WTB SEC or CE, in or near canada
 

Hi all, I want to find a SEC or CE coupe with a bad engine for a 617 diesel conversion,

If anyone knows where to find this car, it would really help me out, or if you own an SEC or CE with a bad engine or tranny that you want to sell please contact me.

Icefire_@hotmail.com,

I have a heavily modded 95 Civic SI 5spd to sell as well if you are interested.

Thanks All, love the forum, really love the diesels.

Hmmmm, before you jump in-
 

Resolve the sheet metal issue first...

Do you know if the engines will fit?

Search the archives here and at www.mbcoupes.com because this has come up, and I can't honestly recall if there was complete agreement on it, it may well be possible that for sure on the SEC coupe, the diesel motor is too tall to fit in the coupe; the front fenders and hood are different (the entire front clip) on the coupe and sedan in the W126; it may be possible on the W124 as well.

For a picture of what looks like a W126 sedan with a gas engine and a coupe front clip see: www.richmondmercedes.com (I think) Its the AMG West website. I have seen that car a long time ago and it's still there....

The same caution applies to the coupe- I am honestly not sure.

If you can't resolve this, you should post the question again to the Diesel discussion board (and/or technical help) here, I am sure that someone will know the answer to the question.

W124 coupe
 

There was never a W124 diesel coupe offered, so to be crystal clear, the same caution applies to that model as well, I see from your sig. you've successfully done a W126 sedan to a diesel so you really know what you are doing, and hate to but in like this or rain on your parade, but you really need to get this cleared up before you start, I think...

There was a brave fellow who had a W123 MB wagon and decided to put a VW tdi diesel in it, and it looked good at first, but after about a year with considerable time and money into the project it turned out it didn't fit, it was heartbreaking. There is a thread on this subject, in diesel discussion section, with pictures, maybe you can find it. I will look a bit for it also.

Icefire,

There was a thread in here 6 months ago, "617 into an early SEC..?", try searching that one.

No definate conclusion, aone guy thought he'd seen one, another raised the very interesting and important registration and smog issue, if the vehicle's body was tied to its VIN# and was gas, he thought it might possibly-depending on the jurisdiction, become INSTANTLY unregisterable if you put a diesel engine into the gas car, it could no longer pass gasoline emission standards at that point, and become illegal to drive.

Another question to get sorted out- no idea how this would work in Canada!

Smog and title issues.
 

Thanks for the posts,

As for the smog issues, in canada, no vehicle over 20 years old needs to be emissions tested. On my SEL -> SDL conversion the only holdup with the title is that according to insurance the car is an SEL which commands a much higher premium than the diesel.

So Ideally I would like to put the engine into an 86 or earlier SEC.
As for the sheetmetal, I dont see why it not fit. the engine fit perfectly into the SEL, futhor I like the taller rear gear, that the SEC will have vs the diesel.

I have seen a 617 installed in a W124 sedan, (recently on ebay), so I suspect that it will fit.

The swap from gas to diesel is not overly difficult, the hardest part is changing the ingition steering lock to one that has the vacuum switch on it.

If I have to get an aftermarket hood to compensate for the high valve cover on the 617, that shouldnt be to bad, (even installing a tasteful hood scoop, would be acceptable.)

Once in a while i see posts, "Should I buy this SEC with a blown engine, or trans" if anyone knows where I can find one please let me know. Thanks,

Also I know there are several SECs on ebay, but they are in the southern US.