M120 into 560SL (With Pictures!)

[Roncallo]

Now I thought someone on this board said it wouldent fit. Well it fits. Now getting it to run that will be the real trick. Attached are photos of the first fit test I performed on this today.

So far the progress is as follows.

Engine still needs to go down ~ 3/4". I curently have interfearance between airpump and chassie at subframe mounting point and oil filter to subframe at left upper control arm mounting. Both problems appear minor. I also have interfearance between AC compressor and subframe at left forward subframe mount. Finding an AC compressor that will fit will be difficult. I'm still not sure if hood will close without modifications to the hood line enen after I get the engine further down. Mods to the hood Im really trying to avoid.

John Roncallo

[reinier]

At that 1st picture, the m120 looks like it belongs in a TANK.....phew, nice!

I guess you would have the first 107 with M120 in the world!

[Roncallo]

It was sort of like an Anaconda swallowing a pig.

John Roncallo

[GradyService]

Well, that is probably the only W107 V12 600SL in the world . Congratulations, and God Bless,
Dave.

[t walgamuth]

i said it should fit.

but i wouldn't have the stones to try!

tom w

[Roncallo]

Fitting this engine is so far the the easy part and its not done, but I now have enough info to know this is a go. I actully think fitting the computer box may be more of a challenge than the engine. And then theres wiring this thing. Will it work without ESP hooked up or the factory allarm etc, etc.

John Roncallo

[altz]

Most of the modern engine managements can handle COP ignition with 12 cilinder engine...VEMS for example.
But the fine tuning of these EMS is an issue, cause its not cheap to let someone to do that. IŽd suggest to stick with stock ems if stock 400hp is enough for you.

[Roncallo]

Thats kind of what I figgured from looking at the web sight. They sell you all the hardware and you create the software.

John Roncallo

[300EVIL]

Hey John,
Freakin Awesome! Nice to see someone follow through with their dreams. Keep us posted.
You Rock!
Adam

[Hatterasguy]

Awsome I am glad to see your finaly making some progress! You know AMG fits that engine into the Zonda, I wonder what kind of electronics they use to make it work? Maybe you can get in touch with the guy who put it into a 560SEC. He probably had some similer problems. I agree that the most challanging part is going to be getting it to run and shift like it should.

Good luck, when its done if you take me for a ride I'll buy you lunch!

[Roncallo]

I was never scared of this project until I opened up the fuse box on the SL600. Right now I'm carefully removing and labeling wires. The engine caompartment main harness looks like something out of a Gruman E2C Hawk Eye.

I'm kind of down for the week as I'm leaving on business tomarow.

I'v also investigated aftermarkes electronics. The only one that comes close to doing everything is the MoTec unit $5000. + $500 for throttle by wire option + $500 for 12 cyl option. It will talk to the CAN so the transmission could be programed but you need to be a hacker and crack the protocals.

Also I'm not sure if this unit will operate 2 throttles or maybe I need to get 2 6 cyl controlers with seperate throttle controls.

Therefore I will be making every effort to make the MB controlers work. In removing the main engine compartment harness so far I have taken about 50 pictures of all the routing and each connector and I am labling each connector. It looks like I'm going to have to cut the Engine harnesses (Very Painfull) and use MIL Spec aircraft connectors to make up some kind of extention because right now the only place I can relocate the computer box may be in the trunk. Then I will remake the Other harnesses by hand.

Since the electronic transmission needs both rear wheel speed sensors. I might bite the bullet and install the entire ESP system into the 560SL. That would be cool

John Roncallo

[Roncallo]

Well progress this week was contained to reverse engineering of the MB SL600 wiring due to sevear cold wether here. Today I spent about 16 hours doing nothing but establishing the pinouts for the computer boxes. So far I got both ME-SFI boxes complete and the Basic module. That was almost 300 pins. I still have at least two more modules to go ESP and Transmission control. ESP is 80 pins and I belive that ETC is about 40. It will have to wait until next week because all my other cars died this week due to neglect, and I think they also get jelouse.

I could just take a chance and put it all together without pinning out this stuff, just modify harnesses blindly as you go, but Im too scared to attempt it without knowlege.

John Roncallo

[Dr_Joe]

Truly Outstanding !

Forget the air conditioning ! Just drive faster with the top down.

[Roncallo]

Well thats about all I got for this weekend. It cost as much as a good set of wheels and tires too. If it was a female I would have called it Mercedes.

The next weekend I have where the wife is working and I'm not, I will be taking a vacation day to get this thing going.

next time
John Roncallo

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by 300EVIL

Hey John,
Freakin Awesome! Nice to see someone follow through with their dreams. Keep us posted.
You Rock!
Adam

Hey Adam

I just realized you made me a "Sticky". I was wondering why I was always on top. Its moving along slow and steady.

Thanks
John Roncallo