The Outlaws of Gruppe B

[mercmad6.3]

560 M117 .
almost a bolt in fit .

[GGR]

Hi all,

I have now installed the 5.0 M117 engine with 5 speed manual tran in my '62 W111 coupe. Some time ago a friend shot some videos of my car with his I-phone. In the three first links I'm presenting an explaining what I did on the car, and on the three last links we're driving in it. The last one is a 0-100mph video. I did not go crazy on the clutch nor in the shifts as all this is still a bit new an I don't want to grenade anything. But basically I shift in 2nd at 40mph, in third a 60mph (7s) and third is taking us up to 100mph (17s). I guess I will do better when the car is finished tuning and when I'm more confident with the transmission to shift harsher. I still have two more gears and I have no idea of the top speed yet!

Dimitri is amazing with metal work and he helped me swap the bigger transmission tunnel to accomodate the new transmission.

These videos were taken just litter after the swap and a lot of Megasquirt tuning was still going on.

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/5/N_h3yTLapLE

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/4/nuOeRekbJoc

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/3/ShAdlPIZ4Dk

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/2/ziYdRxeDxuI

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/1/wmG_xcX62E0

http://www.youtube.com/user/stricht8#p/u/0/je5Fd6nzuK8

Since then, quite a lot of work has gone it the tuning and the car now works really well and is very fast. I was able to find some AMG technical info specifying that Their 5.0 needs Bosh W7DC spark plugs. My engine is close to theirs as I have used AMG replica camshafts and a tri-Y exhaust manifold system with no cats. So I fitted a set of these spark plugs and it works well.

I had to replace the 3.5 D-jet injectors by a set of 4.5 D-jet injectors so as to be able to use the vacuum actuated fuel pressure regulator and be able to tune Megasquirt a bit better. The system is now in its final configuration and ready for a Dyno tuning session. I will do that when I'm back from mission, may be sometime in December.

Unfortunately, the 3.27 LSD rear end that I had rebuilt has now developed some (a lot of) pinion backlash. I guess I did not sit the races properly and now it all needs to be readjusted. That was my first rear end rebuild, I guess this is how one learns and gains experience. The back U-joint of the prop shaft also has developed quite some play. The car still drives OK, but it's not pleasant. So I unearthed another 3.27 rear end I had (non LSD) and opened it. All bearings and races looked fine in the differential and the spider pin had no play in the diff carrier so I just cleaned everything, replaced all seals as well as the left wheel roller bearing, fitted new grease and a 6.3 sliding joint i had in reserve with a good sliding sleeve, i also replaced the center bearing on a spare prop shaft I had which has good U-joints. i'm now left with painting all this and fitting it in the car. I will then check my LSD 3.27 and may be use it in my Pagoda 5.6 project though I'm planning to go with a 2.85 on that one for now.

At this occasion I will also replace the center heavy duty compesating spring with a normal/softer one as I feel the suspension is a bit too stiff in the back. i will also try to get a bit of negative camber. The compensating spring swap may take care of that. If not, I will have to see what I can do with the center mount: the one I have is harder shore which is good to keep the center arm from moving around, but it also keeps it a bit higher than original. I already have the thinnest shims on the suspension springs.

The good news is that the home-made reinforced hybrid 4speed V8/5speed L6 transmission is working really great and smooth, and is handling the power and torque with no problems.

That's all for now.