Engine rebuild with no former experience........

Guys, the rebuilt engine is running much cooler than before, the needle used to sit halfway between the 175F (79.5 degC) and the next graticule when driving and when idling would go up to the next garticule (with no legend).

Now it is sitting just over 175F (79.5 degC) and after I let it sit at idle for a while earlier today it max'ed out here.



Is this normal? I just checked on the thermostat opening temp spec which is 75degC or 167 F so would seem reasonable.

Maybe its due to the new water paump and perfectly clean block?

The top of the radiator was at ~86 degC after idling for a while.

Hi Jim,

that seems okay. My 450 SL seems fixed at slightly above 80°C and hardly ever moves after engine has warmed up.

Hello Jim,

congratulations for your restauration report in the classic car magazine !! That is a nice recognition for your great performance !
I like the do-it-yourself reports in this magazine, they are much more profound than the ones in german magazines. I have a summary of paint reports that have appeared in this magazine, you can buy them as an anthology...

best regards

Markus

A few final jobs today.

I cut up some heat shrink tubing.



Then used it on the air filter box clips to prevent the newly painted lid from being damaged.





Then replaced the old spark plug wire clips, the new part 9top) is not identcal but works.



Last I got my CO value tested and corrected. Ignore RPM and oil temp as they were not measured.

Before, a bit low, the target is between 0.5 and 1.5%.



After.

Jim,
with all due respect, listen very carefully I shall say this only once: those condoms for the air filter clips are far too much Hyacinth ... I guess you know what I mean. Everything's so nice ... I have mine yellow galvanised.

Regards
Thomas

Today I investigated an old sound that I had hoped would be fixed with the engine rebuild.



During the rebuild I discovered I had purchased the wrong exhaust sealing rings (on the right) so reused the old ones when I re-attached the exhaust.

Here are the correct ones on the left.



I think the sound is coming from the exhaust to maifold connection.



When I removed the collar I could see that there was an exhaust gas leak.



And signs of it on one of the bolts.



So I dropped both sides of the exhaust and fitted the new sealing rings but on the right side also put a bead of high temperature sealant. The temp of the manifold is probably higher than the spec for thr silicon but I hope that its charred remains will help to improve the seal.

Cleaned up so that the silicon sealant would stick well.



All bolted back together.



I'll let the silicon set overnight and listen again tomorrow morning.