W108 - Bouncing some project ideas around

[mosu]

Thanks, Vandor, I'll keep your offer in mind for when I address the trunk. My metal is pretty solid. Looks a lot worse in pictures. It really is a good base car, and in excellent condition for our climate.

Reading, reading, reading, I have settled on a game plan. I will refresh my existing setup. I want to stretch the budget as much as possible since I won't be doing most of the work.

To that end, more questions:

1) If the engine comes apart for a reseal, are there reasonably avenues to get more power? Thinking cam regrind, port work? What's worth the money and what isn't on a carbed M130?

2) Fuel delivery will stay carbed for now. The Zeniths are missing some pieces such as the anti-stall diaphragm and are in generally poor condition. I'm leaning towards a set of Webers, but can't seem to find consensus in past threads if they are a definitive win over the Zeniths or an improvement because someone's setup was worn. Any final words?

3) What are key things to consider "while I'm there" if the driveline comes out? New fuel/brake lines, clean and reseal fuel tank, rear axle bushings and seals...anything else?

4) If the gear box shifts OK, but feels a just a tad crunchy, is there anything I should do while it's out?

That's what I have for now...she'll stay original and I'll contemplate a bigger engine down the line when I have more time/$ for it.

Cheers!

[Tomguy]

Originally Posted by mosu

Reading, reading, reading, I have settled on a game plan. I will refresh my existing setup. I want to stretch the budget as much as possible since I won't be doing most of the work.

2) Fuel delivery will stay carbed for now. The Zeniths are missing some pieces such as the anti-stall diaphragm and are in generally poor condition. I'm leaning towards a set of Webers, but can't seem to find consensus in past threads if they are a definitive win over the Zeniths or an improvement because someone's setup was worn. Any final words?

The thing with this is that honestly, by the time you're done with a carb rebuild, an engine reseal (and likely a rebuild of at least the top end), and any performance work on the engine (which wouldn't be much you can really do to it) you can buy a good running 560 engine & trans and pop them in. It'd likely cost under $500 for the 560 combo from a good running donor (and say another $500 or so to do the timing chain, rails, and valve seals for sanity measures). This is assuming you get a good compression low-leak (or leak free) donor engine. Worst case would be if Toronto is like NEPA, you can buy an entire 560SEL in good running shape for $1500. That would give you the engine, trans, all ancillaries for the engine & trans, and then you can part the rest out or scrap it.

Remember, to do the engine resealing, it's gotta come out anyway, so you're only paying someone else extra labor for someone else to pull the engine/trans for the 560 if you went the parts car route.