What ratio diff do most 450 116's have

More threads by John S

John S

New Member
Messages
636
Points
0
Location
Sydney
Before I purchased my 450 I bought a couple of the Brooklands books on the 116 road tests, and ALL listed the diff ratio as 3.07 in their technical specs.

However my diff was stamped 3.06! I checked a few diffs at Pick & Pay Less, one was stamped 3.07 but the other 3.06!

Does anyone know why the difference? What diff ratio is in other Forum members cars?
Are there similar differences in the 6.9’s diff ratios?
 

SEL_69L

Aristocrat
Messages
1,320
Points
95
Location
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I don't know the ratio of the standard 6.9 diff, but I have driven a 6.9 with the lower 3.07 450 back axle fitted to it. On paper, the car would have a lower top speed, but because this particular car makes it's changes at lower speeds, in the normal driving environment, it actually makes no difference to the fuel consumption. It DOES, however, make a significant difference to acceleration in average surburban driving conditions. There is no opportunity to make use of it's top speed, anyway. It is to me, obviously faster from the lights than any other 6.9 I have driven, and I have driven a few of them.
 

B13

New Member
Messages
686
Points
0
Location
Victoria
I put a 3.46:1 diff from a 350SL into my 450SE race car and its made the world of difference. Unfortunately its revving outside its economical range when doing 110kh/h on the freeway it now pulls 3550rpm and chews thru petrol, more than my 6.9 does.

Wouldn't change it for the world though. Really transforms the car for track work esp. coming out of corners in 2nd gear.

I.
 

Styria

The Godfather
Moderator
Messages
9,364
Points
492
Location
Sydney
Hi B13, I have always found that the smaller engined V8s are really not that economical - in fact, I'd go so far as to say that, in many instances, Gleaming Beauty returns better fuel economy than most - I am talking of the 1970s range of V8s. Regards Styria
 

Michel

The Prince of Arabia
Moderator
Messages
10,016
Points
775
Location
Sydney, Australia
The difference between 3.06 and 3.07 is negligible.
 
OP
J

John S

New Member
Messages
636
Points
0
Location
Sydney
That's exactly my point Michel, why the two ratios when they are so close together? The only thing I can think of is that the ratio is really somewhere between the two, say 3.065 so one supplier stamps their production 3.06 and the other stamps theirs 3.07, but they are both actually the same ratio.

Has anyone a 450 diff that is prepared to count the teeth on the crown wheel & pinion?
 
Last edited:

abl567

Super Moderator
Moderator
Messages
2,169
Points
240
Location
Sydney
6.3's came with 2 diff ratios, 2.82 and 2.85, the change came about due to different size and number of teeth on both the crown wheel and pinion.
I cannot remember which came first but the change was to add strength to the components, the ratio change was a by product.
Maybe the same for 450's?
 
OP
J

John S

New Member
Messages
636
Points
0
Location
Sydney
Thanks for that info abl567, now you have me wondering how often changes like that happen. I had heard that the 6.3 diffs were marginal, so a change in the teeth profile to strengthen them does not surprise me, but I now wonder why the ratio change was required.
 

SELfor50

New Member
Messages
1,198
Points
0
Location
Capitown
That sounds like a logical explanation abl.

I'm with Ian on the ratio change, i'm yet to test it.. but going from the 3.07 to the 3.46 ratio, and having it locked.. I've been told it's good for anywhere from 1-4secs a lap.. driver permitting. :)
 

c107

and 111/116/124/126
Moderator
Messages
3,507
Points
760
Location
Sydney
Just saw this old thread.
For future reference, the change was made from 3.07 to 3.06 in January 1974.
Lots of tech specs list the original 3.07 because that is what the cars were launched with.
 

Michel

The Prince of Arabia
Moderator
Messages
10,016
Points
775
Location
Sydney, Australia
Just for the record the 6.9 had a 2.65 ratio.
 

c107

and 111/116/124/126
Moderator
Messages
3,507
Points
760
Location
Sydney
Not really much of a change.
Went from 46:15 to 52:17

Presumably this was to rationalize parts, as I don't think the rear axle itself fundamentally changed. Or possibly they were trying to solve some other problem like a resonance.

1980 USA models 450SEL and 450SL/SLC went with 2.65 also due to the CAFE laws they had at the time. Must have been slugs off the line with only 160hp. 450SE had been discontinued in the USA by then.
 

Styria

The Godfather
Moderator
Messages
9,364
Points
492
Location
Sydney
Sad to see that SELfor 50 is no longer with us. Top guy, full of laughter personality and mischievioness. Sorry, I have had three goes at spelling this. What a horrible word. Regards Styria
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
A 450sl diff ratio Mechanicals 13
Oversize 560SEL Trans & Diff Mercedes W126 32
motec 6.9 Rear Diff mount bush Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 0
WGB Pictorial - Rear end rebuild Part 2 - converting diff to 126 flanged style. Technical Information 1
smueller99au W107 Diff Interchangeable with which model? Mechanicals 3
B Can anyone identify this diff? Mercedes R/C107 7
WGB Diff Oil leak Mechanicals 0
abl567 Diff dramas Mercedes W108 and W109 29
B 350SL diff into 450SE - speedo correction Mechanicals 5
WGB Slippery Diff Oil Mechanicals 5
A New ignition key for 450 sl Mercedes R/C107 4
c107 k jet 450 Vac Advance/Retard diagram non-smog Mercedes R/C107 9
motec 6.9 450 slc amg Mercedes R/C107 2
M 450 SEL repaint Exteriors and Body Repairs 5
Oversize A Heavily Modified 450 Websites and Links 3
Oversize Interesting 450 at Hanging Rock 2015 Mercedes W116 2
Styria 6.9 with 450 differential Technical Information 30
Styria 350/450 Exteriors and Body Repairs 6
A new find 450 sel Exteriors and Body Repairs 11
braminator123 Uk 450 sel 6.9 Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 7
Michel 78 Euro 450 SEL 6.9 AMG in the USA Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 10
Oversize 450 fuel pump relay Technical Information 10
garrye 450 slc pics Mercedes R/C107 3
4 450 SEL injector service cost ?. Mercedes W116 4
300SDude 1978 Mercedes-Benz 400-Series 450 SEL AMG Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 26
Oversize 450 D-Jet for sale Mechanicals 9
4 450 SEL aircon fan improvements needed Mercedes W116 3
300SDude 79 benz 450 sel v8 Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 12
garrye 450 slc breaking down under acceleration Mercedes R/C107 6
Nudge 450 with no spark Mechanicals 5
L 450 sel '77 HYDRAULICS Mercedes W116 1
SELfor50 Wanted: D-Jet 450 Injectors and misc Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 6
SELfor50 450 SLC - Engine Conversion Mercedes R/C107 7
SELfor50 450 SE 6.9 #2 Panzer Jager Mercedes W116 22
TJ 450 TJ 450's 6.9 Pics Mechanicals 7
chrisp 450 SEL in Darlinghurst Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 13
J 450 engine for sale at West Hoxton Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
chrisp Nice looking 450 SE on CarPoint Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 2
B FS: MPS for D-Jet 280 and 350/450 Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 12
Phantom 1974 SLC 450 for sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 6
WGB M117 450 - 370bhp Motorsports 7
SELfor50 450 SE - Gold Coast - "Pimped Out" Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 10
Phantom 1974 W116 450 SEL Bits Victoria Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
A 450 SE windsheild wipers - original colour & length? Mercedes W116 6
SELfor50 450 on LPG Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
SELfor50 Gold 450 in QLD - Good looker Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 9
SELfor50 Red 450 in Vic Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
D For sale w116 450 SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 6
J 450 For Sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
Michel 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450 SE (Is that Cheap?) Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 7

Similar threads

Top