What to do?

[doodah]

I am itching to do something with my SLC. Problem is everything is so expensive to fix. I am torn between letting it sit for years and see if it becomes worth restoring, selling it and getting something I can do more of the work on (like a mustang) that won't cost so much, or pulling the engine and tranny and putting an american v8 and tranny in it. If I replace the engine and tranny I would do more aftermarket or custom work to the interior like after market seats and not worry about things being MB as long as they looked good. I love the lines of the car so the outside I wouldn't touch, keep it as original as possible. Any thoughts? How tough would it be to get a Ford or Chevy small block into a 107?

[psfred]

Rear sump engines aren't worth the effort -- if you are going to swap, try a Ford smallblock, or possibly a Chyrsler (if you can find one, they are getting scarce these days).

Chances are you will spend more on doing that than on buying a good used Benz V8 and dropping it in -- you are going to have to do a custom transmission and driveline installation, too, the Benz tranny ain't gonna just bolt up to the Ford V8.

If you can work on a Ford, you can work on the Benz, is all the same but different, so to speak.

Get a manual -- while the Benz procedures are different, they aren't impossible by any means.

What exactly is wrong with the car?

Peter

[ctaylor738]

Don't hold your breath waiting for it to go up in value, that's for sure.

[cth350]

what year, model slc? Replacement engines are easy to find. -CTH

[doodah]

The engine is fine and runs strong. The tranny shifts good and I don't think that there is anything wrong with it. It makes a noise from time to time that sounds like an a/c compressor going out, only the a/c isn't working and the noise comes from underneath the car. It is sporadic and not constant, kind of a grinding noise so to speak. I posted the topic to get an idea of the direction I should go in with the car. I want to start working on the car and getting it in good and reliable running order and increase the performance in the process. If the SLC cars are never going to be collectable I won't fret about keeping the car all original. It is a 75 model. I am thinking I might try and make it an autocross car for the local SCCA events? Trick it up like the old AMG SLC from the 70s that they ran in Trans Am. The reason I looked to the Ford V8 was because of the plentiful supply of aftermarket performance parts. I would love to have 400+ hp in the car but don't see that happening with the original engine. Just not enough out there to boos performance. Even forced induction is really not an option, don't know if you could get enough fuel to avoid detonation. Anyway, you guys have given me some idea on the level of difficulty in doing a transplant. I have seen some cars with small block Fords but didn't know how much was involved in getting everything done. I'll keep pondering.

[j9fd3s]

what class? if you do something like stock class you really cant do much to the car, its kinda nice cause you just have to worry about being a better driver.

[cth350]

A modified SLC was sold on ebay a few months back that had a 3.5l euro motor and a factory 4-speed, aluminum hood, and lots of other things to save weight and boost it's performance.

The 4.5 cast iron motor with D-jet is easy to replace with a motor from a 450se, another 450sl/slc, or even a 280se 4.5.

To drop in a ford, you have to play with drive shaft, engine mounts & exhaust, not to mention rear gear ratio if you don't like what you have.

To switch to a 4-speed, you need to find a 107 chassis clutch pedal assembly. I happen to have one, but I'm not ready to part with it. I also have a rear from 350slc (3.46 gear ratio), should you discover that's the set of numbers you want.

-CTH

[doodah]

Haven't really thought about the class. I would like to do stock because the car is so short on power, but I think they limit suspension mods as well and the car is pretty heavy. So it would be overweight and underpowered to do very well stock. And if I go to one of the unlimited classes I could shed a lot of weight and do some good mods to the suspension but still would be limited with ways to get more power. I might just work on stripping and redoing the interior of the car while I ponder what to do.

[Tomguy]

You COULD always pop in a 5.6, modify the fuel lines accordingly... you'd get 300HP or so, and you can put a super/turbocharger on that much easier than a D-Jet engine!

[wbain5280]

For one thing, don;t try to do everything at once. Make a short list of easy stuff and fix that first. Keep fixing things and eventually the car will be in great shape.

Get used parts to keep the cost down or buy from Ebay.

[j9fd3s]

Originally posted by doodah
Haven't really thought about the class. I would like to do stock because the car is so short on power, but I think they limit suspension mods as well and the car is pretty heavy. So it would be overweight and underpowered to do very well stock. And if I go to one of the unlimited classes I could shed a lot of weight and do some good mods to the suspension but still would be limited with ways to get more power. I might just work on stripping and redoing the interior of the car while I ponder what to do.

my advice would be to start in stock class and move up as you and the car get better. these things are about 70% driver and 30% car. the more unlimted you get the most $$$$ it gets too. you might be lucky and live in a region where you can find a class that doesnt have a lot of competition and works for the mods you want to do too. we're 2nd in the nasa ps1 in northern ca because theres only 3 of us

mike