I bought a gasser - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ashedd · #1 07-31-2010, 03:44 AM

I just bought a '92 400E..

So I am formally introducing myself. I am from the dark and dirty diesel world. I have a very rare '87 300d 5 spd and look forward to the gas MB world. It's been a very long time since I have put gas in a car....

Do I really need premium?

samiam44 · #2 07-31-2010, 05:18 AM

Yep you need premium with 10:1 compression.

They are very nice cars- parts are WAY more expensive for the V8's. Timing chain guide rails are a known weakness which will destroy an engine. Hope it's in great condition! I own a 94'.
You can change the rear-end gears for a nice improvement in acceleration and driveability.

Michael

400Eric · #3 07-31-2010, 06:09 AM

You can sometimes run regular or mid-grade when the weather is cool. Remember, the 92's 10 to 1 compression ratio isn't as stiff as the 11 to 1 of the 93 and later 4.2s. I sometimes cheat the octane game by running octane booster I find on sale. Anything over three dollars though is a waste because if you do the math, that's the price difference between a tank of regular and a tank of premium. Don't use anything made by Johnsons though because they are crap. Also make sure that when you do buy mid-grade or premium, that you are really getting said grade. Fact: One out of four pumps aren't dispensing what they claim to be. Buyer beware.

Do not change the gears in your 400E. You will regret it. The fuel economy will suffer. I'm running uncorrected consistent 14.4s in the 1/4 mile now in street trim at a over one thousand foot elevation track with the stock 2.24s. Leave them gears alone son.

If you want to hop it up a little, read about my adventures with mine here and on 500Ecstasy. Start with my dragstrip threads and please share your adventures in those threads as well. That was my original intent with those threads but hardly anyone else is drag racing MBs. That needs to change!

Hows about being a sport and selling me or trading me that 87 300D! I'll trade you two nice 300Es for it! It's only fair that I should be allowed to take the plunge into MB diesel ownership since you are taking the plunge into MB gasser ownership!
Regards, Eric

400Eric · #4 07-31-2010, 06:29 AM

Your post reminded me I've been needing to update my sig for almost a year now!

Done!
Regards, Eric

TheDon · #5 07-31-2010, 09:25 AM

A second Bricklin owner on this forum... wow

400Eric · #6 07-31-2010, 09:59 AM

It's gonna get a stock looking and sounding AMC 401 and then I want to put it in one of those "Texas Mile" type races, one that has a pre-75 made in North America stock class. Put a couple of those metal strips to hold the rear window in place, an automatic overdrive, and then go get me a trophy and some recognition for all Bricklins! I know it's not quite that simple but I can't think of another pre-75 car that is this aerodynamic that has so little frontal area that was made in North America. It should rule it's class. Problem is I haven't found an event that has that sort of class yet. It doesn't seem fair to have to pit the Brick against a brand new Z06 Corvette.

Is yours an early AMC powered one or a later Ford powered one?

My Brick isn't the new addition BTW, the 95 E420 is. I just modified the Brick's description (shortened it) to make room for the E420.

O.P., sorry about going O.T. but you know that I'm gonna make it up to you by helping you make your 400E into a rocket!
Regards, Eric

david s poole · #7 07-31-2010, 11:35 AM

just for grins,back in '93 i took a customers brand new 400e and changed the diff ratio to that of the 500e 2.75 i think.compared to the standard 2.25 it made that car much faster.of course there were the usual unforseen problems such as speedo and abs brakes but i sorted it out.

ashedd · #8 07-31-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400Eric

Hows about being a sport and selling me or trading me that 87 300D! I'll trade you two nice 300Es for it! It's only fair that I should be allowed to take the plunge into MB diesel ownership since you are taking the plunge into MB gasser ownership!
Regards, Eric

I get a lingering feeling that I might sell it someday. I want to put a 260e rear end in it. It pulls pretty darn hard but the gearing is a bit tall. I get 65@2000rpm 75@2200rpm and around 100@3000... kinda hard to look at the speedo while weaving through traffic at that speed. Plus I have an injection pump in the basement that I am working on now that will give it lots more fuel. Currently the minor mods I have done are too much for the clutch and I need a bigger performance clutch.

It does that V8 body roll thing when you rev it at the light lol. Not to mention the black smoke

Always wanted a 300e.... I have a whole other 5 spd swap "kit" with a gas transmission. But I would be willing to bet my 300d is as fast as a stock 300e or faster. I know I can keep up with a new V6 mustang... don't think that guy was expecting that.

400Eric · #9 08-01-2010, 01:17 AM

Please don't change the gears in the 300D either. Tall gears are a real joy on the highway. At 65 MPH in my 400E, if I nail it I get a 2 gear kickdown clear down into 2nd and the car is unbeatable in that mode. My bud's 500E with 2.82s won't do that on the freeway at all, even if you try to do it manually. Most of my skirmishes are from a roll anyway. That's just how it seems to work out in the real world.

When I'm in that 500E, I'm always looking down at the shifter to make sure it's in drive cause it always seems like it's stuck in third.

Shorter gears also make a car more prone to wheelspin. You don't need short gears to go fast and have good acceleration. At a dead stop, as long as I'm pointed perfectly straight, I can hit the gas as hard as I want and the car won't spin. No special feathering techniques, no ASR required. Just punch it while doing the Sammy Haggar grunt and go. My 14.4s correct to 14.0s BTW.

You'll love my 300Es though cause they are rust free California cars and were made while MB was still putting 3.07s gears in them (90 and later ones have taller gears). 3.07s combined with that spare 5 spd overdrive that you already have would make a low gear lover like you pretty happy. These also have a higher redline than even your 400E does!

We can run the 300D against the 300Es when we get together to do the trade. My money's on the 300Es!

Regards, Eric