m119 Swap in w123? Links to INFO, Please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mylesofsmyles · #1 03-14-2015, 10:50 PM

I'm curious, it's clearly been done before, but nobody seems forthcoming with the conversion's obstacles.

I find E420's all over my local yards, with untouched engines & transmissions.

How far from bolt-in is the M119 and trans, into a w123?

Can anyone link me to some documented builds, or information regarding the conversion?

Mylesofsmyles · #2 03-16-2015, 11:33 PM

Guess I'll just have to man up and go for it...and keep all the dirty secrets to myself.

gatorblue92 · #3 03-17-2015, 06:03 AM

There is a documented swap over on Gerry's world for a W201 but he needed to do quite a bit of work to the firewall to get it in IIRC. I would imagine something similar is needed on the W123 due to the size of the engine. The M119 has the LH injection system so you will need to sort all of the computer related issues as well. FWIW I would find a nice Chevy 350 and drop that in if you want a V8 W123. Parts are cheap and plentiful.

Mylesofsmyles · #4 03-17-2015, 12:37 PM

eff that...I ain't putting no detroit anchor in my Benz. Besides, I'm tripping over M119's around here, left and right....not a rare bird in the least

The wiring is the least of my worries...I've done countless LH conversions to older vehicles, Volvos mainly. The wiring is the last thing on my mind.

As for space, I figured there'd be enough in there...length wise, it accommodates my OM617 just fine, that's 5-cylinders long...the M119 is just four.

Whats Gerry's World?

gsxr · #5 03-17-2015, 04:20 PM

No idea what is needed for the swap. I owned several 123's and I cannot fathom why you would want to invest a few hundred hours into this project, when you can go buy a complete running 400E/E420 in good condition for ~$3k, complete with antilock brakes, a real suspension front & rear, and a pile of other improvements. Seriously, the ROI on this upgrade would be terrible. If you've never owned a W124, I strongly recommend you go test drive several (to make sure you don't drive one turd, and think they are all like that).

Anyway: you would need access to the complete donor car to harvest the wiring harnesses, CAN box, modules, etc. Standalone ECU might make things easier, or could be harder, I'm really not sure. I don't believe this swap has been done before, so I don't have any links. Maybe see if you can find a W123+M117 swap, as the M119 would be very similar. If you attempt this, I'd do it with a 5L engine, unless the goal is fuel economy.

Frank Reiner · #6 03-17-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylesofsmyles

I'm curious, it's clearly been done before, but nobody seems forthcoming with the conversion's obstacles.

I find E420's all over my local yards, with untouched engines & transmissions.

How far from bolt-in is the M119 and trans, into a w123?

Can anyone link me to some documented builds, or information regarding the conversion?

What does seem clear is that knowledge of such a swap isn't coming to mind among folks on this forum. The OP is correct about engine bay length, however, the 123 chassis, like the 114/115 chassis, was never intended to have a V engine, let alone a DOHC V engine. The distance between front suspension components, and structural inner panels was intended for inline engines. First step: don your Lewis & Clark attire. Second step: measure the engine bay of the 123, and one of the M119s that you have tripped over. Third step: review your pioneering urges.

gsxr · #7 03-17-2015, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylesofsmyles

I'm curious, it's clearly been done before...

I missed this part. Has anyone seen a running 123 chassis with M119 powerplant? Photos? I've never seen it, but there might be one floating around somewhere...

gatorblue92 · #8 03-17-2015, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylesofsmyles

eff that...I ain't putting no detroit anchor in my Benz. Besides, I'm tripping over M119's around here, left and right....not a rare bird in the least

The wiring is the least of my worries...I've done countless LH conversions to older vehicles, Volvos mainly. The wiring is the last thing on my mind.

As for space, I figured there'd be enough in there...length wise, it accommodates my OM617 just fine, that's 5-cylinders long...the M119 is just four.

Whats Gerry's World?

Here is the thread on the W201 M119 swap.

W201 + M119 5 speed manual

I agree with the others that your biggest space limitation will be the width of the M119... not to say it can't be done since it fit in a W201.

Mylesofsmyles · #9 03-17-2015, 07:14 PM

Here's one in a w123, for those who say they've never seen it done.

I'm refining my image searches, only to find that most v8's in a w123 are actually the m117's, or they're w116's with m119's.

Thanks for the link...I'll have a look.

Skippy · #10 03-17-2015, 11:38 PM

M120 would be cooler.

Mylesofsmyles · #11 03-17-2015, 11:45 PM

The more I'm reading, the more I think I'll go for a 93-95 4.2 from a w124...the 275hp is honestly enough

It's the higher compression that's got me curious.

gatorblue92 · #12 03-18-2015, 06:07 AM

Hard to tell from the angle of the picture but it doesn't look like there is much room for the stock airbox there. With enough time and money anything is possible so I say go for it but please post pictures of the progress!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylesofsmyles

Here's one in a w123, for those who say they've never seen it done.

I'm refining my image searches, only to find that most v8's in a w123 are actually the m117's, or they're w116's with m119's.

Thanks for the link...I'll have a look.

Mylesofsmyles · #13 03-19-2015, 12:03 PM

I'm not going to let an airbox hold me back

gsxr · #14 03-19-2015, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mylesofsmyles

Here's one in a w123, for those who say they've never seen it done.

Thanks for the photo. However, it would be nice to see a photo of a RUNNING, DRIVING car. Bolting a bare block into a gutted shell is not quite what I'd consider a successful conversion... but at least you know someone has at least tried it before.

Mylesofsmyles · #15 03-20-2015, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

Thanks for the photo. However, it would be nice to see a photo of a RUNNING, DRIVING car. Bolting a bare block into a gutted shell is not quite what I'd consider a successful conversion... but at least you know someone has at least tried it before.

Like I said...there aren't many hold ups for me, in terms of wiring, plumbing.

I'm ASSUMING that if I swap the M119, with it's w124 transmission, it'll come in pretty close, and maybe bolt in, at the trans mount, without modificaiton.

The rest is up to making the M119 bolt on the subframe mounts, and have sufficient oil pan clearance & steering box clearance.

Custom radiators, and plumbing are no big deal.

So for sake of the picture's power, to me, it represents all I'm currently fixated on, which is clearance and mounting of the m119...that said, who knows if that thing has working steering or not.