I am starting this because I hijacked the suspension thread.

I will add some photos and comments regarding the installation and modifications I am doing while I put the M-120 V12 in my SEC. I had done a lot of the planning long ago and a few things have evolved over the course of time, the electronics primarily.

This car will use none of the original fuel injection or ignition control parts except the cam mounted distributors and engine wiring harness. The car will retain all the features that it came with like air conditioning, cruise control and, self leveling rear suspension.

The V12 is a bit tight in the engine bay but it is narrower than a M119 V8 due to the 60 degree angle on the V12 against the 90 degree V8. The engine is longer than a M117 by about an inch and a half if you consider the multi-step pulleys on the M117. I have installed M119 engines in 126 cars and this is about on par with that in overall work. This one won't be as true to form, the V8 used all factory parts.

Steve

Very cool.

Looking forward to pics and updates.

Where about in So. Cal. are you?

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Perfect
megasquirt is 1000 times better than the M120's engine management.

Here are a few more photos

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Paul,

I am in Woodland Hills right on the border of Calabasas.

Steve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpytnbbMfyw

Good choice of an engine, Steve!!!

I have seen the your car when it was on display at the Fashion Island Car show a few years ago down at Newport Beach.

It was a real gem especially with those gold BBS wheels. Now it will REALLY have the "go" to go with the "show".

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

-- great color for that SEC. what trans did you end up using? do you have a target date to finish? I am in TO. jim

A bit of an explanation, I have been getting browser crashes on web shots just about every time I try to link photo. The pictures above are top, engine clearance with the hood down. Next is the engine from 3/4 left and last is a full side view.

As for target date it was next week but that will come and pass. I am waiting on a set of engine mounts from another M120 to do the heavy fab work. They are coming from another gut that is putting a V12 in a 126. The new target date is more like mid November? I have a lot of the stuff ready to go when I hit the shop, I use a friend shop that has Lathe, Mill, Sheet metal brake and shear, Tig And Mig. Part of using the shop is fixing the lathe and I have some parts on order for that.

Things to do include; welding oil pump pick-up, engine mounts, oil cooler mounts, core support mounts, trans mount, Y-pipes for the exhaust and cat's and mufflers. These are all welding. Machine work includes machining throttle bodies, throttle linkage, Cruise control linkage and, a few adapters for hoses. The wiring is under way and I am soldering the MSII and Sim a little at a time. There are several other bits and pieces but these are the highlights. I am still mulling over air filters and I have to re-paint the engine bay when the engine is out.

I have not done much in the last couple weeks waiting for the mounts, this week-end should be productive.

Steve

Nice work. Were you able to measure your engine clearance with the hood down. My engine just starts to crush a pack of cigarrets at the front corners with the hood fully closed.

Did you have to modify your subframe?

Where are you getting your mounts. I got a set of brand new ones from Phil for about $125.00 each they were Boge but they had an MB part Number. Best deal I saw on these mounts.

Target date Mid November? At mid November I may just beat you to the first start (If some miricle were to happen). With my electronics, getting on the road will be another story.

John Roncallo

John,

That first picture is with hood latched and the grill removed. I used sockets on an extension to check the tight spots. This picture is the tightest point and there is about an inch .960 something. A bit more than your pack.

The 126 cars don't have a subframe like the 107, two rails and a crossmember with the aprons welded to the rails. I am using 126 chassis mounts, the crossmember in the 126 would require MAJOR work to fit the M120 mounts. The left engine mount will require a bit of work and I may end up making new right mounts from scratch.

The race is on; a bit of friendly compitition will get us both more focused on finishing. I have had my share of curve balls the last week or two that kept me busy.

Steve

Thanks Steve

Do you happen to know what the installed hood clearance was on the 140 or 129 that these engines come out of. My hood was too badly mangled for me to take a measurement.

So the way I understand it, you are using stock 126 engine mounts bolted right to the chassi as usual and home made engine mounting brakets that will fit the engine to the 126 mounts.

Yes the race is on and a freiendly race at that. But when both cars are done, we meet somewhere in the middle of the country and the gloves come off.

John Roncallo

I guess you are aware of Satash's V12 SEC? If not, you should check that out so you don't have to "reinvent the wheel" on yours. I think he has information about it on MB Coupes website if you haven't seen it yet.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I know about Satish's car quite well, we had many conversations regarding installing the V12. I originally did the research on this well before Satish started his project while I had BergWerks. The installation in my car is a bit different than standard. The throttle bodies, intake air assemblies and, controls are all one off designs as are the fuel system and electronics. The engine and transmission them selves are not an issue and they fit like they grew there. I have some basic rules that I follow when building such as making one off parts that either adapt a standard part or use commonly available pieces to build them up. Finding the right mix of pieces to use as sub-assemblies is time consuming and I strive to use only the best of these items.

There are also several areas where Satish and I have gone down different paths like cooling systems. I am using a factory Mercedes radiator and the engine driven cooling fan. I am using the 126 cruise control with the servo connected to the throttle cable actuator. My car is being used as a test cell for some major changes I plan to make on the engine once I get it sorted out on the base line installation.

Steve