Differences between 300SD and 450SEL???
 

I may be buying a 1980 450SEL in IMMACULATE shape except for some MAJOR mechanical problems, the first, being it's a GASOLINE ENGINE!

so I was wondering what all is different between the two besides the obvious drivetrain....

Questions:
1. Is the front subframe the same in the 450 as the 300?
2. will any of the A/C or HVAC stuff need to be changed?

I can do electrical and everything else, it's just the ENGINE spacific stuff I need to know about....thanks in advance...

I'd assume they both have the same subframes since they're both W116.

I haven't seen a 450SEL in a long while, I remember one going down a street by school a couple years ago real fast when I was walking along, WOW do they sound powerful/move. I was drooling. :D

The 300SD is shorter than the 450SEL/6.9 so there's gotta be a slightly longer driveshaft than the 300SD. Are you planning to do a transplant?

yeah, My SD is too far gone for rust to be repaired within any budget or time frame, and there's a pair of 450's at an auction market here, $1500 each. I know the guy so I'm sure if I show up with ten $100 bills his eyes will light up.....hehe money talks.

i'm not sure about the lengths tho...this isn't a 6.9 car.
the other cool thing is this car has the euro headlights, whereas my SD has the federalized Quad "death beam" lamps...
I figure I'd buy the 450 and park the 300 for a while, then when I get the time gut the 300 and re-seal the engine and transmission and paint it and make it looka ll new and then at a later date, probably summer when I can ride my bike to work and back, do the swap.
so eventually, i'm going to have a HUGE list of 116 parts for sale in the forum as well as the engine/trans from the 450...is there much demand for those engines?

It's gonna be a wild ride... never know, I might like the 450 gasser so much i may keep it that way, we'll see, but I'm bent on economy so I doubt it.