Adding hydraulics to a W123 that didn't have them

[cth350]

I have a 230CE that needs some overhaul. Shocks are high on my list and the first thing I thought of was to upgrade to the hydraulic system.

The little M102 engine is coming out for something larger and I'll be able to do the under the hood stuff with the spare parts on hand. The rear of a W123 is a little new to me. Where do the spheres hide on a production car? Tucked under the back seat?

I need to study the hydraulic schematics of the R129 to see if I want to use the spare pump I have or if I'm going old school with an engine mounted one. Not that I have decided which engine is going under the hood. I have to cut down the pile of M117 alloy motors in the garage and that 6-speed G420 is coming home soon, so this is the car that's getting that.

-CTH

[cth350]

It's been suggested that W126 rear struts might work better than the wagon W123 ones. Anybody have an opinion on that?

Thx -CTH

[cth350]

ooh, look, I have an updated build thread. -CTH

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by cth350

It's been suggested that W126 rear struts might work better than the wagon W123 ones. Anybody have an opinion on that?

As a point of reference, the collapsed and extended lengths of W114/115 rear dampers and those of W126s are the same. Are those of W123s also the same dimensions as W114/115s? If so, then W126s are a direct fit.