I have a chance to get a well maintained 450sel engine (M117) out of a 1978 450SEL.
A couple of questions:
- What are the hp, torque ratings of this motor ?
- I plan to swap this into a jeep grand wagoneer
I know the K-jet system well from owning a couple of Volvos. Is this a good torquey motor for a jeep ? (The AMC 360 in it puts out 160 hp and 270 torque when new)

I want a good, cool running v8 in the Jeep, is the 4.5 a good candidate ?

Next big question - is the 4-speed manual tranny from a 70's 115 body diesel a good fit for this motor ? Can they take the torque and keep chugging without shredding synchros ?

If not, is the 3-spd auto a better choice ?

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

Hp should be in the 180 - 200 range, but remember that German ratings are pretty conservative. Torque will be around 200 ft/lbs.

The real benefit of these engines is the 6200 rpm limit.

The diesel 4-speed will hold up -- it's the same one as was used in the V8 cars in Europe.

You will have to fabricate a drive shaft to couple onto the tranny, either way. You will also have to fabricate a slip joint somewhere in the shaft to accomodate the live axle since the tranny tailshaft doesn't float on MB engines. Any decent driveline shop will be able to do this for you if you have the front shaft from a Benz to work with.

Be careful with driveshaft angle -- you can put a U-joint behind the tranny, but it will have to be pretty far back to get the shaft coupling you need in there.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Unless you are building a show vehicle sure would not be my choise sounds like could be a nightmare of unforseen fitting and fabrication problems.would have to guess that a small block Chevy or Ford would have a better tourque curve for a jeep, with adapters easy to come by but why not just replace the engine with another 360 ...........

william Rogers...........

I have gone the 360 (and 401) route before and will again, however - lack of a good EFI system (that costs less than 2000 is a major obstacle), the Holley pro-jection systems are junk.
The 360 is a good motor and will go regularly over 250 kmi without a rebuild. I want a motor that I can drop in there and not worry about it for 5 years or so.

The swap is actually very easy - driveline stuff is something we jeepers do all the time. The motor mounts are easy too, its not like I am trying to mate the 4.5 to a jeep tranny, I plan to run a divorced transfer case behind the 4-speed

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1982 300SD (214 k, excellent shape) kidmobile running mostly biodiesel, gets 31 mpg hwy with 2.82 rear from a euro 500SEL



1976 115 body 240D 4-speed (traded for Jeep parts) - Engine lives on in my CJ7

A divorced transfer case will take care of all the problems.

You may want to take a look at rear end ratios, too -- the Benz engine will wind up a LOT more than a US V8, and will have to if you want low end torque -- they are much hotter further up the rpm range. Max hp and torque are going to be around 4000 rpm, not 2200.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Don't forget that it's a 4x4, changing the rear axle gearing will also necessitate changing the front diff gearing a$ well...

I would rebuild the 360 or go for a 401 if it was me.