Gustay, nice build up. I read your previous post/thread (sp?) about this great build of yours awhile back. I was actually thinking the same thing in my '65 heckflosse with an LS1, however.
But my infatuation as of right now is a 2JZGTE (Supra) with the 6 speed swap rocking a GT42r snail... to keep the i6 Benz tradition to say the least
Do you have full documented build of your car? I'd be interested to see it
Thanks. I got it just a couple of months ago. When I got it, the tie rods, engine and subframe mounts, and the steering coupler were all shot. In fact, the steering coupler was almost non-existent. So it drove kind of rough. I have since replaced them. And now the car drives beautifully. This is my first "classic", so I did not know what to expect. Now I'm just amazed at how nice the car drives. It's got plenty of power, it drives perfectly straight, and the brakes don't seem like 40 year-old technology. The fun factor for the 280 SEL, for me, is definitely much higher than that for the GL550.
Where did you get your replacement parts from? Nice looking SEL!
This powertrain conversion has been quite interesting. Yes, it is fully documented.
As for changing the powertrain in your Heckflosse - it is very achievable. You need to determine how much of the orginal car you want to keep underneath. It is unlikely that the stock rear end (spyder gears inside the differential) will handle the power and torque of an LS1. The other two items that will be an issue are the steering and stock engine cross member. I am not familiar with the LS1, but I believe the general under-engine architecture is similar to the L98 I used. Short version - the stock Benz steering box in your current car will most likely have to be removed because the #7 spark plug and exhaust port will want to share the same space with the steering box.
If you are located in So.Cal (pictures look like it), you may want to go to a reputable hot rod supply company such as Kugel Komponents or Total Cost Involved and see about having them modify one of their hot-rod IFS systems for your Benz. I may be going that way myself due to steering geometry issue.
Oh, and the other issue - how much $$$ are you willing to spend to make this conversion happen?
There is a Mercedes specialty shop just a few miles from my home. The two owners are master techs from Germany. They've been in the same location since 1973. I feel fortunate that I have them doing the work even though they are expensive. They ended up ordering most of the parts.
For some minor items that even I could do (like truck seal, sunroof switch) and the very expensive fuel pump, I went with Rusty @ http://www.**********.com/start.wws.
There is a live chat capability on that site now so you can chat with Rusty online. I like that feature a lot. Rusty saved me $500 on the fuel pump.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nasubi
Where did you get your replacement parts from? Nice looking SEL!
This is Faithful, my dark olive/cognac leather 1973 280SEL 4.5 which is equipped with a sunroof, Becker Europa II stereo and Hirschmann automatic antenna. It has 112,000 documented miles from day one, including every receipt and the original window sticker for $11,802. The tool kit is still in it's original plastic.
"Nothing will make a driver more faithful to car, than a car that is faithful to its driver."
Last edited by E430_4Matic : 06-11-2008 at 01:44 PM.
She's been largely rebuilt, body + respray, interior refurbished and engine. I few little jobs to go. And then a few more I'm sure. Have driven 2,200kms over the last 2 weekends, a steady 90-95 kms/hour and she will run sweet all day. 8 kms/litre (19mpg). I want to tour in her more and more, would love to have the time to run down to Paraguay and Argentina, that would be real fun.
She's been largely rebuilt, body + respray, interior refurbished and engine. I few little jobs to go. And then a few more I'm sure. Have driven 2,200kms over the last 2 weekends, a steady 90-95 kms/hour and she will run sweet all day. 8 kms/litre (19mpg). I want to tour in her more and more, would love to have the time to run down to Paraguay and Argentina, that would be real fun.
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