uh oh I'm a teen and need speed
 

I've been bitten by a bug. I was talking to fellow students at the GM Technical Academy about their cars (Subaru WRX Sti, Camero, etc..). Well to make a long story short I proposed building a Mercedes "tuner" instead of the ricer things and they thought it would be pretty [cool]. We couldn't decide on a 400hp OM617 in a W123 or a hotrod 380SL engine in a W123. It would have to use all OEM Mercedes parts and appear to be stock. Someone talk me out of this, I know of a 300D local for $400 that needs an engine which would work for a donor car and a free 617 block.

If you want to improve something .... you don't go to the most efficient style and make to start off with...
You don't have the R and D money to match Mercedes.... and the 100 years they have been doing this makes this a losing project...

I had an '02 WRX (before STi came stateside), it was a good ride. It's CamAro.

You're better off starting in something quicker. There's an LS1 powered T/A ('98+) here for $7500 at a repo lot, body is clean interior is okay. It'd probably be $6500 cash. It'll run mid to low 13s (depends if 4L60E or T56) all day long and knock off mid 20s freeway fuel economy. I LOVE the new 15° headed motors. :D

But everyone has a Camero or civic.. I know the R & D work needed and I don't have the time, money, or space to do it now but I can dream right? I'm part of Bob Sirna's crew with his Bonneville Gullwing. So far I have dissasembled and reassembled the Gullwing twice and seen all the work done to the engine for th past 8 years. He's running a modern Chevrolet electronic fuel injection system, chevy individual coil packs, mass of sensors, and fully customizable racing computer system.

This article written before going to the electric injction system.

I want to do this with a slightly newer and cheaper MB like a W123. No one would see it comming.

Do the BENZ!
 

Dont listen to middle aged f*rts like me. I wish I were 25 again and I had the spirit to make a 400hp Benz.

You could model the W123 on the Finn modified Turbo 606. That would be kinda spendy but perhaps you could get some sponsors? :D

It's hard to tell what you are trying to do - modify current thermodynamic theory or build something to cruise Gratiot with? If it's relevance, how about a diesel-electric hybrid?

Although I'm not a fan of razzing up classy old cars, I don't see any harm in trying it if it's what you're into. If you take an engineless car and try to put something together and know what you're doing (or have some idea), you'll probably have fun with it and learn something in the process. How practical it is, I'm not sure ... these wiser guys can tell you that. I think it depends on how much money you have to spend having fun. I'd go into it expecting an experience, but not expecting to necessarily come out with the perfect car. In other words, I wouldn't approach it as a good economical way to get a cool car. But if you have the money to spend, it would probably be worth it just for entertainment/educational value. That's my philosophical input. Like I said, the technical input, you don't want from me. :eek:

Now, my opinion as far as tastes go, I really am not a fan of so-called "riced up" vehicle. They just aren't for me. I like regular old stock engines. But that's just me, and you ain't me, so do what floats your boat. :cool:

I doubt a 400 hp OM617 is feasible. If you want something that looks like a W123 and goes fast, the only practical solution is probably to drop a bigger gas engine into a W123. That will get you a 3500 pound sedan with reasonable power and "less than state-of-the-art" suspension and brakes. It would probably be cheaper to buy one that's already been converted than to do it yourself. Besides, that will save another W123 from being hacked up.

Chase another tail, you're doing it the hard way. Start with the engine you want (LS-1?) and then find what you can put it in that you like. Your options are limited in the Benzo world compared to what you can do with a Chevy small/large block or a Ford.

Yes CamAro's are played out but they're decently spendy and can reach nearly 400rw with a mild cam, LTs, and a slew of bolt-ons... and still get the same fuel economy as stock on the freeway.

Stick one of those in a 300D or if you want to stay MB... stuff a 400E/500SEL motor in there. We saw a 380 one in a 300 recently. Multiport SEFI is superior.

I wonder if mauri and MYNADIESEL would come halfway with you on prices if you put some of their stickers on your ride. You'd probably have 10k into a w123 if you built up a Superturbo like the fins. I'd be willing to bet that you could build a 350 and find a way to put a chevy drivetrain into one for a little less. But that would be in no way a sleeper like your trying to build. Do a search on posts by "mauri" youll get some idea of what your up against.

Good luck,
Jim

Lets not lead the kid astray or kill his spirit...
 

Let him try! He can't spend that much, he has tuition bills to pay. All he has going for him is imagination and resourcefulness and hopefully some persistence. Help him first get a decent 250 hp from the engine and lower the body weight with some plastic body parts....Stage 1 0f 10--Get rid of the automatic and get a Euro 5 speed. Tal to GSXR about anything the people in Norway, Germany or Finland have done--I have heard that quite a few Northern Europeans have done some cool things with Mercedes Diesels....

I agree. But defining those goals will give him a better chance for success. I'm all for thinking out of the box, hell, I get paid very well to do that every day..I know I'm fortunate, but it's not all dumb luck. I've abandoned lots of far fetched ideas I could never pull off so that I could pull off a few that were within reach.

It couldnt be that bad, in theory, just add more fuel and boost, I think the Finns use a different IP and Turbo (as well as a different engine) but I dont see why you couldnt produce good results on a good ole 617...the engine Mercedes used in the C111... sure like the guys above said, you don't have the funds of an auto corporation but hey...I think they got the 617 to 250 or so HP, but of course they used a light and very aerodynamic body to get it up to speed.