300E engine in 190E 2.6:

[Porschetech9]

Hi, new member here. I was searching for info on dropping a 300E engine into a 190E 2.6. The 190 is clean but has a broken timing chain, I was thinking that a 3.0 engine is a logical replacement for a little more torque.

Is this a "plug and play" type of swap? Do I need to change any electronics or other accessories? The good news is that I have the 190 complete, so I could switch over anything I need. I know that both engines are essentially the same, the 190 is an 1989, does anyone know which years of 300 engine will plug right in? Lastly, how much increase in torque am I looking at between the two?

Thanks a ton in advance, and I apologize if this has been covered to death already, if so maybe someone can link me to the appropriate thread.

I am sure that it would bolt in, but the question would be the ECM, such as it is.

Try to contact some of the guys at Potomac. If you will do a search here on Potomac you can probably come up with their contact info. They are a large MB salvage yard, and there is at least one guy there who has put together some cars like you are talking about. Someone there would know just what pieces you would have to bring from the donor car to make the 3.0 run right.

Good luck with it and keep us posted on progress.

[david s poole]

i did that swap on a 1990 2.6 which was my own car.whatever you need for info i can provide.

There you go PorscheTech. The answer was closer to home than the Patomac River. I should have known that David would be into something like this.

[Porschetech9]

Thanks a lot, both of you! I knew that I would find some actual first hand experience here, which of course is better than the "I heard of a guy once"... type of experience.

David, was the jump in performance pretty significant or observable? It does seem that the 3 liter has ~30 lbs. more torque. I was just thinking "why not", if it's a simple swap. Can you tell me which parts are different and would need to come from the donor (300E) car? Thanks a lot in advance!

[david s poole]

ok first and foremost you will need to find engine and trans from a late 89 or earlier.they changed the f.i. in 1990 to a 50+ pin computer from the 36 pin.that being said,motor mount arms from 190 are essential and good idea to have the larger 300 trans.300e computer not essential but nice.my car was a fireball,i did the swap when 4k mls for a 3k engine.