without the head on that looks like an M103 (fuel injection) but the body panels suggest its an early M104? correct?

ive heard the transmission tunnel thing too. i think you will be able to squeeze in the drivetrain without major surgery, but just have less space than the engineers in stuttgart would have wanted you to.

good luck, keep us posted.

 

Yes,it was twin Cam 3.0 litre...

 

I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of this project.
Good luck!


matteus

 

S.M. Autoworks - 12/29/2005 3:21 AM

Yes,it was twin Cam 3.2 litre...

how come it shows the jetronic injection? i know 3.0s did, but i thought 3.2s came with fully electronic injection didnt they?

 

Good luck with that, I'd like to see a dyno chart on the compleate project one day.

 

Great project, you should keep us updated with pictures.

 

I am drooling!

 

We were taking some measurements today, from a 400e vs 300ce. Trans tunnel is the same width, firewall is the same. The engine bay is the same dimensions firewall to radiator support.

Dont think there will have to be any firewall/tunnel mods at all. Now the crossmember. That is another issue...

Battery will have to be relocated to the rear. And hoping to get the whole computer box mounted and diagnostic terminal functioning correctly..

 

Awesome! Good luck!

 

Very interesting Project!!Looking forward to it!

 

Good Luck & please post progress regularly!

Satish at Motorwerks here in MI is performing a similar swap on a 1994 E320 coupe & tuning it into a "500ce". They already have the engine in & plan on modifying the body with the 500e bumpers, flared arches & sills.

If Satish's 560sec V12 conversion is anything to go by, the 500ce will look as though it came from the factory.

My coupe first in line for the next conversion they do....

 

neanderthal - 12/29/2005 2:57 AM

without the head on that looks like an M103 (fuel injection) but the body panels suggest its an early M104? correct?

ive heard the transmission tunnel thing too. i think you will be able to squeeze in the drivetrain without major surgery, but just have less space than the engineers in stuttgart would have wanted you to.

good luck, keep us posted.

FWIW, the M104 is simply an M103 with a 24-valve head.

 

Glad to see somebody starting the project...its on my books too....I have a '88 300CE with the 103 engine begging for more performance....keep us posted

 

This is the swap that I wanted to do with my tired 88 260E. I was checking auction sites on the web for a wrecked 400E and found a few candidates but the work involved was intimidating. Everyone I talked to told me I was nuts for even considering it. I chickened out and swapped a 300E drivetrain into my 260. More power to ya and keep the pics coming.

 

Sorry so long since our last post. Sure is hard to tackle a complicated project like this, while running a full service shop as well! No worries... we're making excellent progress... I am uploading some pics of the 400 crossmember welded in , and the pre-firewall sheets removed...... Almost done fabbing the pre-firewall sheets now, and should be getting ready seam seal and paint!

 

This is sweet!!! Good luck man, keep it up!

 

sweet. keep us posted. start checking out transmission ratios as well, as the V8s had much taller (numerically smaller) axle ratios. you dont want to be doing 4000rpm at 80mph

FWIW, the M104 is simply an M103 with a 24-valve head.

yes im aware of that.
however, the early 3.0 liter 104 engine had the same jetronic fuel injection as the 103, the jetronic. the later 3.2 liter version had an HFM (hot film) system or a hot wire system, i cant recall which exactly. didnt have a fuel distributor like the early ones did. just a plain fuel pipe with a return line. hence my question.

 

That car is really going to give its driver an "Oh!" face ala Office Space. Make sure to do a catback exhaust with a flowmaster or the like, and without a resonator. I had one on my 400E and it sounded amazing.... Oh that car is going to be so nice. Maybe I should throw a m119 in my TE.

 

What a cool combination. Keep up the progress reports.

 

I'm impressed. Looks like real quality work. A donor car is everything, huh?

 

This would probably be an optimal place if one ever wanted to list such a car for sale.

Why did they NOT make this car? A 400 V8 coupe W124 would be almost as popular as the 500e.

Born May 2006:
Franken-Benz; the body of a 300CE with the heart and soul of a 400E.

 

New Pics

All done with fabrication. Going to paint tomorrow. Heres what we look like as of today. I am getting really excited

 

All done with fabrication. Going to paint tomorrow. Heres what we look like as of today. I am getting really excited

Great thread every Ce owners dream but not so practical for us over the pond due to the cost of fuel. So I pose a slightly rhetorical question, would turbo charging have been a cheaper, quicker and more fuel efficient route to
achieving the extra performance we all crave, did you consider this before you embarked on ths great project.

 

Looking sweet man, great job.

Albert S.
www.SoCalCarbon.com

 

Hey, you guys are local, and I've been on the "hunt" for an indy in the area.... Thanks for the posts, and that project looks awesome! Any thoughts about what it would cost to do this to a customer's car?

 

Haven't even added up what is has cost us yet : ) If you love your coupe as much as I do mine... whatever it ends up costing is worth it. Anyone can go buy a new SL or something, but there is a lot to be said about something that didn't even come off the production line like that...