72 600SWB needing parts/advice
 

A good friend of mine has a 72 600SWB,he bought it last year for restoration.We are finally getting ready to start on it and are needing some engine parts.The car is about 90-95%there but it is a complete basket case.We took the block and a couple of pistons to the machine shop to have the cylinders checked,rehoned,and the pistons test fitted.When we were looking at the pistons we found one with a broken skirt,really haven't inspected the rest of them yet.The machinist called us last week and really doesn't seem to interested in doing any of the work.He did say that it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $24,000.00 to rebuild and assemble it.I told my friend that the guy was out of his mind.We plan on doing all the assembly ourselves.So now I am looking for someone/someplace to purchase the parts we are going to need.Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.TIA.

The machinist is being kind to you . A good engine rebuild on the M100 engine will cost a cool $40,000 . If the injewction pump is worn out ,as it will be,there is $2000 straight up (Pacific Fuel injection,South San francisco) to rebuild it.
Pistons are $1000-$1500 each . (I have four new ones if you need them) .

head gaskets are $300-$600 each,
'
If the heads are corroded out and need replacing you are looking at $5000 each.

The Worlds most famous 600 restorer,Karl Middlehauve, said that the 600 is a $200,000 car. By one for $20,000 and it will cost you $180,000 to get it road worthy.
http://www.mbgrand600.com/

This isn't the forum to ask questions about 600's, Go here
www.m-100.cc
There is more than enough knowledge on that site to get the car on the road.
You must realize that there only 2500 600's built from 1964 to 1982 and each and everyone was built to order so parts are expensive .Very Expensive because new parts are just that,New parts made to order ,not stuff that has been sitting on the shelf for 30 years.
And I haven't got into the the real complicated matter of the hydrualics.

The 600 cars aren't that hard to work on but the parts are very exspensive. The air suspension is pretty much like any other 300 series car from that time period. The brakes are somewhat complicated and the engine is more or less similar to a 6.3
The hydrualics aren't that bad either but regardless of difficulty you need a work shop manual before you try anything. There are a number of things that can be sorted out on your own but it sounds like you have a very large hill to climb.

I have a 6.3 engine sitting in dry storage. This could be a much cheaper answer to your problem.
We're working on a 1968 600, totally rust free and everything works great. All I did to tune the engine was an oil change - it runs great.

I called Karl looking for a few things and he really didnt show any interest in talking with me. If you want to spend a lot of coin this would be a good place to start....
I'm told he's pretty much retired, or ready to retire, so that makes sense when you look at it.

I have a dealers parts book that really helps out.

All good advice, I too have complete motors in reserve for the future, Do go to the M100 site for direction.

Unfortunately the shop manual doesn't cover stuff that happens to 40 year old 600's like the auxilliary heater pump failing,or that you must have the air pumped up before you have brakes . Or the temp controlled fan is a design that requires a lot of work to get right or that the hydrualic pump can be damaged if you run the engine with out hydraulic oil or a fualty accumulator. A lot to learn before you go driving but once on the road you will understand why the uber rich prefer them to Maybachs..:)

Wow - $1,000 for one piston? that makes the $500 distributor cap in the Citroen SM seem perfectly reasonable.

mahle make the pistons but only to order and they come with rings and pin. Afew years ago there was only one guy at mahle who did the M100 pistons and he would only come into work when there was an order ,being retired. it's hard to get the correct pistons now too .
Karl has several As new engines from the Sultan of Bruei's Fleet which were converted to V12's .

Last I saw the 600's distributor cap was cheaper than the M112 distributor cap, but what Ron said is right. These cars require very deep pockets. Once you survive an engine repair, there are the many, many things for the cosmetics to worry about.

If you want a car to fix because it's fun and maybe even practical. This one isn't it. On the other hand if your friend has a strong sentimental attachment to the car or you really, really like a hard challenge, then maybe you've got a starting point.

-CTH

I always wanted a 600, but I'm still not crazy enough to go through with it. Posts like this confirm my sanity.

I say put a Chevy 350 in it. :D

Actually, I have two 6.3 engines as spares. Since I don't own a 6.3 I'd part with one of them.

Anyone have a LT rear tail light lense for one of these cars?