Ask the Car People.SM


V8 Conversions

190 messages,  Last post on Nov 18, 2012 at 6:43 AM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Convertible, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 18 of 19

#171 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jun 12, 2008 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 12, 2008 12:00 pm)
Here's the 190SL engine
 
Interior shot
 
Another angle
 
and the exterior

#172 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 12, 2008 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 12, 2008 1:17 pm)
It's well done. The engine bay looks radically altered, interior less so. Wheels ruin it IMO. Wonder what they did underneath?
 
I saw a 190SL with a Chevy V-6 installed and it didn't require any alteration per se. It moved out smartly, too and looks perfectly stock.

#173 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jun 12, 2008 (6:22 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 12, 2008 4:26 pm)
I suspect there's a lot of reinforcement underneath. I hate the wheels too....you know what they say about a fool and his money. I suspect the person who had that car built has never been called sensible...but it least it isn't in wild colors.
 
I'd like to see such a conversion with another MB engine. If one wants power, 5.4L V8, AMG-tuned, is known to be relatively bulletproof and is capable of a lot of mods. The old M103 and M104 I6 engines are very solid too.

#174 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 13, 2008 (8:28 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 12, 2008 6:22 pm)
the problem with putting an American V8 in a small sports car is that you always end up with a "brute". You lose all the smoothness and sophistication and your SL sounds like a Chevelle if you don't take the time to build 'em quiet and balance them out. But headers and Flowmasters and you've got the wrong sound and feel for the car IMO.
 
 Also I find American engines rather unattractive unless they have cladding on them. They look like crude foundry iron with chrome stuck on them.
 
Modern American V8s are more attractive as they are "dressed".
 
My two cents is that if you are doing a V8 conversion into a pretty little foreign car, you've got to take care to do it right, and remember what you are building here. No headers, sensible mufflers, sensible intake system (a cut out air scoop on an SL---now REALLY) and tasteful wheels that match the car's lines and time period.
 
And balance that engine, flywheel, driveshaft, etc.
 
Even the Cobra 289s are much better cars as modern kits than they were when first built.

#175 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jun 13, 2008 (9:46 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 13, 2008 8:28 am)
I like the idea of putting a more modern I6 (or maybe a tuned V8 to be wild) in an old car, resto-mod vs resto-rod. The smallblock Chevy thing is a cliche and doesn't really belong in a German car.

#176 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 13, 2008 (9:49 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 13, 2008 9:46 am)
I'm starting to like the "Pro Touring" concept.

#177 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [fintail] by british_rover

Jun 13, 2008 (11:23 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 13, 2008 9:46 am)
Any BMW inline six would work but the twin turbo mill from the 335i would be best.

#178 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [british_rover] by fintail

Jun 13, 2008 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (Jun 13, 2008 11:23 am)
That would be amazing in some vintage BMW or maybe another car as some kind of hybrid. It could be a real sleeper...put that in a Bavaria or something.
 
I'm really thinking of the potential of the old M103/104 I6 in a fintail or W108, or maybe a diesel badged W123. It should fit in the hole, add maybe 50hp from the old engines (maybe double the diesel hp), and be quieter and even smoother. The bad thing is that the old engines might actually get better mileage, maybe from the lower displacement.

#179 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [fintail] by ajvdh

Jun 26, 2008 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 13, 2008 12:05 pm)
A friend of mine who's a long-time BMW mechanic is currently running around in a stock-looking Bavaria with a mildly tweaked 3.8l S38 from a late '80s Euro M6. Admittedly not a V8, but with well north of 300 HP in a car that weighs less than a 1 series, it's a pretty interesting ride.
 
This same guy was one of the builders of a late 80s M5 which wound up retaining the "correct" motor, if by "correct" you mean "punched out to 4.0l and running a turbo with 20 psi of boost."
 
Speaking of BMW V8 swaps: I see in this months Roundel, somebody's trying to sell an S62 from a 2001 M5. Complete with wiring harness. Pre-war 328 swap, anyone? I can hear Shifty grinding his teeth at the thought.

#180 of 190 Re: Mercedes 450SL to Ford 5.0L V8 [ajvdh] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 26, 2008 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: ajvdh (Jun 26, 2008 3:43 pm)
I would personally come to your house and dissolve you in a vat of hand lotion if you messed up a pre-war 328.
 
20 PSI of boost? Isn't that asking for KA-BOOM? I trust he's not doing that for long, or up a steep hill. Maybe a big C clamp on the cylinder head?
 
A 300 HP Bavaria...the mind boggles.....Hmmm....sounds like lipstick on a pig to me, but you know, I am so mean and opinionated, don't pay me any mind!

Messages Page 18 of 19

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement