Plantman,

Or just the brushes need to be replaced.

P E H

WANT '71 280SEL,

So you want to put a 617 in a 116 car like a 450 SEL?

I have thought about the same thing should I find a clean 450 sel with a dead engine since I have an extra 617. Especially since my
16 year old son complains about leg room in my 80 300SD.

The swap should be as straight forward as they come with the drive shat the only part that may have to be modified (lengthened) provided you have a doner 78-80 donor 116 300SD.

or the back of my bug LOL;)

jd, so you agree that a 116 doesn't have nearly the leg room it should? Are the LWB 116 much better? I know the SEL adds like 3-4 inches, but that's in rear leg room right?
Wouldn't the dash have to come apart because of the different key switches/vacuum lines? What about the other vacuum elements? Wouldn't everything else like the booster have to come from the parts car? What does it usually cost to have a driveshaft lengthened?
Thanks
David

Yes the 450 SEL has several inches in the rear pass section. Find a pic of one on the web and you can see it is longer in the rear door.

I think you can replace the key switch with only pulling the cluster rather than the whole dash.

I have the factory shop manual for the 116 and while there are some differences in the cars, I think it is very do able.

There is a different vacuum plumbing schematic, but the vacuum elements themself AFAIK are the same.

Don't know about the drive shaft for sure but probably no more than 100 bucks. Look for a truck repair shop that does drive shaft work. They will be able to fix you up.

I would only do it if I could find a really clean SEL and have a donor car which I guess you already have?

If I did this, my car would be the donor. I like my car, but it has too much rust for my liking. (Any rust is too much if you ask me). I think that if I start with a so called "rust free" SEL, I could keep it like that. I work at a car lot and during the winter I could wash it every week, no matter how cold it is outside. It would probably still rust though, just not as fast.
Thanks
David

What about motor mount brackets? Would I be able to just bolt a 617 in or would some welding be necessary? My ultimate dream though is a LWB 108 with a 617, maybe one day.
Thanks
David

Motor mounts should bolt right up. I expect the drive shaft will bolt right up as well. The gasser and Diesel tranny yokes end at the same point AFAIK.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL