Need advice on a project (motor swap) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mike690003 · #1 04-05-2006, 12:56 PM

I wanted to know if it was feasible to do this swap. I was thinking of swapping a mid 90's Ford Mustang 302 V8 or a Chevrolet 350 motor into a 300E (and maybe add a novi 1000

). I know it's the worst thing to do to the beloved W124, but I just wanted to know if it could be done easily. Has anyone done this before?
I need a lot of help to point me in the right direction.

Richard Wooldridge · #2 04-05-2006, 03:41 PM

You might enjoy looking at my engine conversion on a 300D...

http://freewebs.com/rwooldridge/mercedes.htm

t walgamuth · #3 04-05-2006, 10:40 PM

from time to time.

i have never pulled the trigger though. selling a hybrid benz i feel would be a problem.

but if given the choice of the chebby or the ford, i would pick the ford. it is much narrower than the chebby and will fit better. also i have had a soft spot for them since 65 when they were putting them in cobras.

i will take mine with four weber two barrels please.

tom w

mike690003 · #4 04-06-2006, 07:48 AM

Ok, I will most likely go with the Ford 302 motor. How difficult of a swap would this be?

I most likely will not be selling this car, it would just be a little sleeper I would drive on the weekends.

t walgamuth · #5 04-06-2006, 08:35 AM

there is everything to adapt. wiring, motor mounts, exhaust system, and driveshaft. not to mention engine electronics, cooling system. power steering and brake booster.

why not use a 5 liter mb motor? lots of things will be made easier and it should be more sellable. and you can get a good used one for prob a lot less than the purchase price of the ford plus the cost to adapt.

if you do go with the ford, then it would prob be best to take the tranny too.

tom w

tvpierce · #6 04-06-2006, 11:22 AM

Check out this link:

http://www.converseengineering.com/inhouse.htm

This guy has made a name for himself converting RWD Volvos to Ford V8 power. (He's been featured in Car & Driver, and has built cars for Paul Newman, and David Letterman.) He'll do the swap for you at his facility, sell you a kit so you can do it yourself, or work with your local mechanic to help him do it.

The 5th car down on the "In-House" coversion page is an '89 300 TE with a Lincoln Mark VIII engine. Looks like a cool project.

BTW, his conversions use the Ford tranny -- which is great because it makes it easier to go with a 5 speed manual (which would certainly be preferable for a vehicle of this capability)

jp

t walgamuth · #7 04-06-2006, 06:09 PM

machinist would say..."it looks like it grew there".

translation: looks right, looks good a very sanitary looking installation as best can be told from a fairly small pic

tom w