PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Advice on removing a M117 out of a W116 450SE

Bad Benzo · #1 04-13-2019, 01:16 PM

I am going to remove a low mileage M117 out of a 450SE for an upcoming project. My original plan was to put this motor into a S123, but I sourced a similarly low mileage 5.0L M117 out of a W126 and changed my plans.

Because I am insane, my new plan is to put the M117 into my W114 280 sedan. Recently, my car was involved in a low-speed accident that necessitates removing the engine for a frame repair. While I was milling around the garage trying to think about what to do next, I figured, "why not make things more complicated for myself and put in a V8?" This is no easy feat, I know, but I've seen them in other /8 cars, so I know it is possible. It's not a direct fit, but it can be made to fit; we can argue about it in a new thread in a couple weeks.

So on to the questions:

The donor car is in the back lot of a heavy truck repair station in a rural area about 30 minutes from my home shop. They have graciously offered to lend me an engine hoist for the day, but I will need to bring all my own tools. This particular car has the front radiator support and a portion of the inner fender removed, so access is pretty good. I imagine I will need your standard fare for engine removal; wrenches, sockets, breaker bars, jack stands, etc. We will have a Sawzall and angle grinder to remove some of the body panels for my friend's 300SD, but is there anything else I should think about bringing?

Here is my other question: Since this is going into my W114, my understanding is that the rear differential gears are different, although the diffs themselves are interchangeable. I think the diff in my W114 is something like 3.92, while the W116 is either 3.06 or 3.07. Does this sound about right? Are there any considerations or special tools needed to remove the rear diff?

That's it for now, thanks in advance!