I have begun the project of fitting the M120 engine into a 1986 560SL

Attached is a picture of the M120 engine sitting on a 560SL subframe. As expected there will be modifications required to the fit the engine to the subframe correctly involving cutting the front cross brace and moving it forward about 1 inch as well as making the rear cross member more shallow to drop the engine low enough to put the crank axis at the same height as the 117 engine.

Prelimiminary indications are as follows

1) Interfearance will exist between the master cyl and left hand air intake boot.
2) The oil filter that I originally belived I would have to mount remotely appears to fit snuggly.
3) A special manifold will have to be made to acess the oil cooler lines.
4) I originally thought the AC compressor would not fit at all. At this time it apears more promising, however a special manifold will have to be made of a narrower compresser will have to be found and adapted.
5) Preliminary measurements indicate the engine front edge will hit the hood. The hood line may have to be worked. This is one modification I did not want to do as the 107 hood is the most beautiful body part on the car. The possibility of droping the engine an inch makes the situations 2, 3, 4 worse
5) Exhaust routing is too difficult to evaluate at this time but it does apear that is is an area where I will have to cut into the chassi.
6) Any rumors you read on this thread about this engine being extreamely heavey and might flip over the engine crane are false. The engine was very easy to remove with the transmission attached. I did it unassisted by myself. Any one who thinks this engine is heavy has not removed a big block Ford FE series engine.
7) I will have the engine weight shorltly
8) Nothing impossible or overwhelming yet however I will have to be carefull to avoid a situation where removal of the AC compressor requires removal of the engine

John Roncallo

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