I don't know what your thoughts are on a 5.0L Euro motor (126) swap into a 1988 190e 2.3 are but it is being done here. I only paid $1000 for the shell and the motor was cheap too. Brabus did this conversion in 1984 but they won't give me any info, claiming they can't come up with it. I'd like to know some thoughts on the suspension and rear differential. Several cuts and some "pounding out" has been done. I've fabbed the sway bar in front to compensate for the big oil pan and the exhaust manifolds are being changed to 4.5 manifolds (center exit) or may be fabbed as well. Transmission has obviously been changed as well. I've seen a 560 motor bored to 6.0L fit into a 190e so this project is possible.
Steering box has also ben a minor problem too so suggestions on that would be much appreciated too. I have easy access to the means and cost hasn't been in issue at all. The car won't cost me more than $3500 when all is said and done.

Thank you for any suggestions whatsoever-
Mike V.
1983 500SEC Euro
1988 190E 5.0L

I think there's a similar project car on the 190revolution page. You'll have to search for it, but the owner of the page has bullentin-ed about 9 million times here (or every time he made a change to it) - so should be easy.

Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.

Info on the final conversion would be appreciated: final cost? tranny? rear end change? electronics wiring harness?
some pics if you have them.

My every day driver is a 190 with a small block Ford (now 342") and a 5 speed and was built at first in 1995 with updates of sorts ever since.

The rear in mine I feared would be too fragile and I wanted a ltd slip diff with better gearing. I've installed a diff from a 92 ZR1 Corvette ( same as a Viper) with a 3.42 gear ratio. The axles are custom Spicer units as is the one piece driveshaft. All is balanced great and never a problem so far with reliability. After doing more searching a 8.8 Ford diff from a late Lincoln MkVIII, Thunderbird or Cougar all with an independent rear will also fit.
Superformance uses this in their Cobra kits with big blocks!!

A simple front sway bar with beef is a 124 - 400E or 500E as they have a projection in the sump area. Just cut off 1 1/2" from each end and install. The 400E is 1.055" and the 500E is 1.125"D.
I'm now in the process of making an additional 3/4" bar that is adjustable for the rear.

To eliminate all my steering constraints, I've put in rack and pinion
and shortened the arms for better response and feel.

For suspension, Eibach 2.6 springs and Bilstein sport shox handle it well as it weighs just 2980...54% frt/ 46% rear.

Sounds as if you have a handle on your project and should have humps of torque! Good luck.

Tobias MB
4 MBs

Tobias MB:
I am just on the plannig stages of a Ford V8-190E conversion cost being major consideration now to see if it's better to do it myself (insure it's done right) or buy a converted car. Saw an ad for a Ford V8 302 190 E in CA about year ago but was on the hands of a used car dealer that was not very nice to deal with (one of those take or leave guys); that car advertised for $4,500 but could not get any info on the conversion at all. If you know of one for sale, I would consider it. Thanks for the info and would love to learn more about your Ford V8 car experience, it sounds as if it has been done the right way and I would like to know more about it so if you like you can e-mail me directly at : relo-lan@zianet.com

I have had the pleasure of seeing some pics of Tobias's modified 190.
To say that he has done a great job with this car is an understatement.
It takes a dedicated person with alot of time, patience, and great fabrication skills to do this kind of work.

Be sure and plan your project thorghly, and be honest with yourself about the amount of time and money it will take you.

__________________
Alain
independant MBZ tech since 1981
http://www.motorsportlegendsks.com/

I thought this thread was dead!!

I ended up putting in a 3.8L V8 from a 1981 SL. Its a euro motor so it cranks out more horsepower. The motor only had 67,000 miles so still in good shape. I left the rear end just to see how it would hold up and it has been fine- except for excessive rear wheel spin by one tire- no posi! I'm going to look for a 16v diff because I would like to keep the car all mercedes. I liked the 3.8 since it was a bit smaller, would rev faster and only had about 20 horses less than a euro 5.0 (from 126 car.) A 560SL radiator fit nicely into a 2.6 radiator housing so I have plenty of cooling with dual fans from a new C class. The car never gets above 100 degrees even in Phoenix- 105 right now! The exhaust is connected with a 3" y-collector and followed by a flowmaster muffler... the only thing non-mercedes. Probably get a Remus someday. Left the suspension so far since the iron block of the original 190E weighs about as much as the 3.8L aluminum. Haven't taken it to the track yet but it should run 14s no problem. Fun car to drive! Let me know if you have any questions.

Mike
500SEC Euro
190E 3.8 Euro

Mike,
Sounds like a great conversion! Are you using the SL automatic transmission? If so, any plans for a manual conversion? I'd love to see some pictures, exterior, engine bay, etc...

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

[IMG]C:\My Documents\My Pictures\3-24-2001 927a\190E 3.8\IM000038.JPG[/IMG]

Haven't thought about doing a manual tranny yet. I don't think I'd get any traction at all by taking off at 3500rpm! We've messed with the timing so it shifts at good power points. I'm having trouble adding more than one photo to the reply template here. Any suggestions? I'll give it a shot.

Mike
500SEC
190E 3.8

Mike,
Use the 'Attach file:' option or to post more than one picture you'll need to upload your pictures to a webhost and reference them in your reply. Complete instructions are in the FAQ.

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Mike- can you detail what it took to place a 1981 3.8 V8 SL motor in the 190E?

Tobias MB- can you detail what you did to switch to rack & pinion steering? I'd like to do the same with the 360TE wagon.

Tobias MB and Mike, would any of you be willing to do the same for a 1986-1990 300E and sell the car for say $10-13K.

Thanks,
:-) neil

Neil,
Tried to write more and was ready to send it, but good ole AHOL
decided to cut me off, again, so now it will be short.

I made a bumpsteer guage and calculated where the rack should be positioned. This was after I had decided to use a rear steer vs. front because of less work making new steering arms etc.
I used 124 arms, cut them, dropped them 3/4" and shortened them 1 1/2" to gain my travel back which is lost in the conversion.
The arms were then reinforced and sent out to be properly annealed and re-heat treated to oe specs. This segment was the most time consuming of all and necessary for an American V8.
A starter would interfere with the idler arm, but OK if you just wanted to turn left, ala NASCAR!

The Ford motor was used because of three things:
1. Lighter than a Chevy etc.
2. Distributor in front, no interference with the hvac, placing motor more rearward.
3. Fords have a front sump as a MB does.

Your last question leaves me asking....would you provide a car?
what do you want done?...and to what extent?...etc?

I do have a super clean 88 300CE for sale, loaded but with 170k on it. Black with tan. And 190 pedal clusters fit in it for a five/six speed!

TobiasMB
4 MBs

TobiasMB:

I'm hoping to find a white, silver, or champagne/gold 300E with a bad motor & tranny that I could send to you for the conversion.

Unless you have better luck finding one.

Mike: please post pictures of that 3.8V8 conversion! If you're having problems, email me the pictures and I'll host them.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG

Sorry if these pictures are big, so please don't shoot the messenger. These are Mike's photos of his 3.8L V8 into a W201 chassis.

Enjoy,

:-) neil