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LS190 - Mercedes 190e LS1 swap

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Old 11-09-2007, 12:34 AM
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Default LS190 - Mercedes 190e LS1 swap

190's come with a steering box, exhaust would not fit on the driver side so I converted to rack and pinion.

Had to cut out the factory crossmember and make my own which also holds the steering rack, and allows use of the GTO pan.

Had I removed the blower motor/evap assembly I could have pushed it back more...but....gotta have A/C in Phoenix.

This is an early pic without the front crossmember or supports added.
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Had to cut up the trans tunnel alot to fit the 4L60 in here is the patch job.
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cut rear lower control arm pivots and patch them up(for extra exhaust clearance)
added crossmember to framerail supports
primered it up.
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added some seamsealer and undercoating
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pcm mount
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finished painting underhood
running LS2 exhaust manifolds and C5 mounts and brackets.
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Made radiator lower support crossmember....radiator is 26X19
Had this radiator custom made from ebay of all places $220 shipped
Alum tanks, no filler neck, NPT pipe bung for air bleed.
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about 4 1/2 inches....radiator to waterpump
Mk VIII lincoln fan fits the radiator like it was made for it.
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Fusebox mount....powers all the engine/transmission stuff
First 2 of the 3 large relays are for the fan, low and high speed
Going to run the low speed through the mercedes ignition ballast resistor so it pulls 15 amps/25 startup.
Then when it kicks to high it wont require the 50+ amp startup current to get it spinning.
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Finally got it running after changing out the injectors....heres a vid.
LS190 runs!
Open exhaust, and the alternator had been sitting a while and the bearing squeals loudly but it runs.
Also using a coolant fill funnel for an expansion tank.

I'll post pics of the car once I get the 19's on it.
Car has a widebody kit so it tucks the 10.5 wide rears nicely.
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Right now I'm waiting for an expansion tank to arrive along with AN braided hose and fittings for the trans cooler and fuel lines.

More pics later.
Old 11-09-2007, 01:19 AM
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Wow that should be a fun car to drive
Old 11-09-2007, 06:22 AM
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Thanks for the update. I was wondering how far you had gotten with your swap. Neat fab work.
Old 11-09-2007, 07:05 AM
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i love it. where did you get that little relay box? i like it and am looking for somethiing similar.
Old 11-09-2007, 08:00 AM
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Nice work
Old 11-09-2007, 09:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Schitzo
Thanks for the update. I was wondering how far you had gotten with your swap. Neat fab work.
I have gotton farther since these pics, need to take more. Thanks for the compliment.

Originally Posted by leonpiper69
i love it. where did you get that little relay box? i like it and am looking for somethiing similar.
It's half of the factory '98 f-body fusebox.


Originally Posted by rao
Nice work
Thanks, likewise.
Old 11-09-2007, 09:20 AM
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looks sweet.
Old 11-09-2007, 07:03 PM
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Nice one!
Old 11-09-2007, 07:09 PM
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I see you still have the power steering box hooked up and routed with the belts. What are you doing about it now that you've got rack & pinion set up in the car? Are you just leaving it on there as sort of an extra idler pulley? Or are you going to remove it and throw on a shorter belt? I'm in a bit of a predicament because I've also got a car that lacks power steering, and am in the process of an LS1 swap.
Old 11-09-2007, 09:15 PM
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that's going to be real sweet. Good Luck with the project and keep us posted.

Originally Posted by Ravant
I see you still have the power steering box hooked up and routed with the belts. What are you doing about it now that you've got rack & pinion set up in the car? Are you just leaving it on there as sort of an extra idler pulley? Or are you going to remove it and throw on a shorter belt? I'm in a bit of a predicament because I've also got a car that lacks power steering, and am in the process of an LS1 swap.
I do believe that it is still going to have power steering, just not the type used by the factory 190e
Old 11-09-2007, 09:41 PM
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Ahh. Couldn't tell from the first pic if it was power steering or not in quick glance, got a little hopeful for help. Still a hell of a sound out of that engine though.
Old 11-10-2007, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by speedyhawk101
I do believe that it is still going to have power steering, just not the type used by the factory 190e
Speedy is right, just need to have lines made.
Right now I have the pressure hose looped back to the return barb on the reservoir.

Originally Posted by Ravant
Or are you going to remove it and throw on a shorter belt?
That should work for your situation.
Old 11-10-2007, 03:18 PM
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How about a body pic of the car, to remind me what a 190e looks like Looks great so far.
Old 11-11-2007, 08:39 PM
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What's the rack and pinion from?
Old 11-11-2007, 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by terryr
What's the rack and pinion from?
It's from a W210 E-class.
Old 03-27-2010, 02:49 AM
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any updates from this car ?

the topicstarter hasn't been on the forum in a long time

i just bought myself the same car, specifically for doing the ls1 (6speed) swap.

Last edited by jeejee; 10-02-2010 at 05:09 PM. Reason: typo
Old 03-27-2010, 07:20 PM
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Haha! This is awesome cause this is exactly what i was going to do with the one i almost picked up awhile ago.
Old 03-28-2010, 03:04 PM
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cool swap
Old 03-28-2010, 08:20 PM
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Any new updates?
Old 09-14-2010, 09:27 AM
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expansion tank
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brake lines
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bulkhead paint
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heat shrink hose clamps
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paint
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