I just purchased a 1992 400E for parts and brake upgrades for one of my 300Es (hint, hint possible engine conversion and brake upgrade) What do you guys think. Put the engine in my 300TE and upgrade the brakes to the 400E parts. But, what about the self leveling stuff for the 300TE will it work with the 400E engine.


Any help would be appreciated,

Cardude
89 300TE 212,000 miles
87 300E 155,000 miles
92 seriously damaged salvage titled 400E with 103,000 miles
300TE

Would need a P/S pump from a 500E OR from a 500SEL.
Only other option would be to remove self leveling.
The wagon's rear axle ratio is going to make the REAR WHEELS Spin if it can take that much HP.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I see maybe I should just add the whole drivetrain then, I will do a search on the price of the power steering pump today.


Cardude

You might be able to move the entire rear-subframe from the 400E to the 300TE.

You will need to move the 400E front hubs if you want to upgrade the brakes.

However, double-check, the brake calipers. I think someone said the 400E had the same brakes as the wagon.

Getting the engine in will be the real PITA.
The tranny should fit, but you will need to do some reworking of the engine compartment.

Note also that the 400E had a different engine management system, so you need to mate that with your exisiting system and find room! Yes, you will need the PS pump from a 500E (560SEL?, and you will need to get a different radiator and A/C condenser and possibly re-locate the self-levelling resevoir.

Air conditioning might have to be changed to R134a.

Also, I would change all springs to 400E or SportLine springs, esp. with the heavier motor up front.

Almost anything is possible with time & money, so if you do the transplant plan on not having your wagon for 6-months minimum, probably closer to a year if you're doing this yourself on your "spare" time and not 40+ hrs/week.

Best of luck,

:-) neil

PS: I had looked into placing a 500E engine & tranny into our 1988 wagon, but the more I looked into it, the more complicated it got FAST. Just going to a M104 engine (like the 93+ wagons) took 6-months!

Neil, I agree it sounds a little time consuming but, my engine is getting very tired (225,000) and the tranny is leaking something terrible. The cost benefit of fixing the tranny comes pretty close to the cost of doing a transplant with a lot of help of course. I know I 'm stretching it a little , because we all know its the horsepower and and cool factor a V8 wagon that should have been built Please chime in from time to time guys. I'm going to need a lot of help on this one.

Cardude
1989 300TE yearning for a V8

I've also wondered if it would be more cost effective and cheaper to get a 400E and graft the rear portion of the wagon on it, OR graft the front clip of a 400E onto a wagon . . .

Best of luck,

:-) neil

PS: if you do this, go ahead and look into installing a crank-trigger for the possiblity of an aftermarket ECU like a Electromotive TECII. Good for another 30-75 HP.

Hey thanks for the advice, sorry about the cost crap maybe I was just practicing for my small war today when the better half finds out. Are you serious about the TEC stuff sounds interesting. Send me more info. If I get laid off, (possible in the next coouple of weeks) I will have plenty of time to invest in the project.


Neil, do you have any new pics of your TE and 500E?

Cardude

To this day, my wife still gives me a little "jab" on how much money & time spent on making the wagon.

Check out:
http://www.electromotive-inc.com/

Laptop adjustable ECU for your car!

Best of luck!

:-) neil

http://www.silcom.com/~neilv/sportline
http://www.silcom.com/~neilv/500E

Neil,

Is the Electromotive equipment able to cut fuel to some of the cylinders while cruising at low power settings like a few of the luxury car available today? That would be worth the investment alone if the system would pay for itself in a year in fuel savings.

Don't know, but you can check out the owner's manual at:

http://getfuelinjected.com/pdf_files/tec99.pdf

:-) neil

Both Rick Ellinger or RC Imports and Carlos Piad have used the TEC-II to wring out the most of the the Mercedes engine, with good results.

I'd give Rick a call, his website:

http://rc-imports.com/

:-) neil

Thanks again Neil, I am looking into finding her a car. It would be nice if she had a performance car like your wife. What we really need is a highway cruiser S500-SEL S600-SEL pre 2000. I am going to give the guys a call at RC-Imports ASAP. I think I'm waiting to here from them on a Camber adjustment kit also, for the wagon and 300E.


Cya, I will keep you guys posted.

Cardude