Hello, people. This is my first post here as I have just discovered the site.

My topic is a mercedes with a non-mercedes engine and trans, so quite realistically it is in the proper section of the site,

Now that most of you have left, I hope those that remain can be generous and patent while I work through this.

For some time I have been thinking of a 280 pillarless coupe. What appeals to me is the classic coupe lines and the beauty of the simplicity of it. But simple restoration isn't my way, and I seem to have a bug to put a North American engine and trans into it, not just for the supposed economic saving in purchase, but also to enable economic replacement. (I have a history of roasting the mill or blowing the trans, but admittedly not in a Mercedes.

So what it comes to, assuming the viability of the implant, I am soliciting comments on the practicality of my planed choices.

For ease and fit, it will have to be a L6 engine. The old Ford 200 cid L6 is a candidate here, due to the low weight (375 lbs) and economic availability (still) in my area (hell, they put them in swathers!). Performance would be addressed by a turbo (to overcome the stock manifold-in-head restriction and to get the puppy up to the 7000 rpm red line line that the seven main bearings with light factory pistons can handle. An adapter for a GM Powerglide two-speed transmission (again rugged and light) makes for a good [light car, high revving engine] combination. Since torque is relatively low, the rest of the drive line could be stock.

I like the sleeper aspects of it (my current car, a dark blue four-door 1980 Cutlass has a 403 Rocket, 350 trans, and an IROC rear end with 373's and posi).

Any comments on the plan (besides "DON'T PUT THAT ENGINE ANYWHERE NEAR A MERCEDES! ! ! "?

I think the 2 speed power glide is cast iron. If so that would be heavy. How about a c-4 or didnt those 6 cyl come with a c-3 maybe. Sounds cool to me send pics!

Isn't a small-block Ford V8 a more viable choice?

Powerglides were the darling of bracket racers for a long time. I think that aluminum-cased Powerglides are around.

How about a Dodge slant-six? A retro Daimler-Chrysler in effect.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Wow!! I am impressed with the creativity and concern. Here goes...

Powerglide... aluminum good, cast iron bad. Also the nostalgia for mother's 1965 Pontiac.

Small block Ford... a candidate, yes, 60 degrees and big bore/small stroke is good, but I dunno what it takes to get the red line up, but it could save the turbo cost. Weight? Got a good 302 technical url? I don't want to be tempted to stuff the 403 in there, so I been kinda shy of V8's. I even have a 302 in an old F150. And I'll assume that is is what you mean, and not the flathead in my 1952 F3. The merc couldn't carry enough radiator, but it would be the sweetest sounding merc in straight pipes.

the slant-6... wow. didn't even think of it. gotta step back and ponder. I definitely like the retro angle... sort of a little bait to keep the purists at bay. Good engine, too.

You guys are great. Now... what to do with the Olds... (it has a frame!)

Hi Bobster,

Welcome to the forum! Plenty of excellent advice here.

I've moved your post to the Performance Paddock, where you'll find plenty of company regarding mods to a Mercedes!

Cheers,
Chris

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Thx a bunch, pal. Now I'm not so lost...

No problem!

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

So I peeked around a little, and:
- aluminum powerglide- check. 90 lbs, 20 hp draw, compared to , say a th400 at 45 hp draw and a lot heavier.

- slant six, Ford V8, still is spookin' me as a little heavy, but not bad in comparison to the stock, which, btw, is startin to look better as a seven-main dohc 6500 peak hp machine with the bone yards in Texas and Arizona filled... why not just pick up a running machine and drive it home to Canada (North of North Dakota) with a spare mill and a differential in the trunk? Hell, pull a spare parts car home, even. Load it up with parts, too.

back to the first reality...

- the replacement mill has to be a high winder, unless I have a load of differentials to spare, I think. Uh-oh... better look at the merc 3.5 V8 now.

Feel free to chip in.

check the weight on a small block ford they are really light. Might be lighter than the 6. As for url I don't know but they put 289 in the jimbeam tigers and I saw one of those things at a race one time man did that thing rev. It almost seemed to fast! Cool car.

Chipping in......Q. Where did you find out about the hp drain through a TH400?
I have a TH425 I'd like to use and would like to know how parasitic it is .


.

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

http://www.442.com/oldsfaq/oftrn.htm#TRAN%20Auto%20Transmission%20Comparison an Oldsmobile site....
If memory serves me the TH-400 takes approximately 45 HP, the TH-350 uses about 30HP, and the PowerGlide/JetAway uses about 20HP. I don't remember where I saw these numbers posted but they seem to fall pretty close to true. We used my friends '68 Chevelle as a test bed for the difference between the TH-400 vs TH-350. He picked up nearly two tenths by switching to the TH-350 behind his 327. He attributed this to 3 things:


1) the 350 weighed less.
2) the 350 has a slightly lower first gear (2.52 vs 2.48).
3) and finally the supposed HP loss difference.

The differences in loss also seem plausible when considering the size (mass) of the internals on each of these transmissions.

[ Thanks to Steve Ochs, Paul Elosge, Todd Daenzer, Greg Rollin for this information ]

Your best bet would be a 5 liter Ford. Two things make this a good selection; one, it is front sump engine, which, with a modification to the oil pan, helps get you around the big front cross member, and two, the Ford bell housing is smaller than a small block Chevy. Using a 350 entails drastic modification to the transmission hump.

Getting 300 hp out of 5 liters is not difficult. Pound for pound for horse power I think the Ford is a good choice.

the i 6 either ford or slant six is pretty heavy. the slant six was originally designed for army trucks (not kidding) it weighs at least 600#, so forget that one. the ford v8 will be as light or lighter than the i6 ford i am pretty sure not much over 400#.

but for the cost of all that conversion stuff you could prob find a good running mb v8, a 380 or 500 and swap it in with the tranny. these are extremely long lived engines and would be a lot simpler to swap in.

the ford v8 is a 90 degree but the heads are very narrow and resemble the mb v8s a lot. i have always had a soft spot for the small block ford every since the early sixties when they were in the cobras and dominated world sports car competition. when they raced them they ran prb about 6000 rpm and used the stock cast iron cranks and rods, balanced of course.

the mercedes engines will prob have steel cranks and are definately balanced to a very high standard from the factory.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.