Vehicle: '84 Euro 500SE, '85 Euro 2.3-16, '51 Euro 170S, '97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, '08 BMW Z4 3.0si, '09 E350
Location: San Antonio, Texas/Pensacola, Florida/Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Deutschland
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by RubberDucky
I want a car that's 41 years older than me. Lol.
There was another 170S for $35,000 rolling chassis.
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'85 Euro 190E 2.3-16 "Valvy" - Driving from Cali in June
'84 Euro 500SE ~96k miles *Duriel, the desert prince*
'51 Euro 170S *Being reborn*
'97 Jeep Wrangler Sport ~40k miles
'08 BMW Z4 3.0 si ~14.3k miles
'09 E350 ~48k miles
I know little about part availability for a car that old, but would there be any wisdom in sourcing a period-correct drive train? I like your plan to use a modern drive train, but I wonder if you would be satisfied with that pretty car not having its original engine song...
My.02
Vehicle: '84 Euro 500SE, '85 Euro 2.3-16, '51 Euro 170S, '97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, '08 BMW Z4 3.0si, '09 E350
Location: San Antonio, Texas/Pensacola, Florida/Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Deutschland
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by jsebastian
I know little about part availability for a car that old, but would there be any wisdom in sourcing a period-correct drive train? I like your plan to use a modern drive train, but I wonder if you would be satisfied with that pretty car not having its original engine song...
My.02
Great project regardless!
Best,
John
John,
I could attempt to source the period-correct drive-train, but I'd rather make this a sleeping classic. Power to keep up with traffic, with an otherwise efficient motor, and the classic charm on the outside.
When this is done, if I don't have a W201, I would see myself driving this beauty daily, giving some newer cars a run for their money at highway speeds.
I'm excited to get this project underway. Tomorrow I'll be headed into the shop to start the removal of the interior so the bodywork can begin.
Looking forward to sharing this with you and others!
The car is great, no doubt, but I think that maroon color oozes classic Benz. The metallic blue (lapis blue) is a great color, one of my fav's but doesn't suite this model so well.
In all honesty, having a car like that for a daily driver is not wise. Its your car, your project and your money, but a classic mercedes with a small block US or Japanese high-revving motor simply is "ehhh".
Vehicle: '84 Euro 500SE, '85 Euro 2.3-16, '51 Euro 170S, '97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, '08 BMW Z4 3.0si, '09 E350
Location: San Antonio, Texas/Pensacola, Florida/Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Deutschland
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr.Grillz
The car is great, no doubt, but I think that maroon color oozes classic Benz. The metallic blue (lapis blue) is a great color, one of my fav's but doesn't suite this model so well.
In all honesty, having a car like that for a daily driver is not wise. Its your car, your project and your money, but a classic mercedes with a small block US or Japanese high-revving motor simply is "ehhh".
I appreciate the input, while I'm still not sure of the final color, I am pretty set on the new internals. The overall cost will be less, and I'm not too concerned about collectibility and originality because I don't see myself giving this car up.
My aim is to have something that's a pleasure to drive, no matter what the scenario.
wowsers! Your 500 SE looked great and you didnt even say a thing about this when I saw you last week. Awesome stuff!
For the record my journey to and from San Antonio for my first trip over 45 minutes was a success. The temperature was constant, had no issues going from 80 to 130 on I-10 when ever approached by some rice burner LOL. Surprisingly, I used slightly less than 1/2 tank of gas to go 258 miles whith a very heavy foot. I kicked her down often at high speeds, so that impressed me. (sorry I just hijacked your thread)
Vehicle: '84 Euro 500SE, '85 Euro 2.3-16, '51 Euro 170S, '97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, '08 BMW Z4 3.0si, '09 E350
Location: San Antonio, Texas/Pensacola, Florida/Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Deutschland
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by 281lxm
wowsers! Your 500 SE looked great and you didnt even say a thing about this when I saw you last week. Awesome stuff!
For the record my journey to and from San Antonio for my first trip over 45 minutes was a success. The temperature was constant, had no issues going from 80 to 130 on I-10 when ever approached by some rice burner LOL. Surprisingly, I used slightly less than 1/2 tank of gas to go 258 miles whith a very heavy foot. I kicked her down often at high speeds, so that impressed me. (sorry I just hijacked your thread)
Louis,
This was a secret of mine that I've been keeping for a while, I wasn't going to share it for a while, but I just had to!
It was great meeting up with you, and I'm glad to hear the trip went well in both directions.
We have to meet up again next time you're town, hopefully for a little longer next time!
Vehicle: CLK 320 W208 ('97 factory option amg suspension), also restoring a 1984 500 SEC W126.
Location: Queensland, Australia.
Posts: 5
Nice, makes my sec restore looking like a walk in the park. Well worth the effort though. I like blue, should be a benz colour. Nissan, argh. If you are "Hot rodding", at least stick with original benz. Like V8's, will a 430 fit, or a V6 320 coupled to a 5 speed auto, should get it mobile.
Vehicle: '84 Euro 500SE, '85 Euro 2.3-16, '51 Euro 170S, '97 Jeep Wrangler Sport, '08 BMW Z4 3.0si, '09 E350
Location: San Antonio, Texas/Pensacola, Florida/Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Deutschland
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gus Marden
Nice, makes my sec restore looking like a walk in the park. Well worth the effort though. I like blue, should be a benz colour. Nissan, argh. If you are "Hot rodding", at least stick with original benz. Like V8's, will a 430 fit, or a V6 320 coupled to a 5 speed auto, should get it mobile.
Trying to avoid using an auto gearbox as I'm just not a fan of it. Also for the sake of fuel consumption I want to avoid the V8. The fit would be a bit tight anyway.
Nissans with replacement parts are plentiful around here, so that's another beautiful aspect. The whole setup will be relatively inexpensive as well, which further increases the speed at which this car will be rolling. In the future, should I come across something more suitable from MB, say an M104 3.0L, with a getrag perhaps? I can always fit that too the car.
Keep in mind, the dream for this car is not mine alone. The PO, who's owned it for nearly 40 years, wishes to see it sport something more powerful (His shop works primarily on Miatas), so after some consideration suggested an older Nissan 300ZX.
So he'll be the first to have the joy of cranking it up for the very first time, as the car hasn't moved since '73.
Regarding the color, another possibility would be 737 Classic White, like my 500SE.
With the exception of drivetrain, the exterior will be completely stock, as will the interior. Think of the motor and trans as a naughty little secret among friends that no one will suspect unless they take a look under the hood.
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rolling chassis.
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