SL engine transplant. Is that possible?

[meltedpanda]

Nice rainy day to sit and think. Watched the Mecum auctions last night and could not help but notice a lot of old school cars going across the block with modern innards. Like engines and trannys so you end up with a classic style with new technology to get you from point A to point B. what about our SL 's? Is that possible. An engine and tranny transplant ? Wouldn't a four speed be grand!. With so many SL bodies made I'm sure finding one without an engine should be easy

[Graham]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

. With so many SL bodies made I'm sure finding one without an engine should be easy

After reading the forums for a number of years, the opposite may be easier to find

[mach4]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

Nice rainy day to sit and think. Watched the Mecum auctions last night and could not help but notice a lot of old school cars going across the block with modern innards. Like engines and trannys so you end up with a classic style with new technology to get you from point A to point B. what about our SL 's? Is that possible. An engine and tranny transplant ? Wouldn't a four speed be grand!. With so many SL bodies made I'm sure finding one without an engine should be easy

Not sure this is what you had in mind, but I did a transplant into my SL. See thread here - 380SL Diesel Conversion Project

Website here - 380SL Diesel Swap Project Web Site



Probably more along the lines of what you were thinking, this will give you some ideas - The Making of Samson Worlds First V-12 107 - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum

[mach4]

Here are some other possibilities

Swapping US V8 engines into Mercedes 350SL/380SL/450SL's
BLOWN CHEVY IN 1984 MERCEDES 380SL CONVERTIBLE CHASSIS DYNO TEST - YouTube

[Deltacom]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

An engine and tranny transplant ? Wouldn't a four speed be grand!. With so many SL bodies made I'm sure finding one without an engine should be easy

Sure thing Ron, you could drop in a Toyota turbocharged 500BHP 5-speed manual..

[DieselPaul]

I mean they did 300SLs with M103s, wouldn't be hard to put an EFI M104 in a 107. That's not quite as exotic or powerful but its a well known motor and management setup that wouldn't require too much ground breaking fab work to make it work. And you could always find a C36 motor too.


SL36 or a 320SL

[meltedpanda]

WOW , had no idea, looks like others thought A LOT more than I have. BTW familiar with the Samson car - Epic - in my mind
The diesel is interesting, as are the others, look forward to reading the threds...too cool
Makes me sad I got rid of a good SL frame and body not too long ago

[meltedpanda]

OK checked out the diesel conversion...now that is too cool
how does ( did) that diesel handle the weight of the car?

[mach4]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

OK checked out the diesel conversion...now that is too cool
how does ( did) that diesel handle the weight of the car?

The diesel is actually very close to the weight of the original gas engine. And the SL, being somewhat lighter than the 123 donor, it does really nice. You'll never smoke the tires but with overall mileage just a hair under 30 and a 23 gallon tank, its economical and its got some legs. I've got 8000 miles on her and it's my daily driver having displaced the Corvette. And on days like today (88 degrees and sunny) cruising around with the top down is just fantastic.

[meltedpanda]

I stand in awe..great work..you never know...if this DJet starts giving me fits ...hmm I DO miss my 300SD

[Strife]

I've been dreaming of a daily driver with a 2010+ Camaro V6 powered 380SL. It's got to be easier to put in a V6, and that engine and trans could get 30 highway MPG in the Camaro and deliver 300 HP. No supercharger, turbocharger, nothing exotic. Given the MB's 1960's aerodynamics and drivetrain components, 30MPG wouldn't happen but I'll bet 20 city/25 highway (and 300!)HP would.

I think the big killer on a more modern engine in an SL is the narrow area for the engine. You just aren't going to find a 90 degree V(anything) with 4 valves per cylinder that will fit easily, and old-school small block cheby/fords seem to have big problems with the steering box anyway. Converting to rack and pinion is big money and risk IMO unless you are an automotive engineer with lots of R+D money and a machine shop. Another problem is the transmission tunnel, which is pretty narrow - many modern automatics won't fit. Widening this involves fooling around with something very structural.

I wish that someone would make a kit with R/P conversion, motor mounts, driveshaft adapter, and exhaust. It sure would be nice to have an engine where customizing is easy (on the wallet also) and even the worst mechanic can fix it with a hammer.

[97 SL320]

There was someone that "put" a late model ( 600hp ? ) twin turbo V8 driveline " in " a old 190 SL body. What they really did was hang 190 body panels on the later chassis so that really does not count as a motor swap.

If you are going to make a swap, later electronics are so integrated that a complete wiring vehicle harness / instrument cluster swap would likely prove more fruitful that trying to mix wiring.

[97 SL320]

A couple of other thoughts.

Somewhere on this site there is pic of a R129 with a BMW turboed 6.

Motor swaps must accomplish something that the original motor can't or would be very expensive. Sticking with a motor from the original manufacturer helps as there is some overlap in parts.

This can sometimes be skirted, look at some Daimler / Chrysler stuff. A seemingly simple swap would be Charger / Challenger / 300 bits in a MB that has a electronic shift 722.6 / NAG1 5 speed trans. This way the shifter, drive shaft, trans mounts more or less fall into place. The electronics would take a bit of work but, this could be overcome by making the HVAC manual and using the Chrysler ABS / trans control.

[Druk]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Motor swaps must accomplish something that the original motor can't or would be very expensive. Sticking with a motor from the original manufacturer helps as there is some overlap in parts.

A bit like a 300TD from a W210 into an R107 d'you mean?









.

[meltedpanda]

So wish I had the time and energy and $$ to try this. Oh yea the smarts as well. Strife you have the idea of the kit . You just need to invent it. . I am aware of some of your work you could do it !