1988 560 SEC Engine Rebuild and Upgrade
 

recently got a 1988 560 SEC - great body high mileage +200K
I want to fully rebuild the engine and also get another 50 to 100 hp
Any advice or suggestions appreciated
Steve

High-quality machine.
Expensive to rebuild.
I don't know about upgrades; if I wanted to do this I would put a crate GM 350 in it.
What condition is the engine in? I would evaluate: compression? definately new timing chain, tensioner, rails if it hasn't already had them. The basic engine might still be solid enough for more service with just heavy maintenance. I would not run it hard unless I either did not care what the likely consequences were, or had plenty of money to fix what breaks. Good luck.

if the car has had good care it may well be good for another 200k without major overhaul.

if i wanted more power i would look for a used euro engine and sell my good used one, if it is a good used one.

tom w

I have a customer with over 800k on one of those motors. Why would you rebuild it.

If you want performance get something else!

Well, to start a set of cams and headers would be good. Beyond that you are in to porting the heads/intake and swapping out the pistons for 10-1 slugs.

We are doing a project 560 right now.. 10-1 JE's, light porting on intake/heads, headers and a cam grind up just a notch from what AMG used to offer.

Jonathan

Agreed that the Euro ECE engine is the best switch, 300hp is better than 238 hp. I read somewhere that some fellow in Belgium has a few crate motors for sale there.

A new (wider) crossover pipe, and some custom headers would really help.

Another suggestion might be to swap out the stock 2:47 diff. in favor of a 2:82. You might lose a few mpg and something on the top speed end, but how oftgen do you need to go 145 mph anyway?

FYI, on that diff you are going to have to go w/ an open diff which is Horrible on any car that has some HP available too it.

Drove a customers 500E and I'd say my Biggest complaint is the open 2.82..that and they use ASR to keep things from spinning.. You Really want to stick w/ an LSD or posi diff..esp. if you plan on upping the HP down the road.

Jonathan

Thanks for the great feedback and suggestions -


Jonathon
I am very interested in your 560 upgrade project
10 or 11 to 1 CR JE pistoneys would be good
also headers and new exhaust system
were your cam new or reprofiled?
what grind etc
where can I get some these perfromance engines or aftermarket parts
I want to convert to EFI cause the low vacuum from bigger lump cams will likely killl the old OEM fuel injection K jetronic
thoughts?

I have a lot of engine development experience with race cars etc

Steve
stonehurst@sympatico.ca
Ottawa Ontario Canada

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BTW I have 3 MBs
2003 CLK430 AMG package
1988 560 SEC _ just recently
1985 SL380 - stock but mint - no winteres
also two Porsche 911s
1982 3.0 SC warmed up quite alot to 300hp weber 48IDA
1972 911 targa - stock euro

the germans would accompany more horsepower with a taller diff.

the euro 500s use a 224 and many if not all are posi units.

tom w