MBfinatic

BUMP! I would like to do this but with a ls2 TT

onetwentyfour

You're gonna rip the car in half.

JK!!!
Just giving you a hard time. I'm the last on here to give you a hard time about a V8 swap in a W201. I'm still rounding up a few more parts for mine. A TT set up will put you at over 800HP on a stock LS2 with just a few upgrades and tuning. Alot cheaper than any MB power swap.

BTW, you can't go wrong with an all alloy V8 with that kind of aftermarket support.

MBfinatic

Are you doing a swap as well?
I think it would be a pretty cool project. . Evo II body kit and wheels. Massive V8 powaa!

onetwentyfour

Yes. I'm putting together a Ford 408w v8 with a 5 speed manual trans.

MBfinatic

Thats going to be awesome! Are all 190E have the same shell?

onetwentyfour

With some minor differences for diesel vs. gas or 4 vs. 6 cylinders. But the basic shell is the same. What year are you starting with?

MBfinatic

I havent even gotten a shell yet. Just been thinking the idea over.

onetwentyfour

Only drawback is that there's not much supermarket support for suspension and things of that nature, but there are people that are diehards like one of the guys at groundcontrol.com they have a very nice coilover set up based on koni dampers. Not cheap street stuff but serious quality stuff in spirit of the DTM heritage of this car. I see you're in VA. Check with allofcraigs and do a title specific search for 190E. Very usefull tool. Let me.know if I can help in any way.

blackbenzz

My brother has ground control on his 190. VA isn't too far

onetwentyfour

Yeah the konis are very nice and their workmanship is top notch. Pretty affordable compared to other European brands. Another alternative is bilstein sport with coilover sleeves. That's my setup but doesn't compare to the control of the GC setup.

MBfinatic

This sounds like an awesome project! A lot cheaper than trying to put 8 pounds on my 350! LOL

onetwentyfour

Yeah. The Benz performance market is not for the faint of heart. A lot of people denounce what people like us are doing but you have to rationalize it some kind of way. A 190E is not exactly a collectible aside from the 16 valve of course. So its a very tight and compact package that's just begging for a little more under the hood. Lets face it, the MB v8 engines of the period weren't exactly ***** of fire and if I remember correctly it took Cosworth intervention to put our beloved markue in the spotlight at DTM races. Just *** anybody in the know about the life expectancy of a 300 horse 2.5-16 and you'll cringe. Enough jawboning lets build something guys. Ill be posting pics of.mine soon.

dirtye30

Great idea. Not enough MB-LSx swaps, IMO. Most cost effective way to double your power.

MBfinatic

Here is the local one I am looking at to buy,
http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/3148484966.html

A coilover supsension is a must!

onetwentyfour

A bit expensive for all the damage. Just make sure the rear corner bump didn't throw the car out of square. How are the emission laws where you are? You may be better off with a diesel shell. And remember it doesn't have to run you'll be remedying that. But if this feels like a winner grab it and don't look back. Lets get this party started.

MBfinatic

Yea i still need to check it out in person and hope there isnt frame damage. I do body work and paint but I dont want to make it to much.. He claims it runs and drives. We shall see!

onetwentyfour

Talk him down.

TobiasMB

My 2.2 diesel titled track car is for sale. When first assembled for the street, I had a Ford GT40 short block in it. Now it is a 354" 4 bolt main motor that is 450hp and 410 torque. The current block came from a 704hp TransAm car and the block is good for 1200hp according to Ford Motorsport. The block has thicker walls, more nickel in it and weighs 60lb more than its 302 counterpart. It also has needle bearings on the cam, bronze sleeves in the lifter bores and the valley is polished. The bore is .070 over and the forged crank is .400 over making it 358"

I've had this car for 10 years and have won TTR in NASA-SE for the last ten years. It is very reliable with a TKO3550 transmission and a Torsen limited slip in a 1993 Thunderbird differential with no CV joint in the axles, all Spicer joints! Each axle is the same as a drivesahft in a one ton truck!
The suspension is dble adj Koni struts front and Carrera shocks rear. It has a Speedway Eng. adj. front swaybar and an adjustable rear bar. All arm links are aluminum with heim joints. The radiator is Fluidyne and always runs cool with a Stewart racing water pump. Oil pan is 7.5qts and has an Accusump attached for positive oil flow. Steering rack is from a VW as the OE box was too large and wouldn't allow for right hand turns!

Brakes are Panoz 4 piston front on 13" X 1.25 rotors and Wilwood 4 piston on 12" X 1.25 rear rotors with E brake still working. Has variable adjuster and a 400E master cylinder. Wheels are 9.5 X 17", 275/40 Hoosiers all around and the car has steel flares to cover them.

The car has been to Watkins Glen, Summit Pt. VIR, Mid Ohio, Pocono, Little Talladega, Charlotte M/S, Rockinham M/S, CMP, Roebling and Barber M/S Park. I may have forgotten some along the way....

Asking price is $14k and is located in Matthews, NC.
Any question, just ask....car runs fine, just being replaced with a faster one!

blackbenzz

Pics?

MBfinatic

Will do. Found out its the 2.3. What are the differences in the shells? I dont care about the body kit but the actualy frame structure?

blackbenzz

I think the 2.6 has more engine bay room and bigger Trans tunnel

MBfinatic

I may want to wait and find a 2.6 than . I know a ls2 TT is gonna need some room..

onetwentyfour

The basic shell is the same just has a removable radiator top coresupport brace to facilitate engine removal/installation. Remember that the engine crossmember is not removable on the 190E. The transmission is the same size externally for the 2.3 or 2.6. Just the engine is longer toward the front of the ca making the removable radiator upper support necessary. You'll have to do all of the clearancing for the v8 either way.

MBfinatic

So getting the 2.3 isnt a bad idea than after all?

onetwentyfour

No not at all. Or for 14k you can get Tobias' car and head on down the road. If you're not part of the plug and play crowd like myself you'll want to build your own "little monster". But in all honesty that price is dirt cheap for that level of machinery. How bout them pics, Tobias?