Old thread, but let's revive it anyhow...
-1987 Mercedes 300TD wagon with a cracked head:
$1200 or less
-1991 Mercedes 500SL parts car w/engine partially disassembled for timing chain guide replacement:
$2660
-Misc. parts-rear brakes from a 400/500E, new Bilstein shocks & SLS delete for rear suspension, H&R springs, timing chain guides and tensioner, timing chain, serpentine belt tensioner, water pump, thermostat, valve cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets, upgraded aluminum camshaft oiler tubes, engine wiring harness (preventative measure; the M119s used wiring harnesses with biodegradeable insulation that dries out and falls apart), plugs, wires, caps and rotors (one cap/rotor per bank), rear main seal, front crank seal, 400E/500E radiator (new) & electric fans (used), stainless steel brake lines, wiring to relocate battery to rear of car, driveshaft flex discs, control arm bushings, tie rods, center link and steering damper, misc. fluids and filters, 400E instrument cluster (used) for use with the new V8, 500E front & rear anti-roll bars: ~$3000-3500 @ wholesale (cheating maybe, but it's what I pay for my parts so I'm counting it that way
; chances are that engine doesn't need half those parts but it's coming out anyhow and I'd rather just do it while the engine is out than have to do it in the car 20,000 miles from now...)
-17" O.Z. Alleggrita HLT wheels, 225/45r17 Dunlop Direzza D1 Sport Star Spec tires (ricey, but weigh just 0.1lbs more per corner than the stock 15s + Michelin MX4s and they're sticky as hell): ~$1700
Comes out to about $9k, leaving enough for custom exhaust (straight pipes for me, thanks) and any misc. minor issues (p/s hoses, trans cooler hoses, etc.) that need to be taken care of.
Should be a fairly straightforward swap, later W124s had V8s from the factory and most of the SL's front suspension and brakes just bolt on. Might need to roll the fenders to fit the 225s, and the firewall might need a little bit of percussive persuasion to get the V8 in there. May also need the diesel tank replaced with a gas tank from a 300TE, or at least a new level sender and pump. Nothing big though, there are certainly harder swaps out there. End result would be about 350hp (depending on how good your exhaust guy was, stock is 326), 0-60 in the low 5s. And if that's not fast enough the M119 will handle forced induction quite happily. 600hp wagon, mmm. :bowing:
