(w108) Non-stock Mercedes wheels and tires, oh and motor too! lol - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

68_Mercedes · #76 10-16-2004, 11:43 AM

Here are some more points about the conversion that I have put in another thread, but I want to post it here too since this is where I am putting all the conversion info... (don't wnat people to have to chase to find it). This more applies to any chassis OTHER than a 108, since most of the specs are already here, and since we know we can use a set of front springs from a 108 280 SEL with a 4.5 V8. But it is still useful info....

Before starting this process, do what I did and check weights, HP and torque specifications, etc., etc., as I have listed in my post. It will give a better idea of what problems you may or may not run in to, and will also let you know things you need to do to correctly complete the conversion.

Another good idea... take your car to a scale... say like a trucking scale, and weigh it now as it is. When the retrofit is complete, take it back and weigh it again. It is very likely that you will have to have custom springs built for the front end. By knowing the stock weight of the car, and the retrofitted weight of the car, it will make a spring shop's task simple to retrofit you with a new set of springs....

Also, check the transmission and rear end gear ratios of the particular car you have, vs the typicl transmission & rear end ratios of the types of cars that the motor you chose would typically be installed in. Make sure that the rear end is not geared too high or too low for your application.... With my '68, the chevy motor/transmission did not mesh well with the Mercedes rear end which is why we pulled it and replaced it with a vette rear end. But in the '67, it still uses the Mercedes transmission and rear end, which work well together.

68_Mercedes · #77 10-16-2004, 11:57 AM

Some more useful information about the conversion:

Every time someone sees my '67 they scream "PUT A HOLLEY CARBURATOR ON IT!!!". No, no, no, no, no, NO!!!!!!!!!!

Stick with the original 4 barrel Quadrajet by Chevrolet... for many reasons. #1, the aftermarket carbs tend to be a little ornery, and often need readjusting. #2, the Quadrajet is really the best carburator for this engine, especially in the given application. Reason being? Well, the Quadrajet is the most adaptable carburator there is. Like in my '67, I can tune the carburator to be a HP provider that will burn the tires off and get 6 MPG, or I can tune it to cruise like granny's car with much lower HP and much higher MPG. It is one of the MOST flexible carburators avail, and helps to take out some of the worry of the "Monsterous V8 power" vs the lowley straight 6. With the Quadrajet, you can actually tune the 350 to have LESS HP than the straight 6, although I dunno why anyone would want to do that..... That is why Chevy used this carburator soooo extensively, they could tune it to fit whatever application was called for, whether is was a pickup that needed the HP and torque, or a automobile that was built more for luxury. It can do all....

But anyway, I thought this would be a very useful tidbit of info for anyone considering this conversion. Too, there have been soooo many questions regarding the V8 power vs the Straight 6 power, and the problems it might present.... this hopefully will anser some of those questions......

68_Mercedes · #78 10-16-2004, 12:26 PM

More info about the conversion from another thread I posted in:

I have 2 conversions, one being a '67 250 S with a 350, and the other being a '68 250 S with a 229. Both of these are 108 chassis. Both are possible, both work well. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages. While the 229 is only a V6, it lacks a little horsepower vs a 350 V8. However, I compensated by putting in racing gears, a larger cam, a highrise aluminum intake, Holley carb., etc. So she's pretty well equal to the 350 V8 in the HP department now. Along with that, the V6 gives you sooooo much more room to work under the hood.... and you don't have to scrap the motor-mounted radiator fan. On the other hand, the 350 is more common, a wider variety of parts are available, and all in all, just easier to get parts for. It also works quite well in the 108, and has more than enough horepower stock to give you a great ride... infact, I lit up the tires and left about a 20 ft burn mark on my shop floor.... was just goofing off and wanted to see what it could do... now I know! LOL! Downside is, it eats up most of the room under your hood, you have to scrap the motor-mounted radiator fan and rely totally on an electric one, and if you buy any 108 chassis other than the 280 SE with the 4.5 engine, then you will have to change out the springs and what not to beef up the suspension to carry the weight of the 350.

Any 108 Model chassis can be converted, and I can photo/explain most enything you need to know.... Just be prepared... it is NOT a cheap conversion. If you are mechanically inclined and can do the work yourself it won't be so bad... but if you have to go to a mechanic to have this done, you better have an easy $5K ready to dish out to him for his labor, not to mention the cost of all the parts..... and not to mention the cost of my keene advice.....

I will say this though... no matter if YOU do the work, or someone else... start with a junkyard engine. The first 229 I put in my '68 came straight out of the junkyard... I paid the guy $150 for EVERYTHING (motor, transmission, and ALL accessories). The motor ran like a striped ape and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it... but came out of a car that was totalled... I rebuilt it later, and not even because I had to, but because I wanted to so I could make it high performance. You could probably get lucky and pick up a 350 the same way... that way you don't invest too much at the beginning.... remember, it might take you several years to complete the project, in which time the seals could dry out, cylinder rust could develop, etc., etc... so get everything set up first with a junkyard engine, then when it is complete, pull it back out if you want to/need to, and rebuild it at that point......

and here's a pic of my '67 with the 350 in it....

mikemover · #79 10-17-2004, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68_Mercedes

Need some help here:

I used that "Mother's Polish" to try to clean up the trim on the car, and it didn't do much good. There just seems to bee too much oxidization for that stuff to clean it up. Outside of the oxidization, the trim is in perfect condition.... no dings, dents, etc etc. So what can we do to clean the trim back up? Thanks for the help.

I've used probably 15 different kinds of polishes, cleaners, and buffing compounds in an effort to get the "haze" off my Mercedes trim...both by hand, and with buffing wheels/Dremel tools, etc.....nothing seems to work. I think the only effective fix is to have it re-chromed.

Mike

68_Mercedes · #80 10-17-2004, 01:34 PM

Darn

FordSwapper · #81 07-04-2005, 11:52 AM

I found your discussion group some time ago (last year I think) and watched it with some interest but didn't go back for some time. Life seems to get in the way of projects. What's happening with your Chevy swap project?? Is the project dead or just the conversation has become stale? What's up?

I have a 1968 280se that came with a 6cyl and was a load of trouble from the first day we acquired it. The car had tranny problems and motor troubles and a host of other issues.

The thought was to do a little work and use it as a daily work driver. Found some guys that had put a Ford 5.0 in the car with pretty good luck and I followed the examples.

The car has the 5.0l motor and an AOD tranny mounted. We're splicing into the driveline and using the swing axle. I went to a local junk yard and found a '71 280se (4.5) to get the gears right. With the new axle ratio, the tranny and engine should feel like it's stil in the original Lincoln MkVII LSC.

Anyway, it's still very much the project as a it sits in a friend's shop.

The exhaust is a big problem as the clearance between the steering box and the last cylinder is pretty tight. I'm having pipes fabricated as nothing seems to work very well in the space that is there. Getting it to the shop for that is the next step.

Cheers.

SoCalw111w123 · #82 08-29-2005, 12:54 PM

wow...

I just found this post...

Yet for some weird reason, all your pics are not available?

Got Cardomain? (it's free!)

I'd like to LS1 a project Finny!

-ELi R.

FordSwapper · #83 08-31-2005, 11:15 AM

My photos are on another site dedicated to swapping the 5.0/351's into w108 chassis vehicles. There was some interest in another chassis, but only one. Sorry, I don't know the chassis.

The site is: http://groups.msn.com/MB108109Ford302351Wengineswapers

Hope that helps.

Still haven't heard from the fellow with the Chevy swap!?!