New to the board have a 280 W114 Coupe... Need Help with Engine Swaps

[Tomguy]

We're throwing around suggestions with no idea as to what you're still able to spend. We know your budget is $2009 but we have no idea what you paid for the Merc so we don't know what you have left!

People swap the 5.7 hemi into their 3.5 magnums, 300s, and chargers so you may be able to make a deal with someone because they dont typically get over $1000 from what I understand for the engine/trans combo, and since they need to swap out the entire ecu and tcm, you may be able to get the whole package (hence my suggestion) BUT obviously if you can't get it that cheap, it's out of the picture. It'd be interesting I think but maybe that's the best word for it!

MB engines go in easily and this is an MB forum so you'll find a lot of suggestions for MB engines. An aluminum 500 or 560 with matching trans would put out MAYBE 300 HP so power to weight it's probably not what you want. It would be easy and cheap though. The older-gen 5.slow... well, it's a 5.slow for a reason

Do the TBI conversion and boost it... fastest, easiest and probably the most reliable.

[RetroRodMerc]

When I talk about lowering the car, I meant like heavier rated springs or similar suspension mod... Sway bars, strut tower brace, etc... I am still learning about the W114 with regard to improving handling on the cheap.

As for the Motor - If I swap out the M110 then I am not likely to put in another Mercedes Motor regardless of which one it is less its next to free.

I talk about improving on the M110 short term - because that keeps me under the budget for the GRM Challenge. Less I can work out a non-MB Motor swap that keeps me under the budget.

After the Challenge then I can do anything to the Car I want.

Although - Why would I want to swap in another MB Motor even if I did not have to worry about the GRM Budget? - I might be out of line - but no matter what MB Motor is in the Vehicle - does it not by Virtue of being a MB mean a heck of a lot more $$ when I need a part than say a Buick or Ford 3.8? Or a 5.0 Ford? Or anything other Than an Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, VW Motor?

I get their are considerations with using a MB and get one cheap perhaps, but cheap to buy used, does not gurantee cheap to repair, replace or rebuild if its any german made anything?

Seriously one consideration to swaping out a MB Motor - is getting away from expensive parts and service.

With Tweaking the M110 - I can drive it, shake it down, etc.. before the challenge then run it in the challenge, then do whatever I want.

So an Eaton Supercharger on the M110 - any one of several I already own - has serious merit in my book.

But that does not preclude me from shopping and researching the motor swap cause that might be even better than fooling with the M100 - under boost it will likely be a great liability than a swapped in motor. - Which is another chief consideration - what ever I do has to make it through the GRM challenge.

3 Events - Appearance, Drag & Track - so I have to consider all that into the budget.

[RetroRodMerc]

Geessh, I thought I included what I paid for the car in a previous post, I went back and see that I left that out. What a Boneheaded Move. 350.00 Delivered to my Driveway.

That leaves me - 1659.00 I will likely Primer the car - so no worries about serious paint job, just a nice solid flat black or grey or 2 tone black and gray. X cans of Primer Spray paint and some tape - so lets say 1600.00

So I have to consider Tires - 4 of those in suitable size plus servicing the stock engine (tune up) Bleed Brakes and flush radiator, oil, grease everything, etc... that applies to any motor I put in their.

But If I say 200.00 to cover all that

Then I have 1400.00 to work with.

Of course anything I can do to say money will give me a little more to work with.

I could possibly swap in a motor and trans if I get a good enough deal and get the drive shaft bit done, junkyard pieced together exhaust and all that... but 1400 is kind of a tight budget.

Now If I could say swap in a motor and trans, plus do the drive shaft for say 1000. Well that rocks... but anything that requires installing and wiring EFI, well that complicates the install and may lead to additional expense beyond the cost of the motor and trans, ecu, etc..

Now I have seriously considered the DODGE 2.2/2.5 With adapter to Bolt it to a RWD trans. The motor is dirt cheap and the EFI bit is cake to wire in. --- but the adapter does add to the cost --> I can get a motor running for a max of 400.00

I like the MB suggestions, but can't say that it really works in my budget, let alone long term cost of operation.

Please keep them coming.

I know for about 850 - in parts and everything else I could have a 2.5 Dodge I4 Turbo engine, with mods putting down over 300HP and Ft Lbs with adapter and trans... but I don't know if that the way I want to go.

My Dakota was a Stock NA 2.5 and I swapped in a Turbo 2.5 and that truck would move.

Interesting, different, I am all for that, so long as can make it work in my budget for now - I can get stupid with it after the GRM Challenge.

As I mentioned I do have the Buick Motors - If I assign a junkyard value to them then lest say 400.00 plus need a trans...

On the other hand I love the idea of pushing the limits of the M110...

But what about handling and all that --- that's another consideration.

Is their bits from other cars that I can use to wake this car up?