Bahaimus, any updates?

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87 w124 om603

I'd love to say that it is going well, but the fact is, I've arrived at the conclusion that the M104/6sp is not the right combo for my car.

The big problem is that I want more power than I can reasonably and economically extract from a naturally aspirated M104, and turbocharging the engine is not really an option with this gearbox unless I want to end up with a pile of useless metal.

So, on that basis I've decided to sell up the bits before I spend any more and seek an alternate powerplant and drivetrain option.

There is no doubt this conversion is doable and would work well. I'm sure the shifter mechanism I was putting together would address the issues AustinCE was alluding for not a great deal of cost and I'm kind of tempted to just finish that part off anyway.

bahaimus, are you selling the bits locally?

email me pls.

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WARNING : Objects in mirror are Dumber than they appear
1972 C107 350SLC Lurch
1987 R107 560SL Stella
1986 W126 560SEL Schultz gone...
1993 C124 300CE-24 Gretel
OZBENZ - Australian Mercedes-Benz Forums

Alright. So, I haven't sold my Merc engine and gearbox (and I probably didn't really try that hard either). So I think I'm going to use them still.

I need a way to make this engine transmit it's power to the gearbox. They bolt together bellhousing wise, but they were never made to come together as a unit. So I'm not really aware of any off the shelf flywheel and clutch assembly combos that work properly. Plus I'd like a lightweight flywheel and clutch assembly as well.

First off, clutches. Both of the following clutches would be overkill for my intended naturally aspirated engine and probably won't be so flash for driving on the street (which would be limited anyway), especially with a light flywheel . However, they are very cheap even though they might need relining of the clutch discs and the plates and pressure plate might need work. They both have 26 splines, but might not be the right diameter for the input shaft as well.

But, they're light and they're smaller diameter which is a consideration for the flywheel (below)

Twin Plate





Triple Plate




Secondly, flywheel. I'm thinking of keeping the existing automatic flex plate with ring gear (It's steel/iron, but is full of holes and probably not too heavy) and making an aluminium flywheel.

Any reason I couldn't make the flywheel myself and then get someone to balance it?

The bonus of using one of the above clutches, is that I wouldn't require a steel friction insert, as these both have a bottom friction plate. And secondly, I could make a flywheel small enough that it would actually fit on my lathe at home.

I also need to make allowance for a support bearing for the gearbox input shaft in the flywheel itself as the gearbox is short nose. Like below.




Am I not considering something?

a twin or triple plate clutch like that would probebly be the death of the gearbox from the shock torque loading that much clamp can put through,

can you get a clutch disc setup with a sprung center? maby just go for a single plate with a heavy clamp pressure plate, and sprung center disc and make the flywheel out of mild steel, also with the m104 if you make the flywheel too light you will get engine resonance/vibration through the car,

Huh? Vibration throughout The rev range? I-6's don't have that problem if they're balanced. They will get between one and 3 critical points where at a specific RPM they will "sing". But if you know them accelerating though the powerband and passing them as quickly as possible makes them less of an issue. I don't see how having a flywheel too light would exaggerate the issue. Having a heavier flywheel will resist vibration but also exaggerate the issue should the flywheel also reach a harmonic point. Lighter flywheels will not 'absorb' vibration, but they will also not place as much stress on the drive train and crank should they begin to vibrate.

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1993 190E 2.6 Sportline

i am using a very simerlar set up with a lightend 103 flywheel and the same clutch to the twin plate you have in the top picture on my twin turbo 103 12v 3.2 motor (104 crank). no singing, no vibration, just power

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ce 320 amg
widebody
tiwn turbo
Mutty 'der nail'
soon to be a six speed nail


"some mods improve your car and make it into something it never was, other mods, however, although essentially the same, are not, and make that car a ricer"

if your car isnt shiny, you dont know what you are talking about, remember; paint shine = knowledge. In order to be taken seriously, you should spend all your money on paint, (and get a dyno reading).
Dont forget to polish it often

How do you find the use of it?

btw, the toughest 6-spd MB transmission is rated for 400Nm!

here the available mb trannys:




here the gear ratios:




and for bahaimus:
you have the "old" shifting type up to ~2004
the "new" shifting mechanism looks much more easier:

clutch is immence for bite and often causes stalling, but engine revs very freely upto 7000, every time it makes me smile;->

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ce 320 amg
widebody
tiwn turbo
Mutty 'der nail'
soon to be a six speed nail


"some mods improve your car and make it into something it never was, other mods, however, although essentially the same, are not, and make that car a ricer"

if your car isnt shiny, you dont know what you are talking about, remember; paint shine = knowledge. In order to be taken seriously, you should spend all your money on paint, (and get a dyno reading).
Dont forget to polish it often

Does anyone know if any of these 400nm rated 6 speed boxes made it to these shores?

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1993 190E 2.6 Sportline

they are rare here in Germany - and in US I think they were unavailable...
I'm not sure, but I think the 400Nm will not bolt on the M103/104.
This 400Nm gearbox is available for M112/ M271. Ithink the bolt pattern differs.

For M103/M104 the 370Nm gearbox from C/E270CDI fits definitively!
And it is much more easier to find here in Germany.

Interesting. I wonder how much one would hold... And more to the point how much it would take to get one into this country.

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1993 190E 2.6 Sportline

Rodnex, thanks for that great info!

It is my intention to finish making a shifter arrangment very much like the one in your photo.

@MAG58: Shipping to USA of 1 gearbox will cost about 250-300€

@bahaimus: no problem