Has anybody put a 350 into a W123 Diesel? Are there any kits? Is there a web site about this?

Please help I am seriously thinking of this because of the slow very slow highway travel im my 240D

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'98 C280 White on Tan

-=Santa Bring me a C43=-

Wizo,

I think about swapping a small-block V-8 into a W123 all the time. I may eventually do it when I have a few dollars to spare. However, I would probably use a Ford 302 rather than a Chevy 350.

There are a few reasons for this:

1. The small Ford is substantially smaller and lighter than the small Chevy.

2. The small Ford's distributor is on the front of the engine, which would help alleviate firewall clearance problems.

3. The Ford can be set up with a front-sump oil pan (most are dual-sump, with a larger sump in the front) like the stock Benz engine. This may mean less interference problems with the crossmember.

4. The fuel injection setup on the 5.0 Mustang engines is excellent and very easy to tune.

5. There are a ton of 225 hp, injected 5.0 motors out there, just waiting to be installed in something better than a lowly Mustang.

No one makes a kit for this swap, but Ross Converse at Converse Engineering (www.converseengineering.com - he makes the Ford 302 into Volvo kit) has said he'll engineer the swap if someone wants to be the guinea pig.

Aaron

Why not splice in a 300E engine? Similar horsepower, etc, and much closer to exact fit.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Ya but how much would that motor be?

__________________
'98 C280 White on Tan

-=Santa Bring me a C43=-

TXBill,

Thanks for posting that info about the V6 conversion. Thanks to all the room in the engine compartment, the V6 is an easy fit. According to the guy who put it in, he's getting 20.5 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway, which matches what the diesel got anyway. Besides, he eliminated potential problems with the transmission and possible air conditioning trouble by using all GM components. He didn't say how much it cost him, but we know the engine cost $125 and $450 for the transmission. He probably needed some hoses, exhaust pipe, and wires. I bet he did this for less than $1,000. He could have bought torches, engine puller, and mig, and could have kept the costs below $2,000. Now he can walk into any parts store and get parts for the engine inexpensively and have the style of a Benz.

Wizo,

Are going to leave the Turbo Diesel name plate on your Benz so that you can suprise some Camaros and Mustangs with your V8? While you're doing the conversion, you better get a 5-speed manual transmission to go along with your new engine.

I like the idea of 'hot-rodding' a W123... I don't know why..
it just has that VERY understated look...

I find Ford engines to be very smooth too.. maybe because they're new. (I drove a new Taurus and Focus) The Taurus is a brilliant car! It's wayy too soft and wobly.. but it's very smooth otherwise..

What about a 300D with say.. a Vette 5.7L V-8?
Find some idiot's wrecked Z06.. and put it in the 300D... damn.. that thing would be flying..if it even fits in the first place..
oh well out of topic sorry.. just had to spit it out..

An engine swap from one make to another is either a nightmare of small unseen problems or a wonderfull project to tax your skills depending on how you look at it.I did a 454 into a full sized 2 wd Blazer last year.As the factory had never built a big block Blazer I had to fabricate a new transmission mount,have a new heavy duty driveshaft built,Make mounts for quad front shocks and lots of small deatails, but it was a fun project and makes a dandy driving truck. I harbor the thought of a V6 in my 240D but would definately use the Buick 3.8 as it is a much stronger engine than the Chevy V 6's , many are used in sand rails out here and they hold up very well to hard use.....
william Rogers.....

Check this out:

http://www.badbenz.com/badbenz/

This guy did some excellent work. This is an example of a really well done conversion - NOT a hack job.

Personally, I would have left it bone-stock looking, especially leaving the diesel badge on the rear. Not even "turbodiesel" (I love "sleepers").

RTH

Dead link guv'nor.

When you are listing items in the budget for this swap, make sure you add a truck load of driveshafts, half shafts and rear axle center sections because the little Ford or a small block Chevy either one is going to chew up drivetrain parts like they were made out of peanut butter.

Good luck,

This would probably take care of any rearend durability issues one might encounter with the stock Benz parts. A bit pricey, though. Still, really cool.

http://www.precisionbrakescompany.com/indyrear.htm

Sincerely,

Aaron

a 1979 280C with a Chevy 383 Stroker motor with GM tranny. From the tranny back it is all MB and must be holding up pretty well. It was built right and looked great.

__________________
Jim

The IRS would indeed take care of the rear end durability, but talk about putting a $100 saddle on a $10 horse?............

Have a great day,

I think this conversion should be encouraged!!

I don't think a V-8 would weigh more than the 5 cylinder lump, and it would make a lovely, balanced car.

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Mercedes Diesels make good candidates for conversion. They sell at a discount compared to gasoline Mercedes. There's lots of room under the hood. They have independent suspension and disc brakes. Mercedes were built for continuous high speed cruising.