
6.Fuel tank strap failed - there are stainless replacements on eBay - are they better than OG?
7. I’d ideally like to have lower RPM’s on the motorway. what is the biggest tyre I can fit without rubbing to increase the final drive?
8. Another alternative would be convert auto to 5 speed - I am correct in saying that the 711.113 and 711.117 gearboxes are a direct fit and give decent performance and help mpg?
Welcome and congrats!
Here you go for starters...
1. Floor Pans are available from the factory in Austria, quite a big job and if rot is localised to the edges a local repair will be easier and cheaper, if floors are rotten I would expect sill to be also. I doubt the chassis leg will need any work except maybe the right inner near the front pipe as 280’s tend to burn the paint off here, or the upper rear shock and spring mounts. Do you mean chassis legs or other parts under the body and obviously the two are separate -
2. Could be spindles, could be screen seal or rotted lower screen frame, or rotted battery box or missing grommets in the bulkhead or leaking door seal, window scraper seals or internal door weather sheet and many other things, heater drain blocked etc
3.Blowers available, common issue, I have a new one for sale… large job as full dash out. Half a day minimum, if doing yourself a full day or possibly a weekend
4 Maybe an earth issue under the right side of dash or a faulty flasher relay in the same place… or possibly a faulty column switch. Fuse board under steering wheel area, drop that down after taking out two screws into the dash and relays are behind, flasher relay is usually see thru and blue with 21w marked on it and often Hella brand
5. Check all air idle and vacuum hoses and connections
6.Stainless on eBay fine, check if you have steel or plastic tank as they’re different – most 460’s are steel but not all
7. Bigger tyres will help, but will sap what power you have, it is a 280 and a G Wagen, economy and high speed cruising ain’t really their thing! What size wheels are you running? Steel 5.5 x 16 alloy 5.5 x 16 or alloy 7x15 are the 3 common stock sizes
8. Box swap could help with an overdrive box, need to check which side the starter is on to get a suitable box… not all 5 speed’s are overdrive. If you go this route I will have to dig which model box is the correct sode starter and OD
Shout if you need more help, PM me your reg and VIN and I can help more and send build sheet if interested
Gav
Congrats on your purchase. You have plenty of work ahead. Here is a heads up, inline:
I recently took custody of a SWB 280GE 1988 auto. I was not looking for this model, year or wheelbase... but sometimes life flips the script. It is definitely a working mini project and I have started compiling a list. It would great if anyone could offer advice or places to source parts etc.
Here is the list - it will grow I am sure:
1. The outer edges of the NS floor pans have rusted through. OS has started to. A quick inspection would suggest a couple of the chassis legs will need remedial work to. Rest of the underside looks pretty good. Any advice on this - decent sheet metal supplier? Recommended welder near Brighton.
GWOA: Chassis are normally solid, and can be fixed up. Panels (sills etc) are generally still available to be fitted.
2. Whilst rinsing the car with the hose outside, I noticed water dripping from under the dash and onto the left side of the tunnel. Maybe the cause of floor rot(?)
Where is a good place to look? Wiper spindles I remember reading somewhere. Is there a how to to rectify the leak?
GWOA: Its always the wiper spindles! Sometimes from air intake to the blower. Sometimes from under the windshield rubbers, where there is rust under.
3.Smoke came out the vents and the blower doesn’t work. Presumably the blower has cooked? Replacements still available? Is it a big job to replace?
GWOA: Smoke? Blowers always go, normally because of (2). Sometime just the 3 speed resister block that controls the 3 speeds, but normally the blower motor fails. Again a replacement is available (Mahle) but in both cases you have to take the whole dash out and be careful splitting the blower housing (warm it up with a heat gun)
4 Indicators don’t work. The dash light just stays solidly lit.
GWOA: Shorting wiring to the indicator lamps, or just fuses
5. Engine a little lumpy at idle - starting place
GWOA: Its the Jetronic system. Everything runs off having good vacuum system. Check or replace all. Tuning the fuel distributor is a bit more specialist. Warm Up Regulator is another candidate.
6.Fuel tank strap failed - there are stainless replacements on eBay - are they better than OG?
GWOA: Yes they are better, and there are several providers. Gav Helme may have some.
7. I’d ideally like to have lower RPM’s on the motorway. what is the biggest tyre I can fit without rubbing to increase the final drive?
GWOA: Others to advise.
8. Another alternative would be convert auto to 5 speed - I am correct in saying that the 711.113 and 711.117 gearboxes are a direct fit and give decent performance and help mpg?
GWOA: Search the forums here for that one.
If I remember correctly the 280GE and 300GD are right side starters and the 230GE is left side like the later OM60X engined G's are
Don't think the standard G Getrag 5 speed is OD but I need to check...
So the 722.421 280GE type and 722.422 300GD Getrag 5 speed both seem to be .81 OD 5th
Can't remember what the difference is between the two now.... sure they both fit the same.. I know the 280 uses a lot thinner flywheel than the diesels and I recall one box having a longer (forward) input shaft so maybe thats is it
I would imagine finding a used 280 5 speed Getrag will be challenging as most were either 4 speed or Auto?
The 711.113 and 117 should aslo fit from the vans as they mated to the OM61X engines which have the same bolt housing from memory
The Getrag as far as I recall has a built in bell housing whereas the old "iron" boxes have a seperate bell housing
So if you go down the 711 route you need to make sure the bell housing is for the application you need
Great thank you! 
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Welcome and congrats!
Here you go for starters...
1. Floor Pans are available from the factory in Austria, quite a big job and if rot is localised to the edges a local repair will be easier and cheaper, if floors are rotten I would expect sill to be also. I doubt the chassis leg will need any work except maybe the right inner near the front pipe as 280’s tend to burn the paint off here, or the upper rear shock and spring mounts. Do you mean chassis legs or other parts under the body and obviously the two are separate -
Floor pan work started and definitely not as bad as anticipated.
2. Could be spindles, could be screen seal or rotted lower screen frame, or rotted battery box or missing grommets in the bulkhead or leaking door seal, window scraper seals or internal door weather sheet and many other things, heater drain blocked etc
Will check
3.Blowers available, common issue, I have a new one for sale… large job as full dash out. Half a day minimum, if doing yourself a full day or possibly a weekend
How much is your blower please?
4 Maybe an earth issue under the right side of dash or a faulty flasher relay in the same place… or possibly a faulty column switch. Fuse board under steering wheel area, drop that down after taking out two screws into the dash and relays are behind, flasher relay is usually see thru and blue with 21w marked on it and often Hella brand
Will check - need to order 2 wing top indicator units. They a bit crusty. Any recommendations?
5. Check all air idle and vacuum hoses and connections
Will do
6.Stainless on eBay fine, check if you have steel or plastic tank as they’re different – most 460’s are steel but not all
Ok thanks
7. Bigger tyres will help, but will sap what power you have, it is a 280 and a G Wagen, economy and high speed cruising ain’t really their thing! What size wheels are you running? Steel 5.5 x 16 alloy 5.5 x 16 or alloy 7x15 are the 3 common stock sizes
16" alloy 205/75 from memor. What's the biggest tyre you would recommend? I will be fitting a freer flowing stainless exhaust to let the engine breath a little easier.
8. Box swap could help with an overdrive box, need to check which side the starter is on to get a suitable box… not all 5 speed’s are overdrive. If you go this route I will have to dig which model box is the correct sode starter and OD
Will try bigger tyres first then investigate furthe. Also read about a different ring and pinion to help with better cruising.
Shout if you need more help, PM me your reg and VIN and I can help more and send build sheet if interested
Yes please will email details
Gav