1973 Mercedes 450SL
#1
1973 Mercedes 450SL
I have an old Mercedes convertible that I'd like to put a SBC in. Naturally a LSx based engine is very appealing, I'd like to shoot for ~400-450 horsepower to the wheels and spray a 200 shot of nitrous oxide on top of that. The car will be mainly driven on the weekend and at the track. I'm leaning towards a 2 speed powerglide with a large stall, long tube headers with side pipes and bullet mufflers. I will most likely need some form of custom cage made since its a convertible, however the rear-end is my big concern and I wanted to see if someone else has done this swap what they used. The rear-end is an IRS that was built for ~ 200hp. with juice itl'l be seeing upwards of 500hp and I doubt the factory IRS can take it, will a ford 9" fit? and what suspension? will a 4-link fit back there? I am familiar with a 4-link enough to set one up but I don't know what it would take to stuff that setup in the back of this Mercedes, so anyone done this before?
#3
There's a few with SB's in them
http://www.carcentric.com/450SLswap.htm
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Mercedes_Order.html
http://www.carcentric.com/450SLswap.htm
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Mercedes_Order.html
#4
Originally Posted by crafty888
There's a few with SB's in them
http://www.carcentric.com/450SLswap.htm
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Mercedes_Order.html
http://www.carcentric.com/450SLswap.htm
https://shell7.tdl.com/~jags/Mercedes_Order.html
#6
Originally Posted by G-Body
No, the standard SBC temperature sending unit is a different size. The LSx motors have a hole for a metric 12mm X 1.50 sender. I`m not sure what size sender the mercedes uses, but it is probably metric and if your lucky it could be the same size.
#7
sawzall wielding director
iTrader: (4)
There is a second temp sensor hole, the drivers side and pass side heads are the same casting. GM puts the LSx temp sender in the towards the front of the drivers side head, so there is an extra hole towards the back of the passenger side head, just pull the plug out.
You can tap that hole bigger if your sensor is bigger. Some people have drilled the water pump, and others have put the sender in a T in the heater hose, but most use the hole in the pass head.
You can tap that hole bigger if your sensor is bigger. Some people have drilled the water pump, and others have put the sender in a T in the heater hose, but most use the hole in the pass head.
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#10
I believe I saw that benz one year at the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona. If it is the same car it has a 468 BBC in it.
EDIT: saw the licenseplate, not a bbc.
EDIT: saw the licenseplate, not a bbc.
Last edited by ponjohn; 08-22-2007 at 07:33 AM.
#11
Originally Posted by LiENUS
I have an old Mercedes convertible that I'd like to put a SBC in. Naturally a LSx based engine is very appealing, I'd like to shoot for ~400-450 horsepower to the wheels and spray a 200 shot of nitrous oxide on top of that. The car will be mainly driven on the weekend and at the track. I'm leaning towards a 2 speed powerglide with a large stall, long tube headers with side pipes and bullet mufflers. I will most likely need some form of custom cage made since its a convertible, however the rear-end is my big concern and I wanted to see if someone else has done this swap what they used. The rear-end is an IRS that was built for ~ 200hp. with juice itl'l be seeing upwards of 500hp and I doubt the factory IRS can take it, will a ford 9" fit? and what suspension? will a 4-link fit back there? I am familiar with a 4-link enough to set one up but I don't know what it would take to stuff that setup in the back of this Mercedes, so anyone done this before?
Another rear end option would be to swap in an independent ford 8.8 third member from any T bird, Cobra or Explorer which are plenty strong and get some custom axles made up for it. You'd just have to fabricate some mounts for the third member.