1970 w/ a 350 & 700R4

[dalba]

Well after two years chugging around in my 68, 6cyl, I got tired of driving a dog. I sold it for a loss (to be expected) and was intent on a Porsche.

Couple of weeks later I see a converted 1970 280SE.

Arrange a meeting later that weekend, nervous that someone else would get to it first.

Got it home, paid 1000 for it, rebuilt 350, rebuilt 700R4 super clean conversion. All stock gauges used, stock shifter used, single peice drive shaft, 4.5 rear end, no sub frame modification. Car looks stock.

Came with a leather interior. vacuum locks, pw.

Could use a bigger exhaust, and a little carb work.

The paint is original and with some rubbing compund shined right up (two days with a rotary polisher 1200-1500 rpm).

I have a few rust spots, but nothin a little fiber glass and some spot painting can't take car of.

Of course the best part is i no longer drive a dog, lays rubber in first and throws itself to hi-way speed with ease.

I just wanted to flaunt that I'd joined the heart transplant club, and like others wouldn't have it any other way!

[t walgamuth]

glad you are having fun with it.

why not post some pics for us, especially the motor stuff.

tom w

[alabbasi]

I would like to try that someday.... If for anything just to have street sleeper.

Well done

[Wodnek]

Interesting...

you would be subject to a public flogging for this on the diesel forum.

But, the vintage forum is like cool...

cool...

post pics.

[ctaylor738]

Hey - I had an Austin Healey 3000 with a 350 HP 327, Muncie 4-speed, and a Pontiac rear-end. What a blast!

One question - did the AC get hooked up correctly?

We would all like to see some pictures.

[Tomguy]

It looks stock - except for under the hood of course! I'd love to see some pics too. There's probably more room under the hood (at least visually) with the 350 than there is with a 4.5. It must be a pretty good sleeper!

[dalba]

The AC was waiting to be hooked up, but sadly the PO didn't cover the openings on the condensor (the one in front of the radiator), so the inside was well oxidized.

I also wasn't intent on trouble shooting the AC delco compressor + Thermo King combo.

Quite a sleeper.

[ctaylor738]

Nice. Could use a little tidy-up, but very clean.

Showing my age - the exhaust manifolds are the original "ram's horn" type that were used on these V8's when they were 265 and 283 CI. Back in the day, you couldn't wait to rip them out and stick a set of headers in.

[Tomguy]

That does look nice. And I was right, LOTS more room with that engine than the 4.5 - and it probably weighs a lot less too. Please tell us you're going to put nice headers on that bad boy!

[dalba]

It took me a bit of looking, but hooker makes a set of block huggers with a flat collector. I know a good exhuast shop, so as soon as I get the priorities fixed, I'll open it up.

Yeah the ram's horns take everyone back adding to that restriction the PO routed the exhuast through the stock dual piping.

Needs new front springs, tie rods, front seats the leather was shot.

I have a electric fuel pump kit, 3/4 of a good stereo (waiting for a head unit from a member here), shocks.

The 700R4 has a 3.06 ratio in first, so even with the 3.23 rear it's just oodles of fun to mash the gas in first and wait for the screeching to stop.

[davestlouis]

I saw a W126 with a small block Chevy in a parking lot recently, it was broken down so I stopped to help. The owner laughed as I walked up and looked in the engine compartment, and couldn't figure out what I was looking at...this guy had done the transplant, which was fine with me, but the faux-convertible (cabriolet) top was too much for me, and the gold-anodized emblems were over-the-top.

I detest cabriolet tops, and can't help but wonder what people are thinking, especially when the car has a sunroof...they're mixing their metaphors, with a sunroof and "convertible" top.

Anyway, if you have a car that you like and enjoy driving, more power to ya, beats the hell out of a dead W108 laying in a field quietly rusting. I try to keep my cars all as close to stock as I can but do appreciate engine swaps and things, as long as they are well done, and not rigged-up.

[t walgamuth]

i am amazed that the chebby motor is not wider than that in relation to the frame. i am sure the rams head exh are a big part of it. the stock headers on my 500sec come pretty straight out and turn horizontally.

i doubt it is lighter than the 450 though.

but with the od tranny it will probably not be too bad on fuel.

tom w

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by Wodnek

Interesting...

you would be subject to a public flogging for this on the diesel forum.

But, the vintage forum is like cool...

cool...

post pics.

I used to daydream about making a sleeper out of a blown-up motor W123 diesel by dropping in a small-block Ford V8 (prefer having the distributor up front)
I may get my chance now as I'm going to look at a cheap fixer-upper '82 240D this week. But this one supposedly has a decent drivetrain and, in light of current fuel prices, I'll probably just wind up keeping it stock.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[psfred]

The Chevy engine/transmission is quite a bit lighter than the Benz V8, about the same as the six probably. It also won't run 500,000 miles without at least a couple rebuilds. Performance is probably on par with a good 4.5 in top shape with the mixture set on the rich end.

The Chevy V8 is much smaller than the Benz -- much shorter block (Benz doesn't use cutaway pistons, only full skirt), and the Chevy is a pushrod motor, not OHC.

Should get MUCH better milage on the highway with that overdrive tranny -- cancels the effect of the rear end. Avoid abruptly flooring that QuardraJet, it will apply intake vacuum to the fuel jets and suck a pint of so of gasoline down the intake all at once -- takes a while for the air valve to open up. If not installed, I would recommend a Holley spreadbore, approx 350 cfm, no larger. This will improve low end performance and reduce gasoline consumption by about 10%. I can make a QuadraJet work pretty good, but a Holley is MUCH less work for better results (and is a 20 year newer design to boot!).

Have fun with it! It will drive just like a stock Benz, which is the important point.

Peter

[t walgamuth]

another option if they still offer it is the edelbrock quadrajet clone.

i think it is hard to beat the quadrajet for economy and performance. but the stock carbs arent made very well.

i expect the edlebrock is higher quality.

tom w