How Close is the Crossfire to the SLK?

15669 Views 25 Replies 14 Participants Last post by LantanaML320, Nov 11, 2009

Frank H

Discussion Starter · Apr 6, 2009

I was looking at the Crossfire service manual which is available as a pdf over at the crossfire forum. Looking at the suspension diagrams, things look VERY familiar. Is there any guide to transferable/interchange parts? Wondering if we can benefit from buying cheaper parts at the Chrysler dealer? I doubt any of the dealers have very deep inventories, given the short lifespan of the Crossfire.

I occasionally fantasize about getting an AMG engine in my SLK320... easier/cheaper to buy an SLK32, I know. But my car is paid for, and in perfect condition. I keep seeing the occasional Crossfire SRT6 going cheap and start to think about swaps... Anyone investigated this?

Frank

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

32krazy!

· #2 · Apr 7, 2009

i use the crossfire manual daily it seems. other than the body and some interior its the same. i use the srt-6 to buy parts for my slk32.
with the mods needed the swap is iladvised. and slk32 arent that expensive now! i paid 16,750 for mine with 36k and steve1911 paid 17,500 for his with 11k on the meter!

WannaMD

· #3 · Apr 7, 2009

I think they are the exact same. I think the engines produce a little less horsepower but i've been reading that they ride the same. I've been looking into them. Potential alternative in case I can't find an SLK 32 I like.

DecoThom

· #4 · Apr 7, 2009

Fit and finish is much better on the Mercedes interior. The Crossfire I test drove performed very well. IIRC the Crossfire convertible had significantly less trunk space.

Bruce R.

· #5 · Apr 7, 2009

Same chassis, different sheet metal............

The SRT version is supposed to have 330 hp rather than the 349 hp of the 32, but if ///AMG actually limited the power is open to debate.

ByByeAmericanPie

· #6 · Apr 7, 2009

As close as a wolf with a sheep suit on...

32krazy!

· #7 · Apr 7, 2009

i dont beleive the srt-6 is a handmade engine like the 32 but i could be mistaken

LantanaML320

· #8 · Nov 5, 2009

32krazy! said:
i dont beleive the srt-6 is a handmade engine like the 32 but i could be mistaken

the SRT engine is the same and marked AMG under the chrysler engine cover. I have done extensive work on my Crossfire and they are exactly the same as the SKK320 R170. No Chrysler parts on the car. fit and finish of the Crossfire is as good as the SLK. the Crossfire is also built in the same factory. I have done extensive modifications to my Crossife including installing a V8 from a CL500. I have upgraded the suspension with parts meant for a SLK including vogtland springs, KYB shocks and installed SLK32 rotors with CL500 four piston MB/Brembo calipers.

extech

· #9 · Nov 5, 2009

I'd like to see pics of the V8!

leapyfish

· #10 · Nov 5, 2009

extech said:
I'd like to see pics of the V8!

Pretty please,
with sugar on top.

LantanaML320

· #11 · Nov 5, 2009

3

Here you go. Engine is from a CL500 but any 113 V8 engine will work. Since the Crossfire is a 170 chassis this conversion would work on any R170 SLK. C Class wooul also very be very similar. This conversion does not have to cost a fortune either.

See less See more

LantanaML320

· #12 · Nov 5, 2009

3

a couple more:

See less See more

Indy Joe

· #13 · Nov 5, 2009

Guys there's a huge thread at crossfireforum dot org. Here's the link to the thread:

V8 Crossfire Conversion Diary

Lantana did an incredible job on this conversion. It still has a couple of issues, but overall it's ready to go. This thread really shows that 90% of the parts are the same. As someone said: the body and the interior are basically the only difference.

CKovach

· #14 · Nov 5, 2009

Nicely done.

32krazy!

· #15 · Nov 6, 2009

LantanaML320 said:
the SRT engine is the same and marked AMG under the chrysler engine cover. I have done extensive work on my Crossfire and they are exactly the same as the SKK320 R170. No Chrysler parts on the car. fit and finish of the Crossfire is as good as the SLK. the Crossfire is also built in the same factory. I have done extensive modifications to my Crossife including installing a V8 from a CL500. I have upgraded the suspension with parts meant for a SLK including vogtland springs, KYB shocks and installed SLK32 rotors with CL500 four piston MB/Brembo calipers.

just want to clarify the crossfire was built in karmann and the slk32 was built in bremen germany
nice job stuffing the v8 in the car!

LantanaML320

· #16 · Nov 6, 2009 (Edited)

32krazy! said:
just want to clarify the crossfire was built in karmann and the slk32 was built in bremen germany
nice job stuffing the v8 in the car!

Yes, The Crossfire was built BY Karmann and I thought that I had read once that Karmann built the SLK and one other MB. the interior is basically the same as the SLK but with some minor design changes. The interiors will interchange and even the door panels can interchange. The bottom line is that if you try to modify your Crossfire with Chrysler parts you will be very frustrated but if you use MB parts it is very easy to modify a Crossfire. the Crossfire/SRT6 is nothing more than a re-skinned SLK320/SLK32

We have the V8 running but still working a bug that we now think is a defect in the ECU. To start the engine we have to turn the key on and jump the starter. There is no crank at the key. They ECU doesn't seem to be doing its job in the start process. The ECU, engine and harness came from a car that was totaled in the rear and caught fire. The fire didn't reach the engine compartment but is this type of accident it is possible for voltage to get to the wrong part of the ECU.

See less See more

32krazy!

· #17 · Nov 7, 2009

LantanaML320 said:
Yes, The Crossfire was built BY Karmann and I thought that I had read once that Karmann built the SLK and one other MB. the interior is basically the same as the SLK but with some minor design changes. The interiors will interchange and even the door panels can interchange. The bottom line is that if you try to modify your Crossfire with Chrysler parts you will be very frustrated but if you use MB parts it is very easy to modify a Crossfire. the Crossfire/SRT6 is nothing more than a re-skinned SLK320/SLK32

We have the V8 running but still working a bug that we now think is a defect in the ECU. To start the engine we have to turn the key on and jump the starter. There is no crank at the key. They ECU doesn't seem to be doing its job in the start process. The ECU, engine and harness came from a car that was totaled in the rear and caught fire. The fire didn't reach the engine compartment but is this type of accident it is possible for voltage to get to the wrong part of the ECU.

i have followed your progress on the crossfire forum and think its awesome! the ecu has always been the bugger for these cars has had many a mechanic reachin for a hammer!! so when does the amg blower go on?

LantanaML320

· #18 · Nov 7, 2009 (Edited)

32krazy! said:
i have followed your progress on the crossfire forum and think its awesome! the ecu has always been the bugger for these cars has had many a mechanic reachin for a hammer!! so when does the amg blower go on?

I posted on here because what I did is exactly what a guy with a SLK 170 would do to put a V8 in. Brabus offered this swap for the R170 and offered the exact same swap for the Crossfire under the Startech name.

the hardest part of the swap to figure out was the electronics. But if you start with a ECU from a wrecked car that has a glitch things really get tough! since we managed to get all the computers happy with each other and all the correct coding into the ECU and the anti-theft system all happy, I am confident that this is a good approach to a swap. We are hoping that with a replacemnt ECU we will get the starter signal through the ECU to work. right now the engine runs fine but we have to turn the key on and manually ground the starter therby bypassing this function that the ECU is supposed to perform. We know we don't have an anti-theft/Imobilization problem because we can see this in the STAR Diagnostic system.

My goal is to have the running as though it came stock with a V8 and runs and drives OEM. Once I acheive that I will start normal mods to make the V8 really run. Under consideration is cams/headers, and forced induction. the AMG supercharger would look and run great but a rear mounted Squires single or dual turbo system would do more for the car. The supercharger would be great for instant low end torque but with the V8 in such a small car, low end torque really isn't an issue. Having the top end of the turbo might be better. the only forced induction that will fit in the engine compartment is the AMG supercharger. There is no room for a turbo or belt driven supercharger.

See less See more

gakz

· #19 · Nov 8, 2009

Man.. that is seexy. Idk, I'd probably have to pay a shop to do that honestly.. just give em the info you have given us..

That is toooo technical for me!

LantanaML320

· #20 · Nov 8, 2009

The mechanical part of this swap is pretty straight forward but the hardest part is all the coding and programing. To program the car you have to use the Mercedes STAR Diagnostic system in developer mode. Most shops that have the STAR system don't even know about developer mode. Every STAR system has developer mode but it takes a special security key to activate it. Developer mode is also only in German and is used by the factory engineers when developing prototypes and new cars. Krause's automotive have been working with me on the electronic part of the swap. If you are interested in an engine swap you should contact Robert Krause as he is very reasonable and knows how to do this. the average shop would probably not want to do this and if they did you could end up paying a fortune in the hours it takes someone else to figure everything out. With R170's and C class cars reasonably priced and nice engines on Ebay, this doesn't have to cost as much as people assume.

Here is a link to Robert Krause:

Krause's Automotive - Home

See less See more

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.