Diesel SEC swap begins today.

[Icefire]

Hi guys, so here is the plan, take one SEC purchased from Ebay, item #(140033341926) 1 OM617.951 donated from a 1985 300 SD, 1 4spd manual donated from a 83 240D, and put them together to make a "Frankenbenz"

The SEC arrived yesterday, and I have already pulled the transmission from the 240D and the clutch pedals etc, I have also already pulled the engine from the 300 SD.

I estimate that with my current time availability the swap will take about 3 weeks,

Problems so far,
1: Dont know if the hood will fit, Will have to cross this bridge when it arrives.

2: Pilot bearing may not fit into 617 Crank, may have to use oilite bearing.

3: I have installed the 240d speedo + cable into the back of the 300SD cluster, but I will have to recalibrate it since I will be using 2.47 rear gears instead of 3.69. and as far as i can see no 123 chasis cars had 2.47 rear gears.

4. Driveshaft, should be able to use the 300 SD driveshaft, or if necessary the driveshaft out of a SEL. Will probably have to have it rebalanced at a later date.

5. hopefully clutch pedal and shifter assebly will bolt right in.
master cylinder already has nipple for clutch setup.

So far its looking good, ill post progress one I have the SEC engine out and can take measurements.

[pwogaman]

Cool! Take lots of pictures. I've always wanted to try doing that myself. Almost bid on a few SEC's with blown engines just thinking about it. The only thing that prevented me from doing it was my 617 is currently otherwise being used in my 300SD. If I ever wreck it and the 617 is still good then that's what I want to do.

Do keep in mind that some states might give you a hard time with emissions (once a gasser, always a gasser). If you get stuck having to go through emissions maybe you could test it running on veggie oil.

[Hit Man X]

If I didn't have a spare 500 Euro motor, I would toss in a 603.

[bgkast]

Originally Posted by Icefire

2: Pilot bearing may not fit into 617 Crank, may have to use oilite bearing.

The Pilot bearing should fit.

[Johnhef]

check the parts for sale forum- someone there is selling a 126 5-speed setup and I remember reading something, (I think the pedal carrier?) is different between the 123 and 126 models.

cool cool project though if I say so myself!
PLEASE tell me if you don't want the euro lights, I have both 81-85 and 86-91 styles I can send you in return

[pawoSD]

Theoretically the swap would be really easy if one used a stock 617+ auto tranny right? It should fit right in.... The 603 would be cool too, but I like the 617 better.

Did the SEC have a blown engine? Which one was it? 420? 500? 560?

[TheDon]

my buddy with the 350SDL wants to get an SEC and dump a 3.5 rod bender in it.. with upgraded rods of course..

[Hit Man X]

Originally Posted by TheDon

my buddy with the 350SDL wants to get an SEC and dump a 3.5 rod bender in it.. with upgraded rods of course..

Stroke the 3.0L, you'll have a 3.29L motor then.

Originally Posted by bgkast

The Pilot bearing should fit.

Not in late 84 and 85's. The hole will be larger and a brass bushing will have to be made to fit over a bearing.

Originally Posted by Icefire

3: I have installed the 240d speedo + cable into the back of the 300SD cluster, but I will have to recalibrate it since I will be using 2.47 rear gears instead of 3.69. and as far as i can see no 123 chasis cars had 2.47 rear gears.

How did you mount it? These is no way to calibrate a mechanical one, only the electronic ones like what the W126 uses stock can do that.

[Icefire]

Originally Posted by Johnhef

check the parts for sale forum- someone there is selling a 126 5-speed setup and I remember reading something, (I think the pedal carrier?) is different between the 123 and 126 models.

cool cool project though if I say so myself!
PLEASE tell me if you don't want the euro lights, I have both 81-85 and 86-91 styles I can send you in return

Sorry I am definitly keeping the euro lights, I love them, As for the 126 pedal setup, I think I can use the setup from my 123 240D, the pedals wont be perfect but they will bolt in and thats all that matters. Ill be able to Fab up anything that wont work,

I will probably use a oilite bushing for the pilot bearing, that is what most american cars do.

[Icefire]

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Not in late 84 and 85's. The hole will be larger and a brass bushing will have to be made to fit over a bearing.



How did you mount it? These is no way to calibrate a mechanical one, only the electronic ones like what the W126 uses stock can do that.

Basically I removed the electronic speedo, then i used a dremel tool to allow the 240D speedo to fit, then I just drilled some holes and used the stock screws. I am going to calibrate the speedo by putting a blank sheet of paper in, then driving at slowly increasing steady speed measure with a gps and another person, I will then mark on the paper each speed, 5, 10, 15,20 etc,
Then I will be using photo paper and photoshop to print a new "Calibrated speedo" I may do all the gauges in white faced, to match my boost gauge,

I will post pics if it works, if it doesnt... Ill figure something out.

After looking at the hood and engine I think it will fit but ill post more once its installed.

[Icefire]

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Theoretically the swap would be really easy if one used a stock 617+ auto tranny right? It should fit right in.... The 603 would be cool too, but I like the 617 better.

Did the SEC have a blown engine? Which one was it? 420? 500? 560?

Have a quick look at the ebay item, thats all I really know about the engine, it turns over but doesnt fire up, the trunk says 560 SEC, but i think its a 500 SEC,


Yes It should be really easy to do a 617 auto into the SEC, you can reuse the stock driveshaft, stock speedo drive, everything bolts in.

I didnt want to go this route because I did it with my 500 SEL, and I wanted to make this a real Grand touring Diesel,

[Johnhef]

should be easy enough to check waht it was, 1. whats on the title? or 2. "37" in the VIN for a 500 or "39" in the VIN for a 560.

[t walgamuth]

if you have hood interference it should not be huge. you may be able to figure a way to allow the motor to sit a little lower and perhaps adjust up the hood a bit and remove the pad and make it fit without any surgery.

neat project!

tom w

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Hit Man X

Stroke the 3.0L, you'll have a 3.29L motor then.

try finding a good 3.5l crank for under a grand