Swap 280 engine into 250C

[johnathan1]

Hi all, been a while since I posted on here but I need your help.

Just bought a 1971 250C with rod knock. The car is beautiful and runs but has a spun rod bearing (presumably). I'm wondering what my options are for engine swaps, as I don't want to rebuild the current engine if I don't have to. 280 model engines seem to be the most plentiful in the used market, so would it be possible to swap in one of those with little modification?

[Skippy]

Shouldn't be too tough. I know the transmissions interchange between the two and I'm told the short block of the M110 is nearly the same as that of the M130.

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing an M120 stuffed into a W114.

[Frank Reiner]

Re: M110 engine as replacement for M130

There are a number of small changes to be made and two or three medium to large changes.

The big ones: relocate battery tray from left front to right front, and delete the firewall-to-inner fenderwell braces. The braces are deleted because the cam box of the DOHC M110 is wider than that of the M130.

If you could find a complete donor car to supply all the small pieces it would help a great deal. The first choice in donors would be 1973 Fed. and Calif. and 1974 Fed. 280/280C, then 74-76 280/280C, then W116 280s. If you wanted to use a K-jet engine be aware that the M110 K-jet intake manifold does not fit in the W114 engine room.

You would either have to find or make exhaust down pipes to mate to whatever exhaust manifolds you found.

The M110 does bolt directly to the existing transmission, and engine mounts are the same.