Merc. Wagoon

[john31s]

So this isn't really a PT car but I think its cool and I just got it. Its a 1980 Mercedez Benz 230TE. Its a grey market car meaning it was imported from Germany, and brought with it a bunch of stuff the the US Spec cars are missing including a 4spd manual, Euro headlights, Euro bumpers, and Euro interior parts. I got it at a pretty good price and I'm pumped to have it. Its slow.

Some pics:



I know this isn't what this site is all about but I will be changing it up (lowering/wheels) so I figured I would throw this up here. On a side note I am not getting rid of the LeMans everythign is the same with that car.

[SRD art]

That would make a killer project! I don't know much about those, what's powering it? Gas or diesel? Might be a fun motor swap candidate, unless you just plan to drive it. Anyway, it's got a long roof, I dig it!

[john31s]

That would make a killer project! I don't know much about those, what's powering it? Gas or diesel? Might be a fun motor swap candidate, unless you just plan to drive it. Anyway, it's got a long roof, I dig it!

Its a 2.3 liter gas with around 130hp so yea thats kinda sad. I plan on driving it for a while but eventually I'm thinking an SR20 swap

[john31s]

So I know this thread didn't get much traction the first time around but I have been moving along with this for some time now. Basically what I thought was a patch of rust turned into the entire floor pan being shot. So now that this is wrapping up I am picking up on the planning of a engine swap.

My options right now are a 302 sbf or a Nissan SR20det. Both have their merits but now I am looking for some input. Which would you run? The sbf raises packaging issues and the SR20 is new to me.



One of the issues I face is the shifter. The can as it sits has a 4spd manual trans that uses shift linkages to shift gears. The t5 I would run with the sbf or the manual 5spd with the SR20 both have the shifter built onto the rear of the trans. Now I need to figure out how I would get the linkage to work with my stock location.

I'll get a model of both the sbf/t5 and the nissan drive train and see where the work out with the model I have made of the car.

More updates to come as I keep moving forward.

[Tig]

Wow, very cool. That's the beginning of a sweet project.
I'd go with the SBF, parts are inexpensive and the aftermarket is plentiful. They are also quite capable in the HP department. Plus you cant beat the sound of a 5.0
As for a transmission another option would be the Tremec TKO, if I remember correctly the shifter can be moved in 4 different locations to meet your desired
position.

Lookin forward to your updates

[john31s]

Minor update:

I've found a few scaled drawing online for the car and various parts which I have uploaded to AutoCAD and then traced to get a model accurate within the width of the pencil lines. Hopefully I will have a model of a sbf to overlay on my w123 model to double check it will fit under the engine bay.