G500 Manual Swap Lets You Row Through Gears In 4×4
One-of-a-kind 2002 Mercedes G500 for sale features an LS2 V8 and a manual transmission swap that retains the entire 4×4 drivetrain.
Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts accepted long ago that the chances of ever seeing a manual transmission available in a modern G wagon are exceedingly low. However, it seems someone was not satisfied with that fact. It’s hard to imagine what kind of effort goes into manual swapping something like this. However, the thought process gets even more insane when you consider the other aspects of this build. This 2002 G500 sports an LS2 under the hood and a six-speed manual transmission. Furthermore, it still has a fully functioning four-wheel-drive system. If that’s up your alley, we have great news. This car is currently for sale!
That’s right, this beast of a project is currently listed for auction on Cars and Bids. At the time of writing, it has a bid of just over $17,000 with two days remaining on the auction. Honestly, that seems like a pretty fair deal! Not only do you get the luxury experience of a Mercedes G wagon, but you also get the reliability and power of the iconic LS2. That begs the question, though, what all went into making this pipe dream a reality?
The LS2 Is A Tight Fit Under The G500 Hood
Undoubtedly, this swap took a lot of effort. This is pretty evident just by looking at the engine bay shots, where the mass airflow (MAF) sensor is nearly touching the radiator support. Though it’s nice and snug, we have to say; it looks pretty appropriate in there! Though this G500 originally came with a V8, it didn’t quite make the same power as the LS2, which sports 400 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque. More than enough to have a good time!
The show stopper, though, is undoubtedly what’s mated to that engine. According to the listing, the standard-issue six-speed Tremec T56 transmission you’d find behind the LS2 in a Pontiac GTO or Chevrolet SSR drives the factory four-wheel-drive system. Though it doesn’t go into much detail about how that was devised, we are certainly impressed!
It’s A Lot of Car for the Price!
Inside, you’ll find that the factory dash has been replaced with a digital one, though the interior remains largely stock otherwise. However, the dash swap rules out ever truly maintaining the factory mileage of the vehicle. According to the listing on Cars and Bids, the G500 had 220,000 miles on it when it underwent the LS2 conversion. Additionally, it does not state the mileage of the engine and transmission.
Additionally, it has a touch screen stereo system. The center of the dash also has added switches, and it uses push-to-start. This is truly a perfect blend of a usable daily driver and an off-road specific build. Sure, you might not be able to track the mileage, but does it really matter? It’s a six-speed manual G wagon with 400 horsepower!
We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on this auction. The engine and transmission alone would sell for over $7,000. So, even in the mid $20,000 range, this seems like a pretty great deal!
Photos: Cars and Bids
Join the LS1Tech forums now!
