cheap 6.3 on ebay

[108seeker]

I saw this and thought somebody might be interested. I know the rule of thumb is that these things aren't worth dealing with if they need work. And no, this isn't my car...lol.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2450609313&category=6330

That is a beautiful car. I wish I had some extra money for that thing. I think my 4.5 is fast. I would love to drive a 6.3. Only problem is that air suspension. Any problems and you are out a couple thousand dollars.
Tim

[gerryvz]

There is no such thing as a "cheap 6.3"

http://buying.articles.mbz.org/m100

Cheers,
Gerry

[ctaylor738]

... his is sort of the M-100 club view of the world, namely that you buy a car and immediately set out to do all of the things that it needs to become perfect.

But there is another school of thought (namely mine) that says "just drive it." It's a $3000 car! It doesn't need to be perfect! So what if it has a little rust and some "dingy" pieces on the interior, or the suspension will only stay up for a week, or the wood isn't show quality? Make sure that it's safe, roadworthy, and dependable, and drive it. Have a good time working on it and learning about it.

But don't make it your sole mode of transportation. Make sure your AAA is current, and develop a good relationship with the used-parts guys.

There are large numbers of cars like the 6.3 on eBay that have reasonable miles (106K is not bad at 33 years) and reasonable care, that can be driven, worked-on, and enjoyed at reasonable cost if approached in the right frame of mind - accept them for what they are.

[TX76513]

That would be an excellent project car Oregon is kinda out of my area Is that the original steering wheel for that 100?

[ctaylor738]

That is definitely a later wheel.

BTW - Isn't Kopfschmerzen a masculine plural noun? Why are you using an indefinite feminine singular article (eine) with it? Is this a colloquial expression?

[TX76513]

Originally posted by ctaylor738
That is definitely a later wheel.

BTW - Isn't Kopfschmerzen a masculine plural noun? Why are you using an indefinite feminine singular article (eine) with it? Is this a colloquial expression?

You may exceed me on my German understanding - but was thinking both Kopfschmerzen (headache) and eine (a) are non gender words - guess that gives me a bigger Kopfschmerzen

[gerryvz]

I'm not espousing a "M-100 Club" point of view. I'm not currently even affiliated with nor a member of the M-100 Group nor any other M-100 related organization.

Unfortunately 6.3s tend to be just a bit more finicky than most cars when it comes to deferred maintenance. Not to mention, that driving a poorly maintained 6.3 is worse than not driving a 6.3 at all. Let me just point out the safety issues, not to mention the drivability issues, with a 6.3 in poor condition.

http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/PhotoAlbum38.html

http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/PhotoAlbum39.html

I'd personally be VERY careful about buying a used 6.3 and not replacing many many things that need replacing, such as fuel hoses, motor mounts, front subframe mounts, water hoses.

This car in Eugene is interesting because it's a European edition, but bottom line: it's a rolling parts car. I've seen dozens of people get in so far over their heads so fast with "cheap" 6.3s over the years, it would make your head spin.

The only way to make good money on a 6.3 of this type as an investment is to purchase it and part it out. If you take the time, you can double your investment !

Cheers,
Gerry

[108seeker]

"I'd personally be VERY careful about buying a used 6.3 and not replacing many many things that need replacing, such as fuel hoses, motor mounts, front subframe mounts, water hoses."

I get what you're saying (and I'm not interested in this car myself), but that statement is true of ANY car. At least it would be for me.

[TX76513]

Gerry - good links esp. the Colditz photos - Small Swiss garage - what would be the chances of getting a SLK fixed at say a small
US shop

[wbain5280]

Originally posted by gerryvz
I'm not espousing a "M-100 Club" point of view. I'm not currently even affiliated with nor a member of the M-100 Group nor any other M-100 related organization.

Unfortunately 6.3s tend to be just a bit more finicky than most cars when it comes to deferred maintenance. Not to mention, that driving a poorly maintained 6.3 is worse than not driving a 6.3 at all. Let me just point out the safety issues, not to mention the drivability issues, with a 6.3 in poor condition.

http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/PhotoAlbum38.html

Nice pics Gerry.

http://homepage.mac.com/gerryvz/PhotoAlbum39.html

I'd personally be VERY careful about buying a used 6.3 and not replacing many many things that need replacing, such as fuel hoses, motor mounts, front subframe mounts, water hoses.

This car in Eugene is interesting because it's a European edition, but bottom line: it's a rolling parts car. I've seen dozens of people get in so far over their heads so fast with "cheap" 6.3s over the years, it would make your head spin.

The only way to make good money on a 6.3 of this type as an investment is to purchase it and part it out. If you take the time, you can double your investment !

Cheers,
Gerry

[Tomguy]

Well, this just makes me think of an idea I had long ago...

Take a 108 with a frozen engine but good body (6 or 8, doesn't matter, just one with the booster not in the way). That's $1-2K.
Take your 6.3 "Rolling parts car." $5k.
Put its engine, tranny, and rearend into the 108.
Boom. Spring suspension 6.3. Replace subframes if needed, engine mounts, tranny mount when putting the stuff in.
The 6.3 SHOULD fit in a 108 I'd imagine - I always hear that the only difference between a 108 and 109 are the suspensions!
Plus you don't have the air compressor robbing power from the engine

I would love to do that but I'd need both of those - my 4.5 is way too gone body-wise to make this conversion! If I had it that far apart I'd take it to the welder for a week

[gerryvz]

A 6.3 engine will not fit into a 108 chassis without significant modification of the transmission tunnel, frame rails, and other smaller sheet-metal modifications underhood to make it fit.

Not an impossible task, but not exactly something that every do-it-yourselfer is capable of either.

Second, spring suspension would be insufficient and intractable to use with a 6.3 engine. Remember these engines are REALLY HEAVY -- on the order of a couple or three hundred pounds heavier than a 3.5 or 4.5. Without the damping and self-leveling provided by the air suspension, such a car would be intractable at best. It would drive like a pig.

One example of a 6.3 motor stuffed under the hood of a R113 Pagoda SL:

http://www.ritzsite.net/280SL63/01_SL63.htm

Cheers,
Gerry

[Tomguy]

Gerry: Frame rail modification? Isn't the 108 identical to the 109 framewise? Or is the 109 w/a 6.3 a different frame? I would, of course, get stiffer springs up front if needed, and stronger shocks - but I still think it'd be one hell of a conversion! If it can be shoehorned into a 111 to make a 280SE 6.3, it HAS to fit into a 108!

[gerryvz]

Yes, there was sheetmetal modifications and structural additions that had to be made to a standard 109 frame and chassis to get the 6. 3 motor under the bonnet.

A 6.3 is a standard 109 chassis that is tweaked.

There are subtle differences between the 108 and 109 chassis.

Most coupe conversions that I know of have been air-suspended (300SE) coupes, not regular ones. Again, there are benefits to having the air suspension with the heavy 6.3 motor that make them a far better combination than standard springing.

The factory also tried shoving a 6.3 into the 113 (as my acquaintance Derek successfully did) but it was found to be far far too nose-heavy to be worthy of production.

Cheers,
Gerry