front coil springs

[cristi-mic]

Hi everybody !!
It's been a very long time since I last visited one of my favourite sites !
I own a 1977 W123 240 Diesel model, and my question is about front springs : I would like to increase the road clearance by changing the front coil springs with those taken from a W123 280 inline-6 automatic petrol engine. Are these springs stiffer ? And how much stiffer if yes ?
I would appreciate an answer....
Mercedes rules !

[haasman]

My thoughts are: The springs are installed according to the weight of the engine. Thus a 240D is going to have lighter/softer springs than a 300D. The rears are very similiar.

I once replaced sagging rear 240D springs with ones from a 300D (non-turbo) and after deciding on the right spring collars, I was delighted with the results. Before it would sit low and ride low with light loads.

I would suggest first checking your spring collars. What bump rubber spring collars are installed front and rear?

Haasman

[cristi-mic]

I suppose, first , that the springs are interchangeable from one car to the other. I really don't know about the collars, I only wonder if a 2800 petrol inline-6 engine with automatic gearbox is heavier or much heavier than a cast-iron 2400 diesel engine with 4 gear manual transmission.... I don't really need a very big difference in road clearance, but some improvement. Roads here in Romania are bad, and I also plan to make (home, in my garage) a skidplate to protect the zillion-times-broken oil pan.