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1uz-fe 190e swap project

120K views 188 replies 26 participants last post by  jenno4z  
#1 · (Edited)
I am starting a new project...and as the title says it is swapping in a 1uz-fe Toyota 4.0 V8. Along with it will be a Nissan 350z 6 speed backed up with a r200v Nissan LSD rear end.

I have the motor and rear end and am currently sourcing a decent transmission.

The 190e this is all happening to is a nice clean 1984 2.3l/auto that I bought recently with a blown rear end....

The install will require some reasonable fab work and I am looking forward to that! I really like the engineering challenges with projects like this.

The rest of the car will stay relatively the same as it is now. The interior is black and in pretty good shape. Drivers seat needs a bit of help. The wheels have really grown on me since I got it home and I think they will be staying.
 

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#4 · (Edited)
This swap has been done by a few people and documented online and is pretty easy - well depending on your access to tools and welding skills.

The r200v rear end is pretty easy to find in wrecking yards and is really strong - like will stand up to 500+hp kind of strong...axles? well stock ones maybe not.

I have collected some pics of what others have done and used that as a basis to develop the way I am going to do it. I am going to make a new rear plate assembly that will be welded to the stock rear sub-frame. I have a the advantage of having a CNC plasma table and will engineer it first in CAD to make sure all of the mounting point alignment is correct and then cut from 1/8" plate. If others were interested i could make more for sale?
 

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#3 ·
Are you taking the accelerator pedal out of a Toyota as well? Are you using the wiring harness from the same vehicle or is there an aftermarket system available for engine management?
The mechanical engineering aspects will be a lesser challenge than getting your engine to perform flawlessly without all it's original paraphernalia.
 
#5 · (Edited)
The motor I am using is an OBD1 early 90's version. Still throttle cable not drive by wire. The early motors are REALLY strong - forged crank and rods, cross bolted main caps (6 bolts per) and have thick cylinder liners. Quite a few people have run them stock with upwards of 20psi in a turbo application and had reasonable success with them holding up to abuse.

The pic attached is a beautiful twin turbo 1uz capable of close to 750hp

I have the stock ecu and harness as well but will likely switch to a Megasquirt set-up. I want to run itb's eventually and that will require an aftermarket ecu anyway. The big fab issues are replacing the steering box with a rack and re-working the stock cross member to clear the oil pan. Also, the firewall area needs a bit of editing to clear the bell housing and exhaust properly.
 

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#14 ·
V8 W201's? 60's Falcons? This thread has my attention. I just picked up a '63 Ranchero, and plan on dropping a 260 or a 302 in it. I'm more curious about how you made that FE fit than how you're going to make the 4.0 fit in the W201...

Also, steering racks out of a W210 seem to be the best bet for V8 swaps, just have to get the knuckles to match because of the shorter throw from the rack.
 
#21 ·
Skip the 260. Go with a HiPo 289 or a 302 with high flow heads. Don't rule out a 351 Windsor which I think would be an easy fit, but performance parts aren't so easy to come by. Any of those engines will light up the tires under the back end of a Ranchero.
No wonder your ears perked up reading about Falcons, the Ranchero was a Falcon with a bed welded to the back end.:D
 
#15 ·
I'm more curious about how you made that FE fit than how you're going to make the 4.0 fit in the W201...
I had to shave the shock towers, put a serious "detour" in the M2 cross member to clear the pan, make my own headers, edit the steering column/joints to fit the M2 rack, move the master cylinder over 2" and redo the front part of the trans tunnel.

Probably will have to do most on this car as well?

Some pics:
 

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#20 ·
V8-190, what is your goal? I suppose if you want to build an 11 second car it's a simple matter of physics. Distance, weight and desired time on one side = Required HP on the other. Then you just build to that HP. Seems you like the idea of shoehorning the V8 into the W201 chassis, and the challenges involved with the drivetrain. But if I were just going to build a fast W201 I might go for an I-6 BMW 335 twin turbo or even something simpler such as a small block Ford (or even GM350) small block. Carburetted you can get close to 400HP with modern heads. Parts for the Fords and Chevys practically grow on trees.
Doesn't matter how big you get, someone always shows up with something bigger, so I tried to go for better. Yeah, you've got a 454, but I've got a 428. Side oiler. That kind of thing.
Anyway, was just wondering what your thinking was, and what your goal was? Certainly not being argumentative, you know the ropes. I'm looking to learn.
 
#23 ·
V8-190, what is your goal? .
A couple things:

1. I like to build things. The fun for me after it is all done will probably be short lived and I will sell it.

2. I like the idea of building something a bit unexpected...doesn't have to be the fastest car around but it will still be speedy and fun to drive. The eventual plan of getting itb's is pretty exciting for me as nothing sounds as cool as a high revving V8 through those. This is a link to a 1uz with itb's - sounds so great.


Who wouldn't want that sound and throttle responce?

I have always liked the 190 body style - just works for me. I also like that it is a relatively small car. My last project car was a 1962 Biscayne which was neat but a total boat.
 
#27 ·
"The fun for me after it is all done will probably be short lived and I will sell it." This admission is what makes this project such a waste. A trashing of a W201 with non MB parts for a short term pleasure. It's not worth the time, money and effort. It would've been better to have restored the car to its original condition. Such radical customizing also greatly reduces the pool of buyers who might buy the car.
 
#29 ·
I have every right to post my opinion. Your name calling only weakens your position. I don't understand why you're posting such a radical transformation of a Mercedes Benz using non MB parts that you're only going to turn right around and sell anyway in a Mercedes Benz forum? You should be posting where the parts are from which is in a Toyota or a Nissan forum or a selling site.
 
#31 ·
Restating your opinion over and over when it has been acknowledged becomes harassment; I said to drop it, W201fan.

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To the OP, take this thread over the 190rev.net, you'll receive a lot better feedback there than you will here with regard to using a non-MB drive train, as well as a potential customer base should you choose to sell it.
 
#32 ·
Restating your opinion over and over when it has been acknowledged becomes harassment; I said to drop it, W201fan.

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To the OP, take this thread over the 190rev.net, you'll receive a lot better feedback there than you will here with regard to using a non-MB drive train, as well as a potential customer base should you choose to sell it.
I hope the OP keeps it here. W201fan is way out of line. The 190E was a mass production model, has little of preservation class quality to it, and is of only passing interest to collectors. It's a fine car, solid and noteworthy, but it isn't a religious icon.
I say go ahead and drop in a Ford engine, put fins on it and a spoiler off a WRX-STI. Not my cup of tea, but the thought, originality, and engineering will be of interest to me. Go for it OP, and stick around!
 
#33 ·
I'm also interested in seeing engineering solutions to problems that Mercedes didn't think would exist!
 
#37 ·
I went to the local scrapper today and got a few things -

New drivers seat - without the nasty sag that mine has in the base
The "vent surround" plastic piece for in the dash that is not cracked like mine
New drivers side mint fender
Perfect grill assembly

All for $60!
 
#38 ·
I didn't appreciate the name calling that was being used because I have a different view on this build and that's why I responded. A forum is supposed to tolerate all viewpoints. If my posts are read, each time I responded, I provided additional information to support my point and without name calling. I'm done with this issue but the last I checked, the first amendment was still in existence.
 
#39 ·
The 1A has nothing to do with it. This forum has members from around the world, to which the 1st doesn't apply. Posting on this forum is not a right you have. Access can be denied at any point, them's the rules. Finally, the 1st only secures your right to say what you want without being arrested, but it doesn't secure you an audience (especially not an internet forum) and it doesn't mean people can't disagree and tell you to kick rocks.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App
 
#40 ·
locking this since we all cant get along, stop with the name calling and the interwebs tough guy thing.
 
#42 ·
reopened, play nice
 
#43 ·
Thank you Jippi...

The drivers seat was in pretty bad shape - cracked vinyl, sagged springs etc.

The rest of the interior is actually in pretty great condition. The dash has a small crack in it so I am on the lookout for one of those too. I want to to keep the interior as nice and stock looking as possible.

I found a really nice condition blue fabric seat at the local pick-a-part. I am going to take the blue fabric off and replace with the clean set of black MB tex ones I bought on ebay.
 

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#44 ·
The car is finally in my workshop and ready to pull the drive train. I have the stock 2.3 and auto trans for sale locally for $200 in case anyone is looking...Hoping to have it out this weekend.

I now have the engine, trans and rear end here. I need to cut the adapter plate so I can mate the engine and trans and start the fitment process.

I found some pretty helpful pics posted by a guy in S. Korea doing almost the exact same swap as well. So far I have only found 3 other 190's with the same swap in process or done.
 

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#45 ·
Stock motor and trans are out - I had some help from my "little helper" earlier today. The steering box etc will be next to go and then a good cleaning under hood.

I am getting ready to do some cross member editing and bracket welding in preparation for the switch to a R&P set-up.
 

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#46 ·
Cleaned up the engine bay so it is not so slimy..After that pic was taken I removed the steering box and motor mounts.

I ordered a custom flywheel and a 16v clutch/brake pedal assembly both of which arrived on Saturday. Hoping to have the motor and trans in the car in the next couple weeks.
 

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